OSCE Mission in Kosovo helps improve youth participation in decision making

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 November 2011 – The OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in Kosovo organized today a conference on youth participation in decision making for youth action councils, municipal staff and civil society representatives.

Youth action councils were established in 2011 Kosovo-wide with the OSCE Mission’s assistance to represent and advocate interests of young people with institutions.

Participants of today’s conference which follows a similar event held in April 2011, assessed the progress made since that time, reviewed the strategy and action plans for 2012, as well as identified good practices and shortcomings in relations between the youth councils and local and central level institutions, and discussed how to best co-operate with civil society and international organizations. 

“We have a reason to be optimistic,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer. “Youth action councils have been established across Kosovo, and  local and central level institutions have started to address their concerns and respond to their initiatives and requests.”

“Back in April, when we gathered for the first time to discuss the matter, only a few action councils were formally acknowledged by municipalities, and now we are looking at more then 30 officially recognized councils, including the central one acknowledged by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports,” Almhofer said, adding that in 2012 the Mission would continue supporting the councils to further develop their relations with institutions and to build their advocacy skills.

Leotrim Germizaj, member of the Local Youth Action Council from Prizren, said: “We are seeing a difference in Prizren in the attitude of the municipal institutions towards our work: we have almost finalized the youth action plan with the municipality, and are now looking at the necessary budget for its implementation and ways to raise funds, both through municipal budget allocation and project grants.”

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human rights promotion and protection, democracy building and public safety development.