Challenges and effective practices for youth engagement throughout OSCE area explored at Warsaw event

Exploring obstacles young people face in engaging with democratic institutions and sharing examples of effective practice to support youth political participation were the focus of a side event held on the margins of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) in Warsaw on 18 September 2017.

Youth experts and practitioners, as well as representatives of governments, civil society organizations and youth-led organizations from OSCE participating States attended the side event co-organized by the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Permanent Missions of Spain and Switzerland to the OSCE and the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship.

"The more young people are engaged in public and political life, the greater their trust in democratic institutions,” said Augusta Featherston, ODIHR Youth Focal Point, adding that “effective strategies to strengthen youth participation encompass multiple approaches and initiatives.”

Anna-Katharina Deininger, the Chairmanship’s Special Representative on Youth and Security, underlined that the added value of youth participation in decision-making processes is manifold.

“Among other positives, it contributes to developing active citizenship skills and to creating effective policies that adequately address the needs of young women and men,” she said. “Youth engagement can benefit the young individuals themselves, our organization and its participating States, as well as society as a whole.”

Event participants noted that trends across the OSCE area indicate that a number of young people are increasingly engaged in issue-based activism and advocacy, favoring new and creative tools to share their perspectives and influence policy- and decision-making, rather than conventional forms of public participation, such as membership in political parties.

It was also stressed that strong democratic institutions rely on informed and engaged citizens who have the ability to leverage their rights to participate in the work of public and political institutions and to advocate for positive change in their communities. New information and communication technologies, including social media and online platforms, offer a range of civic engagement opportunities to young people, including identifying and researching issues of importance, sharing information and connecting with like-minded peers.

“Youth engagement and increased participation were key demands expressed by young participants during the OSCE Youth Forum in Málaga earlier this year,” said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger. “Working with youth is crucial for achieving sustainable and inclusive results, and we are ready to continue our efforts to engage with them.”