Participation...Participation...Active citizenship...Active citizenship...

European citizenship...European citizenship...Youth empowerment...Youth empowerment...

Inclusion...Inclusion...Young people with fewer opportunities...Young people with fewer opportunities...

- in a nutshell- in a nutshell

Urban Solutions 2 Seminar Urban Solutions 2 Seminar

Athens, Greece 15-19 October 2013Athens, Greece 15-19 October 2013

1) 1) Participation and active citizenship of young Participation and active citizenship of young peoplepeople

ParticipationParticipation is not an end in itselfnot an end in itself, but a means of a means of achieving positive changesachieving positive changes in young people’s lives and of of building a better societybuilding a better society.

Youth participation –

a variety of practices,

approaches and theories.

There is no definition or approach agreed on by everyone.no definition or approach agreed on by everyone.

 

““Participation in the democratic life of any community Participation in the democratic life of any community is is about about more than voting or standing for electionmore than voting or standing for election, although , although these are important elements. these are important elements. Participation and active Participation and active citizenship citizenship are about having the are about having the right, the means, the right, the means, the space and the opportunity and where necessary the space and the opportunity and where necessary the support support to participate in and influence decisions and to participate in and influence decisions and engaging in actions and activities so as to contribute to engaging in actions and activities so as to contribute to building a better society.” building a better society.” (the Revised Charter on the (the Revised Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life)participation of young people in local and regional life)

Participation as a rightParticipation as a right

Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union recognizes every citizen’s right to participate in the democratic life of the European every citizen’s right to participate in the democratic life of the European Union. Union.

Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulates that “Union action shall be aimed at encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socio-educational instructors, and encouraging the participation of young encouraging the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe”.people in democratic life in Europe”.

UNICEF sees participation as a human righta human right

and therefore the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child UN Convention of the Rights of the Child

underlines children’s right to participate.underlines children’s right to participate.

Roger Hart says that

participation is a fundamental right of citizenship because it is a way of learning what it means to be a citizen. participation is a fundamental right of citizenship because it is a way of learning what it means to be a citizen.

Participation - in the European Youth Policy and “Youth in Participation - in the European Youth Policy and “Youth in action”action”

One of the eight fields of action of the EU Youth Strategy “Investing and empowering” - EU Youth Strategy “Investing and empowering” - ensuring the full participation of young people in education, employment and society;ensuring the full participation of young people in education, employment and society;

One of the One of the permanent priorities permanent priorities of the “of the “Youth in action “programme;Youth in action “programme;

One of the objectives of the “Erasmus+ “ programme.One of the objectives of the “Erasmus+ “ programme.

Areas of participationAreas of participation

The United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly distinguishes the following areas of youth participation:

• economic participation economic participation – relates to employment and work in general, to economic development, building a stable economic situation in a society, a region or for young people as a group;

• political participation political participation – relates to authorities and governments, public policies, exercising power;

• social participation social participation – relates to involvement in the life of a local community, addressing local problems and challenges;

• cultural participation cultural participation – relates to different forms of art and expression (visual arts, music, film, dance, etc.).

Forms of participationForms of participation

• voluntary work;voluntary work;

• participating in different forms of non-formal education;participating in different forms of non-formal education;

• peer education (for example, health promotion peer education (for example, health promotion programmes, awareness-programmes, awareness-raising campaigns, etc.);raising campaigns, etc.);

• being active in an organisation/club and taking responsibility for some being active in an organisation/club and taking responsibility for some areas of its work;areas of its work;

• youth councils, parliaments, fora, boards and other structures;youth councils, parliaments, fora, boards and other structures;

• schools, clubs, NGOs, etc.;schools, clubs, NGOs, etc.;

Forms of participationForms of participation

• consultations – used in decision-making processes to voice needs and consultations – used in decision-making processes to voice needs and concerns and to make concerns and to make proposals;proposals;

• campaigning activities;campaigning activities;

• membership of political parties, unions, interest groups;membership of political parties, unions, interest groups;

• taking part in elections (both to vote and to be elected).taking part in elections (both to vote and to be elected).

New forms of participationNew forms of participation

• peer-to-peer networks;peer-to-peer networks;• discussion fora;discussion fora;• signing petitions;signing petitions;• participation in so-called “new social movements” (Occupy, participation in so-called “new social movements” (Occupy,

women’s movement, gay rights’ movement, ecology movement women’s movement, gay rights’ movement, ecology movement etc.);etc.);

• support groups;support groups;• boycotting of products;boycotting of products;• demonstrations;demonstrations;• international meetings;international meetings;• using the Internet to gather information, express views or influence using the Internet to gather information, express views or influence

decision-making processes.decision-making processes.

Obstacles to participationObstacles to participation

• different values and habits of young people and adults;different values and habits of young people and adults;

• different levels and types of experience;different levels and types of experience;

• lack of skills;lack of skills;

• lack of expertise on how to involve young people in a meaningful way;lack of expertise on how to involve young people in a meaningful way;

• place of youth in the social hierarchy (in some cultures young people place of youth in the social hierarchy (in some cultures young people traditionally have a very low position and little influence);traditionally have a very low position and little influence);

• patronising of youth by adults;patronising of youth by adults;

Obstacles to participationObstacles to participation

• mistrust between adults and young people;mistrust between adults and young people;

• lack of youth-friendly procedures and policies within organisations (for lack of youth-friendly procedures and policies within organisations (for example, large amounts of formal documents to read, analyse and react to);example, large amounts of formal documents to read, analyse and react to);

• costs related to youth participation;costs related to youth participation;

• location;location;

• lack of other necessary resources (extra time, for example);lack of other necessary resources (extra time, for example);

• accessibility for disabled people;accessibility for disabled people;

• school commitmentsschool commitments..

European citizenshipEuropean citizenship

The concept of “The concept of “European citizenshipEuropean citizenship” was launched by the ” was launched by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993Maastricht Treaty in 1993;;

20132013 – 20 – 20thth birthday of EU citizenship birthday of EU citizenship

- “European Year of Citizens “– focusing on the rights of every - “European Year of Citizens “– focusing on the rights of every EU citizen;EU citizen;

The rights of a EU citizen are, inter alia,:The rights of a EU citizen are, inter alia,:• move and reside freely within the EU; move and reside freely within the EU; • vote for and stand as a candidate in EP vote for and stand as a candidate in EP

and municipal elections; and municipal elections; • be protected by the diplomatic and be protected by the diplomatic and

consular authorities of any other EU country; consular authorities of any other EU country; • petition the European Parliament petition the European Parliament

and complain to the European Ombudsmanand complain to the European Ombudsman.

European citizenshipEuropean citizenship

Making young people aware that they are Making young people aware that they are European citizens European citizens - - permanent priority of permanent priority of the “Youth in Action”Programmethe “Youth in Action”Programme. .

The objective is The objective is to encourage young people to reflect on European to encourage young people to reflect on European topics topics and to and to involve them in the discussion on the construction and involve them in the discussion on the construction and the future of the European Unionthe future of the European Union. .

Youth empowermentYouth empowerment

Definition:Definition:

Youth empowerment Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and attitudinal, structural, and culturalcultural process whereby young people gain the ability and authority to make decisions and implement change make decisions and implement change in their own lives in their own lives and the lives of other people, including young people and adults.

Youth empowermentYouth empowerment

The EU Youth Strategy “Investing and empowering” The EU Youth Strategy “Investing and empowering” is is based on a dual approachdual approach:

• Investing in YouthInvesting in Youth: putting in place resources to develop policy areas that affect young people in their daily life and improve their well being.

• Empowering YouthEmpowering Youth: promoting the potential of young people for the renewal of society and to contribute to EU values and goals.

““Youth in action” – directly contributing to youth empowerment.Youth in action” – directly contributing to youth empowerment.

Which words to use…Which words to use…

• Disadvantaged young people• Young people from

disadvantaged backgrounds• Young people with fewer

opportunities (underprivileged)

Which words to use…Which words to use…

• Socially excluded / Socially excluded / young people at the margins young people at the margins of societyof society

• Social exclusion Social exclusion – > Inclusion> Inclusion

• Anti-racism Anti-racism – > Cultural diversity> Cultural diversity

Definition Youth in ActionDefinition Youth in Action

"Young people with fewer opportunities" are young people who are at a disadvantage compared to their peers because they face one or more situations or obstacles listed below:

•Social obstacles•Economic obstacles•Geographical obstacles•Educational difficulties•Cultural differences•Disability•Health problems

Thank you for your attention. Thank you for your attention.

Raluca DiroescuRaluca DiroescuSALTO-YOUTH Participation - SALTO-YOUTH Participation - raluca@salto-youth.net

& &

Tony GeudensTony GeudensSALTO-YOUTH Inclusion – SALTO-YOUTH Inclusion – tony@salto-youth.net