Seminar on democratic youth participation for leaders of youth organizations, members of youth parliaments and governments (archive event)

From December 20 to 24, 2020 within the framework for cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy the seminar on democratic youth participation through the development of youth parliamentarism in the Russian Federation was held in person in Kazan. 

Participants were 30 people. They were representatives of youth parliaments and youth governments, leaders of youth public associations, young deputies.

The event was a part of the Action Plan for 2020 to the Framework Program on cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy.

Increasing active citizenship and promoting youth participation in the society is one of the priorities of the Framework Program on cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy.

Traditionally, the seminar was held at the European Youth Center in Strasbourg during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2020 because of the COVID-19 it became impossible to hold the seminar in the usual format in Strasbourg. Russian partners and the Council of Europe decided to transform this event into an educational training on the topic of youth participation and to hold this event on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The purpose of the seminar was to familiarize participants with institutions of the Council of Europe, its approaches and standards in the field of youth policy, in particular, on the topic of youth participation as a tool for creating positive changes in the society.

Tasks:

• To study priorities and resources of youth sector of the Council of Europe as well as its experience and principles of work in the field of youth policy, 
• To form an understanding of youth participation as a concept as well as to analyze forms of youth participation, their relevance, accessibility, effectiveness and attractiveness for different categories of youth, 
• To familiarize yourself with various tools to increase the level of youth participation and their application in local realities, 
• To promote the development of active citizenship among participants and increase the level of participation in decision-making processes, 
• To create conditions for further cooperation, development of joint projects and networking between participants.

For five days participants went through an intensive educational program on the topic of youth participation. Participants got acquainted with institutions of the Council of Europe, discussed its approaches and standards in the field of youth policy, in particular, on the topic of youth participation as a tool for creating positive changes in the society, got acquainted with the concept of youth participation. Attendees also analyzed forms of youth participation in terms of their relevance, accessibility, inclusiveness, efficiency and attractiveness for youth, developed ideas and recommendations to increase the level of youth participation and the role of youth in the life of territories.

Results

Acquaintance of participants with institutions of the Council of Europe, its approaches and standards in the field of youth policy, in particular, on the topic of youth participation as a tool for creating positive changes in the society was realized. Based on results of the seminar a group of participants who will continue training on this topic in 2021 and will take part in the educational stage in Strasbourg was formed.