Youth organisations magnify issues at fifth Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum meeting

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) held its fifth annual assembly on the 4th and 5th October in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. Symbolically titled Together for a European Future, the event gathered together representatives of various organisations, government institutions and agencies to discuss civil society’s role and contribution to reforming the EaP region.

During the assembly, elections were held for executive committee members of the EaP countries as well as for CSF’s working groups (WGs), including WG 4: Contacts Between People. Nikolai Kvantaliani, who boasts an extensive record of working with youth organisations and advocating for their inclusion, was re-elected as WG 4’s coordinator.

In “Youth policy and human rights,” a WG 4 subgroup discussion, the European Youth Forum described the mainstreaming youth policy, which it highlighted as an important area to include in many societal developments. Youth policy is not only connected to youth laws, volunteering or non-formal education, for instance. Rather, youth should be taken into account when developing any societal policy.

EaP youth organisations met with the Forum this past week to prepare for the assembly, during which they were encouraged to shape good recommendations reflective of the issues facing the region’s youth. They also learned about the structures and operations of the CSF to understand how their suggestions will influence the EaP CSF’s political processes.

The Forum advocates for strong youth organisations in Europe and welcomes coordination efforts by those in the EaP region. Only through inclusive and professional advocacy can their voices be heard. The region’s youth organisations are certainly heading in that direction.