The past year has presented several important shifts in the youth policy landscape, such as the welcome step made with the ‘Votes at 16’ campaign. But a pertinent question still stands: how can we best champion young people in an age of uncertainty?
From the rise of AI, to climate change and burgeoning unemployment (standing at a five-year high of 16.1%, BBC News), young people are facing a trichotomy of consequences hampering their prospects. And yet, it is precisely in these moments of flux that our voices matter most.
”Young people are rights-holders, not passive beneficiaries of decisions being made on their behalf.
Jasmine BrittanUK Young Ambassador to the Commonwealth and Youth Council UK Executive Board member
Events like Commonwealth Day and the Council of Europe’s seminar on youth councils exist as vital spaces to converse directly with leaders who influence national decision-making decisions. Hence, our presence is not optional, it is essential to future progression. Without it, mechanisms to relay the current state of youth sentiment, from real life experience, are few and far between.
Attending the Commonwealth Day celebrations this Mawrth was not just a means of promoting youth voice, but of championing the ability for global diversity to feed into shared prosperity. The day consisted of a reception at St James’s Palace and a Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey, hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society. The Service was a lovely chance to celebrate alongside youth colleagues conducting monumental work from across the region, reflecting on the collective strength of the association. The ceremony itself was a beautiful showcase of that strength, encompassing performances from the Royal Ballet, a procession of flags from the 56 member nations, and a recital from the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate. It is in moments like these that you are reminded of the sheer breadth of this network – a testament to the unparalleled solutions we can curate.
At the reception, I further had the pleasure of tangibly connecting on mutual initiatives with individuals from across government, The Secretariat, civil society, and partner organisations. These interactions are another way to truly move the dial, forging collaborations for new project work. Attending such events is further pertinent as a youth representative to garner the necessary relationships to translate these projects into deliverable outcomes.
Shortly after, I headed to Strasbourg for the Council of Europe’s seminar on ‘The Role of National Youth Councils in Strengthening Democracy’. The event was a three-day programme where we had the opportunity to collaborate with a youth representative from each national youth council across the Council of Europe’s membership. Together, we analysed youth statutes, collaborated on solutions, and proposed recommendations to the Council for a future report. It was another incredibly enriching experience. Hearing first hand how different nations structure their youth engagement, from those with statutory youth councils enshrined in law to others relying on informal networks, crystallised how much variation exists.
Taken together, these two events illustrated the same fundamental truth – that young people must be present during decision-making processes to analyse the efficacy of proposals, rather than being merely consulted after their enactment.
This matters as young people are rights-holders, not passive beneficiaries of decisions being made on their behalf. Equally, it is important that the adults in the room continue to understand how they can meaningfully engage with youth advocates.
We are in a period where decisions are being made about young people’s lives that will affect the intergenerational justice of our future, for generations not yet born. We need to continually harvest our learnings to ensure adequate progression, holding all stakeholders to account. Every iteration will bring us one step closer to a more prosperous future.
