About this Program
The World Forum for Democracy is an annual gathering of policy-makers, academics, activists, youth representatives and democracy innovators, in the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg (France).
The Forum serves as a unique platform for political decision-makers and activists to debate solutions to key challenges for democracies worldwide. By identifying and analyzing experimental initiatives and practices, the Forum highlights and encourages democracy innovations at the grassroots and their transfer on a systemic level in order to strengthen the foundations of democratic societies. The Forum thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions.
Organized on an annual basis, the programme of the Forum features inspirational talks by thought leaders. Analytical labs will challenge proposed new solutions and identify ideas worth spreading. Moreover, the Form will actively foster the creation of networks and communities of practice, serving as incubators for turning ideas into action.
The role of the “Youth Delegation”
The Council of Europe youth sector aims at enabling young people across Europe to actively uphold, defend, promote and benefit from the Council of Europe’s core values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Youth for Democracy programme reflects this in four work priorities:
- Youth revitalizing democracy
- Young people’s access to rights
- Living together in peaceful and inclusive societies
- Youth work
The Reykjavik Declaration strengthened the role of youth policy by including a youth perspective in the Organization’s intergovernmental and other deliberations. This dimension is in addition to the principle of youth participation in decision-making which the Council of Europe has been implementing in its co-managed youth sector for more than 50 years. The Reykjavik Declaration demands a youth perspective and youth participation in decision-making processes in public policies and democratic institutions in general. The youth perspective should include:
- Thinking with youth
- Learning from and with youth
- Participating with youth
- Acting with youth and for youth
Objectives of the activity
The organization and participation of the youth delegation in the World Forum for Democracy 2024 pursues the following objectives:
- To secure a meaningful participation of youth leaders and young people in all the aspects of the World forum for Democracy
- To promote a youth perspective in the work of the forum, in particular on matters related top democracy and diversity
- To identify and share current trends, concerns and priorities of young people across the globe regarding democracy, diversity and the challenges to both concepts
- To enhance intercultural dialogue and cooperation by young people withing a framework of democratic participation and human rights.
Eligibility
The youth delegation will bring together some 60 participants who represent the diversity of young people around the globe and bring a variety of perspectives on Democracy and Diversity. In order to be selected and participate in the World Forum 2024, the youth applicants must be:
- Between 18 and 30 years of age
- Able to communicate and work in English
- Actively involved in youth organizations or other civil society organizations working with young people on issue of democracy and diversity
- Motivated to share their experiences on democracy and diversity and to contribute to developing new ideas on democracy and diversity
- Available to participate fully in the World Forum for Democracy and the Preparation process beforehand (i.e., online preparation and onsite presence in Strasbourg arriving on 3 November and departing on 9 November).
