Council of Europe’s Post

Insights on Youth Involvement from Germany and the Netherlands! Germany's JUGEND für Europa and the Netherlands' Erasmus+ Jeugd & European Solidarity Corps are leading examples of effective youth participation. Their strategies emphasise real engagement over tokenism and showcase how proper communication can significantly increase youth involvement. 🇩🇪 In Germany, the focus is on creating an inclusive environment where young people's contributions shape programmes. 🇳🇱 In the Netherlands, the focus is on highlighting the importance of outreach and communication in engaging youth. These efforts, alongside a detailed report on youth participation in decision-making, offer valuable lessons for organizations looking to enhance youth involvement. For actionable insights and best practices, read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dRWJ2kuK #NewPowerInYouth #YouthEngagement #YouthParticipation #ErasmusPlus #YouthInDecisionMaking

🌟Call for Proposals: Rights of the Child and Children’s Participation 🌍 The Programme called Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) opened a new Call focusing on the rights of the child and their active participation in society. This initiative is especially crucial in addressing the urgent needs and challenges faced by children in the EU and Western Balkans, including those affected by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. 🔑 Key Priorities of the Call: 1️⃣ Children’s Mental Health: Prioritizing the emotional and psychological well-being of our youngest. 2️⃣ Right of the Child Perspective: Integrating children's rights into national and local actions. 3️⃣ Children’s Engagement and Participation: Empowering children to have a voice in matters affecting them. 4️⃣ Understanding Democratic Rights from Childhood: Educating the young about their democratic rights and responsibilities. The link to the call document is: https://lnkd.in/dw-aBCpE 📅 Info Session on 24 January 2024 🔗 For detailed information and registration, please visit https://lnkd.in/dQJfr82b #cerv2024 #childrights #civilsociety #FundingOpportunity #EuropeanUnion #WesternBalkans

Together we are positively changing the lives of young people across the country! There is a strong call to action to safeguard not only the rights of our children but their childhood itself. Many are forced into a position of maturity long before necessary, due to circumstance, lack of opportunity etc. As a country we have the obligation, further entrenched through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, to ensure a lived reality of dignity, respect, and equality. To do so, requires providing young South Africans with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with the various issues faced, be it economic or societal. What are your thoughts? What other synergies are needed? #LetsEngage #PowerTalk #YouthEmpowerment#FutureEntrepreneurs

The voices of diverse #youngpeople impacted by #warinUkraine need to be heard both in response to the ongoing #humanitarian response but also across all reconstruction and recovery efforts. Plan International calls for the participation of young people in all local, national and international decision making processes relating to #Ukraine. Listen here to why youth inclusion is so important. Plan International East and Central Europe #youthvoices #youthempowerment #youthpeacesecurity #warinukraine

More than 60% of Iraq's population is under 25 years old, but the question is: How active civic engagement can boost youth participation in Iraq? How can the government paving the way for a brighter, inclusive future to invest in our youth starting from the point that they are the key to a prosperous Iraq! 🙌💪 🇮🇶 Read more here about my article on OURAQ website #YouthEmpowerment #CivicEngagement #Iraq #FutureLeaders

SOMALILAND - 2024 Summer Update Located in the Horn of Africa on the continent's east coast, Somaliland is home to about 3.5 million people. Somaliland’s quest for independence from Somalia remains unrecognized internationally, which presents numerous challenges, particularly in terms of international aid and investment, which are crucial for development. A 2012 survey revealed that 42% of homes in Somaliland have at least one member with a disability. Despite these numbers, those living with disabilities in Somaliland must often contend with the negative perception of others. They are frequently disregarded by their families and the wider community, often seen as burdens. Together, we have improved the lives of thousands of people with disabilities since 2004. To date, we have distributed 9,600 wheelchairs in Somaliland through partnerships with local organizations including the Diversity Action Network (DAN). Our 2024 Summer Newsletter is out now, shedding light on the stories, and complex social and political challenges that the nation of Somaliland faces. Read the full newsletter at https://lnkd.in/gGi8P4Mz

Remembering the Past, Advocating for the Future: Human Rights Day in South Africa 🌟🇿🇦 Today, March 21st, marks a very significant day in South Africa's history - Human Rights Day. It's a day of reflection, remembrance and a call to action. On this day in 1960, the world witnessed the brutal Sharpeville Massacre, where the lives of 69 peaceful demonstrators were tragically cut short as they protested against apartheid laws. ❤️ Therefore, today we honour the memory of those who bravely stood against injustice, commemorating their sacrifice and commitment to a future in which all human had rights and there was equality and freedom. However, as we commemorate this day, let us not forget that the pursuit for rights extends beyond just adults. Children, too, are entitled to fundamental rights that must be upheld. They have the right to: 👶🏾 Access quality healthcare services. 👦🏽Be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation. 👧🏿A healthy environment, including access to clean water, sanitation and safe living conditions. 🧒🏼Be informed about and participate in decisions that affect their health, including in matters related to their education, nutrition and safety. Moreover, Human Rights Day highlights the shared responsibility of individuals, communities and governments to strive towards a society that is not only healthier but also more equitable. So on this day let us also recommit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for human rights, ensuring that every individual, regardless of age, gender, or background, can live a life of dignity and opportunity. 💚🌍 #KidzAlive #HumanRightsDay #SouthAfrica #Equality #Justice #OurChildrenOurFuture #WhenIGrowUp

Today, I had an honour to speak at the United Nations #SummitofTheFuture Action Days event in with over 400 participants dubbed #YouthLead : Governance in human rights, peace and security and political processes organized by Club de Madrid Education Above All Foundation Major Group for Children and Youth My Life My Say United Nations Human Rights UNDP UNESCO, UN Youth Office. My Recommendations: ✔️Young people to create alliances & networks with youth organizations, students movements , civil society organizations as well as Intergenerational spaces to gather support to address human rights challenges. ✔️The United Nations 🇺🇳 to reinforce capacities of youth in human rights advocacy and participation in decision making processes using existing resources such as the youth advocacy rights toolkits launched as a Youth Empowerment System. ✔️States should include human rights and civic education as an integral part of their education systems. #OurCommonFuture #SummitOfTheFuture #UNGA

From The Presidential Office of Ukraine- "First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, together with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and representatives of relevant ministries, took part in the presentation of the results of a public opinion survey on accessibility. The survey was conducted by the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics with the support of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Expert Council on Accessibility Communication. 83% of respondents believe that accessibility is a new value for society. 34% of respondents are convinced that in order to overcome barriers in various fields, attention should be focused on changing people's behavior in society, 32% – on creating an adapted environment, and 22% – on ensuring access to education and employment." #AccessibilityInTheNews #Ukraine

In our newest article Lucas Steinbach and I demonstrate that while youth continue to experience difficulties in overtaking meaningful roles as actors of change in peacebuilding, there is an improvement in the acceptance of their agency. The article explores the case of Sierra Leone where the perception of youth can be seen as a massive change from immediately after the war to today. The article explores different roles that youth can have during and after a conflict, investigates positive impacts youth can have, describes what peace means for young people and how they would describe a desirable future, and finally speaks about how youth respond and interact with international ideas of peace and sustainability. The article is open acces! #youthinpeace #youth