Youth Forum and Advisory Council forge closer ties

The European Youth Forum and the Bureau of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe met on the 28th of January in Strasburg to discuss the continuing cooperation between both parties. The Youth Forum’s President, Johanna Nyman and Chair of the Advisory Council, Paulo Pinheiro, along with other members of their teams, identified common goals and synergies on how to better strive together for the rights of young people in Europe.

The Advisory Council on Youth is focusing on three main priorities for the 2014-2015 term: democratic governance and innovation, diversity and participation.

The series of meetings included a presentation of each organisation’s work plans, followed by a general discussion on youth rights and on youth participation and how to strengthen the Council of Europe’s work in this area.

Following the morning meetings, a sub-committee on education, youth and sport of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) hosted a networking event with the Advisory Council and the Youth Forum. This was followed by a discussion on how young people can contribute to peace and conflict resolution in Europe. During the event the President of PACE, Anne Brasseur and the Chair of Advisory Council, Paulo Pinheiro, as well as young experts and researchers addressed current conflicts between Armenia and Turkey, as well as Russia and Ukraine.

The Youth Forum looks forward to further cooperation with the Advisory Council for Youth of the Council of Europe, which through its co-management system whereby young people are directly involved in decision making, is a vital body for furthering the rights of young people.

http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/youth/Coe_youth/Advisory%20Council/Advisory_Council_on_Youth.asp