4 Decades of Youth Participation

40 years of youth participation

in Europe

Co-management in the Council of Europe

A presentation at the London Youth Policy Symposium, 17-18 May 2011

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The Europe of the 47+• The Council of Europe was

founded in 1949• Human rights, democracy and

the rule of law • Almost all European

countries • Wider co-operation

in the cultural field

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Youth policy since the 1970s• Education and training facilities• Financial grants• Standard-setting• Policy advice• Youth research

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The instruments

• European Youth Centre Strasbourg 1972

• European Youth Foundation 1972 • European Youth Centre Budapest

1995• Youth-related conventions

and recommendation• “Soft monitoring”• International networking

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The co-management approach• Governments and youth

organisations• “Nothing about young people –

without young people”

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The technicalities

47+ governments

30 youth NGOs(rotating)

• Meet twice/year• Decide on policies and standards• Decide on programmes• Decide on grants to youth NGOs• Decide on joint representation

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Which NGOs participate?

• A selection from a huge pool of partners• All recognised types

(“families”) of youth NGOs• Based in any of

50 European countries• 60% INGYOs, 23% national youth

councils and 17% NGOs “involved in other areas of youth work”

• At least 17% INGYOs non-affiliated to YFJ

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The value of co-management• Unique decision-making system at level

of intergovernmental organisations• “Walk the talk”: participation in practice• Cascading: knock-on effects at national

and local level• Training political

competencies• Example of best practice

for other sectors, e.g. education

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To know more

www.coe.int/youth

ulrich.bunjes@coe.int

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Thanks.