For the first time in thirteen years, youth delegates from across the Council of Europe (CoE) spoke alongside their ministers in Malta.
I was one of the youth delegates who had an incredible opportunity to address all 46 member states of the Council of Europe to share what young people in the UK are telling me matters most to them.
”If democracy is to thrive, young people must feel it works for them, that their voices matter and that their future is valued.
Zara OkusiUK Young Ambassador to Europe and Youth Council UK Executive Board Member
This was at the 10th Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, a landmark moment, from the Council of Europe focused on strengthening democracy and rebuilding trust in public institutions. For young people facing uncertainty, from job insecurity to increased fear of discrimination and division in their communities, this work could not be more urgent.
Before arriving in Malta, I gathered the views of young people across the UK through consultations with partners including Youth Link Scotland and Children in Wales. It was clear from these conversations that young people are struggling with two major concerns: the difficulty of finding decent work and a deep fear around the rise of the far right and the safety of their communities. These were not abstract policy discussions, these were lived realities, shared openly and honestly by young people who often feel unheard.
When I addressed the room full of ministers and senior officials, I spoke about those realities. I spoke about how the old narrative, “get educated, work hard, and you’ll succeed”, no longer reflects young people’s experiences. Graduate hiring is shrinking, many young people’s mental health is worsening under the pressure of the cost of living crisis, and faith in democratic institutions is slipping as a result. If democracy is to thrive, young people must feel it works for them, that their voices matter and that their future is valued.
The Council of Europe’s conference saw the adoption of two important frameworks that respond directly to these challenges. The New Democratic Pact for Europe is a collective commitment by member states to restore democratic trust by tackling exclusion, misinformation, and disengagement. Young people’s voices were not just heard; they helped shape the recommendations within it. I had the privilege of raising the concerns I heard from UK young people directly with the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, and ensuring that economic opportunity and community safety, issues identified through UK consultations, were reflected in the Pact’s approach.
Alongside the Pact, member states adopted the Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective. This framework calls for formal structures of youth representation and youth-informed decision making across all levels of governance. It is a step towards ensuring that young people are not only consulted occasionally, but are built into the processes that shape their lives. This means inviting young people into spaces where policies are designed, debated, and decided, not just reporting back to them after the fact.
What we achieved in Malta was not only significant on paper; it was significant because it stands as a testament to the power of listening to young people’s voices and carrying them into international decision-making spaces. It showed that when we bring international policy closer to young people’s lived experiences, we can reshape the conversations that affect our collective future.
I am deeply grateful to the UK delegation for their support, and to the National Youth Agency for enabling me to represent young people at this level. Most importantly, I am thankful to every young person who took part in consultations and shared their perspectives. This is only the beginning. I will continue to ensure your voices are heard where decisions are made.
