Ejolee Mitchell

IFP Research Paper

Professor Everita Silina

July 29, 2014

Turkey and the Youth

The history of modeling the young generation into the ideal man dates back to the

French Revolution. During this time, there was a heavy emphasis on ensuring that the

future generations were strong enough to fight and go to war. The idea of the nation-state

is the reasoning behind the ideal man. Believing in the society, its morals and laws are

what nations hoped to achieve by ingraining this into the younger generations.

This is a practice is one that continued and spread throughout various other

countries, Turkey being one of them. Focusing on sports and education in the past led to

creating the ideal Turk. The idea of shaping the youth into the ideal Turk, someone who

has the same ideals of the nation, has been apart of Turkish society for ages. 1 It's

hypocritical of the society to now exclude the youth in the current development of the

country.

Today in order to convey this message countries have no adopted and created

National Youth Councils and national policy. Although the mission and purpose of

creating the ideal man who believes in their country is no longer the driving force, there

is the need to protect and ensure that the youth have the same support to grow and

develop.

1Esen, Orhan. History of Istanbul (July 2014).

Currently in Turkey, the government claims that it support the development youth

within the country however its actions depict another story. By the government creating

Youth Camps that are gender segregated and hosting community events aimed at the

Muslim population shows that it is not trying to improve the lives of the youth. Instead, it

is trying to model them into the ideal Turk, one that has the beliefs of the Turkish

National Government and has strong family values. This agenda can be clearly seen

throughout the government’s National Youth Policy and in its attempts to create a

government led National Youth Council, an organization that usually has no linage to a

government office.

In this paper I will discuss the functions of a National Youth Council (NYC), a

national youth policy (NYP) and how the establishment of both can benefit the youth

within a society. Using examples from various NYCs and youth policies, I will highlight

the benefits and importance of these organizations in conjunction with youth policies.

Using Turkey as a case study, I will explore the countries youth policy and examine its

attempt at establishing an NYC both within the government and civil society. From this

paper, I hope to conclude that the Turkish governments attempt at creating an NYC

hinder the effectiveness of the council and how it can be used as a tool of manipulation as

well. Providing background on Turkey's Youth Policy, Ministry of Youth and Sports I

aim at explaining the complexity of a national youth council and national youth policy in

Turkey.

Methodology

To obtain the information for this paper, I conducted first and second hand

research. The resources used in this paper come from various websites, academic

journals, news articles and books relating to youth development, youth policy and

national youth councils. Other sources include In addition; I conducted personal

interviews with staff of Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı (TOG), a youth organization located in

Istanbul, Turkey, which main purpose is to promote social peace, solidarity and change

amongst the youth by them together, regardless of background through volunteering.2

These interviews provided me with a better understanding of Turkish youth of the past

and present. Furthermore, having had the opportunity to engage with various people in

Turkey I will add their insight into this paper as well. Lastly, I will draw upon prior

research done on the subject of youth in Turkey to provide background on the topic. It is

important to note that I will not measure the effectiveness of a national youth policy and

national youth council I will only comparing the effects of a national youth council and

national youth policy within Turkey. The reason being is that gather the statistical data to

prove whether or not a country with a NYC and NYP in various countries is beyond the

realm of this paper.

National Youth Policy and National Youth Councils

n 2013, there were 1809.6 million young people, ages of 10-24, in the world

making up 25% of the world's population.3 Furthermore of 198 countries, 122 countries

(62 %) have a national youth policy, up from 99 (50 %) in 2013.4 “Nearly all countries

2 Toplum Gönüllüleri. FAQ. https://tog.org.tr/EN/faq_137.3 Population Reference Bureau. "The World's Youth 2013 Data Sheet."6. Data Sheet, 20134 Youth Policy Press. "The State of Youth Policy 2014." Youthpolicy.com. 2014. http://www.youthpolicy.org/library/wp-content/uploads/library/2014_State_Youth_Policy_2014_En.pdf (accessed 6 27, 2014). Page 8.

(96.0%/190 countries) have a national governmental authority responsible for youth, and

66.2 % of all countries (131 countries) have a national youth organization or association.5

National Youth Policy

There are various definitions of a national youth policy. According to various

country government documents the definition of a national youth policy can be can be

concluded as a policy that will ensure the development of youth within the society by

targeting issues that pertain specifically to youth.

Author of A European Framework for Youth Policy Lasse Siurala writes, “public

youth policy should reflect the challenges and obstacles young people face in their

transition from childhood to adulthood and it should be based on the political objectives

and guidelines adopted by a local city council, national government or intergovernmental

organization”.6

Written in the United Way Ontario: Youth Policy Outcome Strategy, “a national youth

policy is a declaration of the commitment a country gives to its young people. A youth

policy should define objectives, strategies and concrete steps to achieve its goals. It

should be based upon national dialogue and a successful partnership of relevant

stakeholders.”7

Various sources have stated the important of national youth policies. For example,

Turkey’s National Youth and Sport Policy Document state, “national youth policies are

5 Youth Policy Press. "The State of Youth Policy 2014." Youthpolicy.com. 2014. http://www.youthpolicy.org/library/wp-content/uploads/library/2014_State_Youth_Policy_2014_En.pdf (accessed 6 27, 2014). Page 30.6 Siurala, Lasse. European Framework of Youth Policy. Directorate of Youth and Sport, Council of Europe, 2005. Page 77 Dagnino, Michelle. "United Way Ontario: Youth Policy Outcome Strategy ." September 2009. http://www.michelledagnino.com/pdf/2011/youth_policy_outcomes_strategy_DAGNINO.pdf (accessed 2014). Page 2.

important social variables and a determining factor, which concerns not only young

people, but also the family, institutions and everyone else within the society.8 It is an

indispensable factor for the participation of young people as active individuals in every

aspect of society. It is a tool in which the youth can develop and advance the skills and

capabilities they already possess. In addition to this, youth policies are the means of

protection for young people from abuse and neglect.

National youth policies affect today and the future. The youth should be seen as a

unique group requiring specific attention due to their vulnerability and openness to abuse

during the most important period of their lives. Furthermore, young people should be

accepted as a dynamic human resource and positive power that will have a role in the

construction of the future.9

National Youth Council

Similar to national youth policies various sources have defined a national youth

council. According to Başak Tuğsavul, Manager of the Youth Researches Department at

TOG, National Youth Councils are an umbrella for youth organizations that make

contributions to the government’s youth policy. The aim is to represent all youth and

contributor to all youth issues and policies within a country.10

In A European Framework for Youth Policy, NYCs are defined as umbrella

organizations for youth NGOs and sometimes also other actors in youth work. It’s

8 T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği. The National Youth and Sports Policy Document. Ankara: T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği, 2013. Page 5.9 Ibid.10 Tuğsavul, Başak, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014)

functioning primarily as a service organization to their members, but can also be a lobby

and advocacy body.11

The NYC represents the youth population based off its member organizations thus

having the ability to be an advocate for the youth. A NYC should not be under the control

of governmental control and should exist separately and have autonomy. Being that the

NYC is meant to represent all youth regardless of religion, ethnicity, sexuality and non-

partisan the idea of having a NYC establish by the government opposes a conflict of

interest. With a government established NYC, the ideals and values of the political

regime will dictate the NYC agenda. Having government led NYC can hinder the

democracy of the organization. While all political regimes/governments have morals and

values that benefit the entire population embracing all of its citizen’s differences, this

cannot be said for all countries.

According to the National Youth Council Report, there are 4 key reasons why to

establish a NYC.12 The first reason is to create an umbrella organization for youth

organizations because there is strength in numbers. Having an untied and unified

organization that can be a driving force in youth policy can help ensure successful and

effective youth policy. The second reason is to establish a relationship between the

government and youth organizations in order to influence youth policy. Establishing a

relationship with the government creates a dialogue between the state and youth helping

easier the implementation of youth policy and programs in the country.13 Third is to

11 Siurala, Lasse. European Framework of Youth Policy. Directorate of Youth and Sport, Council of Europe, 2005. Page 3812 Siebert, Clarisse Kehler, and Franziska Seel. National Youth Councils: Their creation, evolution, purpose and governance. International Research Project, Toronto: TakingITGlobal, 2006. Page 3313 Siebert, Clarisse Kehler, and Franziska Seel. National Youth Councils: Their creation, evolution, purpose and governance. International Research Project, Toronto:

promote youth issues and youth participation within the youth community. Establishing a

NYC within a country can help change the youth’s perception being ignored by the

government. Lastly, having international presences can forge relationship abroad for

potential programming is the final reason for a NYC.

Most national youth councils and youth policies vary from country to country.

While there are common objectives and structures both NYCs and NYPs cater to the

needs of a specific country. As seen in appendix C the structure of a National Youth

Council can be seen. Each youth council has a similar mission, objectives and structures.

For example the National Youth Council of Ireland composition consists of Members,

Staff, Board and NCYI Assembly. Members of the NYCI represent 46 various youth

organizations within Ireland “that work with over 400,000 young people.”14 “NYCI

Membership is open to any voluntary or community sector organization whose work

involves delivering youth work services to young people under 25 or are advocating on

behalf of young people and that agree with NYCI’s vision where all young people are

empowered to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to realize their potential and

to actively participate in an inclusive society that values and respects them.”15 NCYI

Assembly is highest decision-making body, which gathers once a year and addresses

financial, organizational and constitutional matters.16 “The Board of NYCI is the

Governing body of the National Youth Council of Ireland. It represents all member

organizations and is ultimately responsible to the Member Organizations. The Board

TakingITGlobal, 2006. Page 3314 National Youth Council of Ireland. NYCI Structure. http://www.youth.ie/nyci/structure (accessed July 2014).

15 National Youth Council of Ireland. NYCI Structure. http://www.youth.ie/nyci/structure (accessed July 2014).16 Ibid.

implements the work program and policies of the National Youth Council of Ireland and

it is the decision making body between assemblies.”17

The NYCI has five program initiatives that it are working on, child protection,

youth arts, development education, youth health and intercultural. Each program aims to

enhance the development of youth via different tools. For example, the intercultural

program “seeks to promote and encourage an intercultural and anti-racist approach as a

sustainable feature of youth work in Ireland. We aim to promote equality of opportunity,

interaction, understanding, respect and integration between different cultures, ethnic and

religious groups as we see difference as something positive that can enrich a society.”18

There are also continental youth councils such as The European Youth Forum

(YFJ), which is the platform of youth organizations in Europe. Representing 99 youth

organizations, both National Youth Councils and International Non-Governmental Youth

Organizations, it believes youth organizations are the tool through which we empower,

encourage, involve, represent, reach out and support young people. The Youth Forum

brings together tens of millions of young people from all over Europe, organized in order

to represent their common interests.19

But why is there a need for national youth councils and national youth policy?

The reason being is that due to a lack of institutions and government legislation within

society to advocate for the needs of youth. Currently Europe has the most amounts of

national youth councils and national youth policies. Countries such as the United States

17 Ibid.18 National Youth Council of Ireland . NYCI Programmes. http://www.youth.ie/about_nyci/nyci_programmes (accessed July 2014).

19 European Youth Forum. An emerging youth council in Turkey. March 2014. http://www.youthforum.org/latest-news/an-emerging-youth-council-in-turkey/#sthash.xZCLbXqr.dpuf (accessed July 2014)

and Iran have no national youth policy or national youth councils. Although countries

such as Turkey and Bulgaria have national youth policies, these countries lack a national

youth council, which provides a checks and balances system for national youth policies.

As the main institution that benefits from the youth policy a national youth council must

be in tandem with a national youth policy.

But why is there a need for youth policies or national youth councils?

Governments depend on different agencies, ministers and organizations within society to

absolve youth issues into the agenda. For example, education ministries or departments,

depending on the government’s framework, handle issues of youth education taking on

the responsibility of all and any issues that pertain to youth in the educational system.

Another example of this occurs in the employment departments within the government.

While the issues of youth education and youth unemployment are important and address

there is a huge neglect of all issue that effect the youth such as transitioning from school

to the workforce, political sovereignty and civil liberties. Furthermore, having these

offices take on the responsibility of these youth agendas takes away from the other people

they have to serve. All the the issues that effect the youth are interconnected. For

example, uneducated youth cannot obtain gainful employment or youth who cannot

afford health care work low wage jobs.

Countries claim preventative youth policies or practices are effective youth

policies however it do not encourage personal or professional development instead it

hinders this development. For example in America there are many drug-free programs

that have supported, influenced or developed by the government. While the programming

does teach youth the consequences of drug use, it does not add to their development.

Countries make public policy to address youth instead of having one concrete

youth policy that addresses all issues of youth. This practice that states use addresses the

symptoms of youth issues instead of addressing the actual issue that effects the youth. For

example, there are programs that address drug use, youth crime, youth obesity and youth

unemployment.

Turkey and Youth: Overview

The Article 58 of the Turkish constitution declares:

“The State shall take measures to ensure the education and

development of the youth into whose keeping our

independence and our Republic are entrusted, in the light of

positive science, in line with the principles and reforms of

Atatürk, and in opposition to ideas aiming at the destruction

of the indivisible integrity of the State with its territory and

nation. The State shall take necessary measures to protect

youth from addiction to alcohol and drugs, crime”20

The youth have played an important role in the establishment of present day

Turkey under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. There was a heavy push to “create a young

generation informed by the ideology of the new republic and this agenda was realized

through the establishment of a national education system.”21 The youth were equal

20 Turkey. "Article 58." Consititution of the Republic of Turkey. 21 Demir, Ilkay. "The Development and Current State of Youth Research in Turkey An Overview." Young, Feburary 2012: 89-114.Page 91

members of society, their total capabilities utilized, nothing marginalized, who were

meant to be “hardworking, strong-minded, preferring societal benefits over individual

benefits, and who socialized for the purpose of higher national and cultural ideals, rather

than socializing at dancing halls, cinemas or football games.”22

Furthermore, to solidify Atatürk’s commitment to youth he claimed May 19th is as

Youth and Sports Day to commemorate The Independence War. 23 Thus proving how

much the young generations mean to the development the Republic of Turkey.

Turkey’s population is estimated to be 81,619,392 by July 2014, in which 16% is

the youth.24 Whereas in the United States, the population is estimated to be 318,892,103,

an estimate for July 2014, of which 13.7% is youth.25 Being that Turkey has a larger

youth population, the effects of youth unemployment are more drastic.

To further support the claim that Turkish society needs to cater more to issues of

the youth: the CIA dependency ratios26 of the youth in Turkey is 38.3% with a potential

support ratio of 9.1%.27 In comparison the United States has a 29.4% youth dependency

22 Demir, Ilkay. "The Development and Current State of Youth Research in Turkey An Overview." Young, Feburary 2012: 89-114.Page 9223 Gül, H.E. President Abdullah. May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. March 2014. http://www.tccb.gov.tr/speeches-statements/344/89534/may-19th-commemoration-of-ataturk-youth-and-sports-day.html (accessed July 2014).24 Central Intellegince Agency. "Turkey." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html (accessed July 2014).25 Central Inteligence Agency. "United States." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html (accessed July 2014).26 (Central Intelligency Agency 2014)“Dependency ratios are a measure of the age structure of a population. They relate the number of individuals that are likely to be economically "dependent" on the support of others.”27 Central Intellegince Agency. "Turkey." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html (accessed July 2014).

ratio with a 4.8% potential support ratio.28 Given that the dependency ratio measures the

amount of people who may become economically dependent upon the government it is

apparent that the youth of Turkey will require better policies to avoid this occurrence.

The number of unemployed youth in Turkey is 17.3%29, which is equal to that of

the United States. However, based on a country comparison of youth unemployment

Turkey holds a ranking of 71, two spots above the United States.30 While both countries

have the same percentage of unemployed youth, where the discrepancies lie in the

amount of the populations.

Before 2009 Turkey had no youth policies but after a report written by United

Nations Development Programme, titled Youth in Turkey, there was a surge of youth

policy and development initiatives within the government. Since then the government has

established the Ministry of Youth and Sport, established in June of 2011 and headed by

Suat Kılıç, which is in charge of regulating sports activities and youth development in

Turkey. In addition, youth organizations have begun to partner with other organizations

and the government to create youth policies are geared toward the positive development

of youth.

28 Central Inteligence Agency. "United States." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html (accessed July 2014).29 Central Intellegince Agency. "Turkey." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html (accessed July 2014).30 Centreal Intelegncy Ageny. "Country Comparison,Unemployment, youth ages 15-24." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2229rank.html?countryname=Turkey&countrycode=tu&regionCode=mde&rank=71#tu (accessed July 2014).

The Turkish government shows much support to the development of youth.

Examples of this can be seen in any press that comes from the government for example in

2012 Prime Minister Erdoğan said, “only countries that trust their youth and educate

them accordingly can exist. That’s why all our efforts are aimed at providing a suitable

environment for them to develop themselves and the country. The youth are the guarantee

of our future,” 31

Additionally, In Turkish President Abdullah Gül’s address on May 19th for the

Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day he states “youth has the most

important duty in this regard. It is our young population who will carry further our

country too much higher levels. Therefore, it is crucial that we turn our demographic

opportunities in terms of having a young population into an advantage. We would like

our youth to have more active and participatory roles in economic, social and political

life. We also aim at raising youth who have lofty and liberal ideals, who are loyal to our

national and spiritual values, who chase after innovativeness, who make research, who

can produce and who are tech-savvy.32

Ministry of Youth and Sport: Overview

Beginning as a Directorate of Physical Education in 1938 the Ministry of Youth

and Sport was established in the 1966 election. However, in the 1983 election the

ministry was absolved and became the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports.

31 Hürriyet Daily News. Turkey marks May 19 Youth Day. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11677512.asp32 Gül, H.E. President Abdullah. May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. March 2014. http://www.tccb.gov.tr/speeches-statements/344/89534/may-19th-commemoration-of-ataturk-youth-and-sports-day.html (accessed July 2014).

During this period, other government agencies assumed the role and responsibilities of

the eliminated ministry. These agencies supported the various government youth and

sport activates in addition to their own responsibilities. After the election of Prime

Minister Erdoğan, the Ministry of Youth and Sports was reinstated in 2011.

The ministry’s duties include supporting the personal and social development of

youth. It aims to create policies that adhere to the various groups of young people to meet

their needs. As a result, the Ministry hopes to influence young people’s potential

decision-making and increase their civic participation in all spheres of society. To ensure

this mission, the Ministry has established various objectives in order to provide the

services needed by youth. These include; creating opportunities for study and research in

the field of youth information for guidance and counseling in order to develop

recommendations; establishing youth studies and projects to determine the procedures

and principles; implementing youth work and projects; promote sports activities and

lastly to identify policies to be implemented in the field of sports and international rules

and instructions to ensure the implementation.”33

Turkish Government Youth Policy and National Youth Council:

Over the past decade, Turkey has been transitioning from a secular country to an

Islamic State under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political regime. In an

article from World Affairs, writers Hillel Fradkin and Lewis Libby states that he has been

claimed to be “one ready to abandon Ataturk’s secular state structures and Western

orientation.”34 Furthermore, he has been “promoting Islam throughout Turkey’s

33Turkey. "Organization And Duties Of The Ministry Of Youth And Sports Law Decree."34 Fradkin, Hillel, and Lewis Libby. "Erdogan's Grand Vision: Rise and Decline." World Affairs, 2013

bureaucracies and particularly in schools to raise what he called a “new religious

generation” and promote a more religious Turkey.”35 The article continues, “His

government has not only expanded the sphere for ordinary expressions of Islam—for

example, the wearing of headscarves—but has at the same time contracted the universe of

other liberties.”36

In 2011 Turkey’s youth policies were limited and focused mostly on alleviating

youth unemployment and the creation of youth centers were youth could go and improve

their social interactions. As summarized in the Country Sheet on Youth Policy, The Ninth

Development Plan states “equal opportunities will be provided for the women, the young,

and the long-term unemployed, the disabled and former convicts, who encounter

difficulties in the labor market” as its policy towards youth.

In 2013 the Ministry of Youth and Sport planned to conduct “15 regional youth

workshops with the participation of 7500 young people from 81 provinces” as part of

their youth policy. The workshops focused on five key components: youth infrastructure,

youth in social life, health, sports and environment, and democracy and participation. The

youth infrastructure segment was meant to strengthen the infrastructure of education,

employment, entrepreneurship and productivity. Youth in social life focused on

achieving social inclusion, common study with world youth, and volunteering. Health,

Sport and Environment focused on increasing sports activities, access to sanitary services

and environment consciousness and sensitiveness. Ethnic and Humanitarian Values

objective is to increase culture, art and leisure activities, inform young people, and

communication via the Internet and social media. Lastly, Democracy and Participation

35 Ibid36 Ibid

focused on democratic participation of the youth. In this plan, the ministry does note that

that the lack of the National Youth Council is crucial to a successful youth policy.37

Current in Turkey there are there are two initiatives to establish a national youth council;

one by youth civil society organizations and the other by the Turkish Ministry of Youth

and Sports.38

The Turkish government is trying to establish its own NYC the issue of morals

and representation is prevalent. For example, the Turkish government has held various

community events for the youth however these events are being held at local mosques.

Being that not all Turkish youth are Muslim this event presences a problem because it

excludes non-religious youth. The Turkish government wants to use the NYC and youth

policy to mold the youth of Turkey into the ideal Turk. It wants a future that believes the

same traditional, national and patriarchal morals. By creating the Ministry of Youth and

Sport, spreading about these ideas has been easier. This tactic, in fact, dates back to the

French Revolution when the idea of the ideal man was healthy and fit, ready for war at a

moments notice but young enough to mold. The perfect way in which to create this union

was creating a ministry dedicated to the current state of the country, but also its future,

hence the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

Turkey wants a NYC in order to prove to their European counterparts it too can

be European. Having an NYC and a youth policy shows that Turkey is developing as a

democracy, an issue European nations have pointed out. The other reason is to have

power. By establishing a NYC Turkey will have control of the youth population thus

37Arikan, Salih. "New Youth Policy In Turkey ." 2013.38 European Youth Forum. An emerging youth council in Turkey. March 2014. http://www.youthforum.org/latest-news/an-emerging-youth-council-in-turkey/#sthash.xZCLbXqr.dpuf (accessed July 2014).

furthering the development of Turkish nationalism.

Yörük Kurtaran, former General Manager of Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı, he states

that the main focus of a government in relation to youth is creating a generation of people

who will continue to carry on the legacy of what it means to be a Turk, which is an

individual who has high family values and believes in the Turkish state. It wants to create

the ideal person via both youth policy and a NYC.39 Based off Turkey’s current youth

policy it is apparent what is the government’s main goal. For example, section 5.2 of

Turkey’s youth policy is dedicated to Family. Within this section, it states the importance

of family and how “the structural features of family as the fundamental element of

society determine social structure as well.”40 Policy 2 within the Family sections states

“The adoption, protection and development of family values by young people.”41 This

policy explicitly furthers the notion that Turkey wants to install family values onto

Turkish youth. Listed under this policy are various targets or objectives one being “To

encourage social projects aiming at increasing the sensitivity of young people towards

family values.”42

Today’s policy reflects the ideology of the government. It wants to keep the

legacy of the nation however theses traditions highlight the negativity within the society

and are patriarchal. These views reflect the mindset of a religious, conservative and

tradition society. There is also the influence of family values however it neglects issues

39 Kurtaran, Yörük, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014).

40 T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği. The National Youth and Sports Policy Document. Ankara: T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği, 2013. Page 1341 T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği. The National Youth and Sports Policy Document. Ankara: T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği, 2013. Page1542 Ibid

such as political autonomy and finical stability. Furthermore, there is no social support

for the youth and there needs to be a system set in place which will provide scholarships,

employment, health and social security.

According to Kurtana, this as one of the major problems with having a

government established NYC. The other issue Kurtaran addresses is the structure of the

youth council.43 Even though the programs the government proposes are youth based and

promote civic participation the issues comes from how it obtain this. The government

will limit who can participate only choice organizations it approves creating a

misrepresentation within programming. For example, the Ministry of Youth and Sport’s

Youth Camps are segregated, one for boys and one for girls. After examining the Youth

Camp website, it is clear to see this divide. While there is no documentation of the

reasoning behind the separation on the website, journalist Belgin Akaltan sites the

reasoning as the government’s attempt to create a new society one that is depicted in

Aldous Huxley’s novel A Brave New World.44 When questioned about the separation of

girls and boys in youth camps former Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kılıç states

the reasoning of the separation because “cannot ensure safety and that families

appreciated the new gender segregation.”45 He continues to say that since the

implementing of the segregation the amount of applicants to youth camps have increased

43 Kurtaran, Yörük, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014).

44 Akaltan, Belgin. Brave New Turkey, non-coed. March 2, 2013. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/brave-new-turkey-non-coed.aspx?pageID=238&nID=42135&NewsCatID=469 (accessed July 2014).Arikan, Salih. "New Youth Policy In Turkey ." 2013.45 Hürriyet Daily News. Turkish sports minister cannot ‘ensure safety’ at coed camps. Feburary 2013. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-sports-minister-cannot-ensure-safety-at-coed-camps.aspx?pageID=238&nid=42046 (accessed July 2014).

going from 10,000 to 200,000 between 2012 and 2013.46

As for the civil society led NYC, Başak Tuğsavul states that it wants to affect

policy nationally, create local projects and gain international recognition however it does

run the risk of being politicized. There is the chance of having political agendas or

following certain political ideologies. A problem that unorganized youth organizations of

Turkey face is the issue of representation within the council and its potential members.

This is an issue that lies within the framework of NYCs. Organizations must apply for

membership to join the council there is the possibility that it may not meet the

requirements. Although there are no definite criteria as yet the goal for NYC

membership, it will mimic one close to that of Ireland’s NYC. It wants to establish will

be open to all youth NGOs, it will not discriminate against; age, sex, ethnicity or religion,

and it will create common principles that promote gender balance ecologic and religious

acceptance. The biggest thing the Turkish youth organizations want to write a paper on

the youth issues within Turkey.47

Conditions of the youth organizations are to have a youth policy that promotes

freedom of expression, political, and social freedoms, alleviation of youth

unemployment. The youth council should have voting rights and should have the legal

rights to make effective change.

Despite the lack of proper governing body, earlier this year members of various

youth organizations within Turkey gathered in Ankara to discuss the establishment of a

National Youth Council. While there has been model no set in place as yet youth

46 Ibid47 Tuğsavul, Başak, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014).

organizations have met to discuss the legal rights of the proposed organization. One of

the problems the group faces is deciding what the actual council model should resemble.

Looking to examples of other national youth councils the group is trying to decipher

which model would best suit them, one that focuses on policy or one that focuses on

youth programming. Another issues that plague the council is the delay to from civil

society organizations being that the have trouble agreeing to what to cover.

Conclusion

Turkey has the history of trying to create to ideal Turk at the beginning at its

establishment it used the start of a new republic to project its idea onto its citizens but

now Turkey has begun crafting laws that carry on that traditional. Turkey developed a

youth policy that appears to benefit the youth however it is just a tool to instill their

nationalist conservative views on the youth. Furthermore, with talk of creating a

government led NYC practice has found a new way. Just as the youth policy the

government led NYC, although not established as yet, is seen to mimic the ideas listed in

the youth policy and has created a way to enforce its opinions. By the programs the

Ministry of Youth and Sports has implemented the odds of the NYC having a different

agenda are not likely. This is why having a youth organization led NYC is so important

to Turkey. The establishment of an institution that stands for the rights of the youth but

also provides a checks and balance system for the government’s youth policy and

Ministry of Youth and Sport is desperately needed in turkey. Fortunately, the talks of a

civil society led NYC have been in the works for quite some time in Turkey however it

has not been established as yet. From experts Tuğsavul and Kurtaran, the faults of both

systems have bee pointed out however a civil society led NYC is better not only for the

youth but society as a whole. What Turkey's government lacks is a proper checks and

balance system from a non-governmental institution. The Turkish government needs to

be held accountable for it's actions and the best way to start this practice is with the

youth. Being that it are the future if this process is established now future generations of

turkey will expect such a system to exist in all aspects of the government. Nonetheless,

given turkey's current political regime this practice may never occur. 

Work Cited1. Akaltan, Belgin. Brave New Turkey, non-coed. March 2, 2013.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/brave-new-turkey-non-coed.aspx?pageID=238&nID=42135&NewsCatID=469 (accessed July 2014).

2. Arikan, Salih. "New Youth Policy In Turkey ." 2013.3. Central Inteligence Agency. "United States." CIA Factbook. 2014.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html (accessed July 2014).

4. Central Intellegince Agency. "Turkey." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html (accessed July 2014).

5. Central Intelligency Agency. "Defintions and Notes." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2261&alphaletter=D&term=Dependency%20ratios. (accessed July 2014).

6. Centreal Intelegncy Ageny. "Country Comparison,Unemployment, youth ages 15-24." CIA Factbook. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2229rank.html?countryname=Turkey&countrycode=tu&regionCode=mde&rank=71#tu (accessed July 2014).

7. Dagnino, Michelle. "United Way Ontario: Youth Policy Outcome Strategy ." September 2009. http://www.michelledagnino.com/pdf/2011/youth_policy_outcomes_strategy_DAGNINO.pdf (accessed 2014).

8. Demir, Ilkay. "The Development and Current State of Youth Research in Turkey An Overview." Young, Feburary 2012: 89-114.

9. Esen, Orhan. History of Istanbul (July 2014).10. European Youth Forum. An emerging youth council in Turkey. March 2014.

http://www.youthforum.org/latest-news/an-emerging-youth-council-in-turkey/#sthash.xZCLbXqr.dpuf (accessed July 2014).

11. Fradkin, Hillel, and Lewis Libby. "Erdogan's Grand Vision: Rise and Decline." World Affairs, 2013.

12. Gül, H.E. President Abdullah. May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. March 2014. http://www.tccb.gov.tr/speeches-statements/344/89534/may-19th-commemoration-of-ataturk-youth-and-sports-day.html (accessed July 2014).

13. Hürriyet Daily News. Turkey marks May 19 Youth Day. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11677512.asp.

14. Hürriyet Daily News. Turkish sports minister cannot ‘ensure safety’ at coed camps. Feburary 2013. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-sports-minister-cannot-ensure-safety-at-coed-camps.aspx?pageID=238&nid=42046 (accessed July 2014).

15. Keniş, Şebnem, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014).

16. Kurtaran, Yörük, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014).

17. National Youth Council of Ireland . NYCI Programmes. http://www.youth.ie/about_nyci/nyci_programmes (accessed July 2014).

18. National Youth Council of Ireland. Membership Criteria. http://www.youth.ie/nyci/Membership-Criteria (accessed July 2014).

19. National Youth Council of Ireland. NYCI Structure. http://www.youth.ie/nyci/structure (accessed July 2014).

20. National Youth Council of Ireland.. How to Become a Member. http://www.youth.ie/nyci/how-become-member (accessed July 2014).

21. Population Reference Bureau. "The World's Youth 2013 Data Sheet." Data Sheet, 2013.

22. Powell, Abby Young, and Libby Page. "We don't vote because we feel ignored, say students." thegaurdian.com. Feburary 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/education/abby-and-libby-blog/2014/feb/20/students-voting-european-union-report (accessed July 21, 2014).

23. Siebert, Clarisse Kehler, and Franziska Seel. National Youth Councils: Their creation, evolution, purpose and governance. International Research Project, Toronto: TakingITGlobal, 2006.

24. T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği. The National Youth and Sports Policy Document. Ankara: T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanliği, 2013.

25. Tuğsavul, Başak, interview by Ejolee Mitchell. Youth Policy and National Youth Councils (July 2014).

26. Turkey. "Article 58." Consititution of the Republic of Turkey. 27. Turkey. "Organization And Duties Of The Ministry Of Youth And Sports Law

Decree. ." Turkey.28. Youth Policy Press. "The State of Youth Policy 2014." Youthpolicy.com. 2014.

http://www.youthpolicy.org/library/wp-content/uploads/library/2014_State_Youth_Policy_2014_En.pdf (accessed 6 27, 2014).

Appendix ACountry Overview

Total Population48

Youth Population49

Definition of Youth50

YDI51 Youth Unemployment Rates

Government Youth Institutions

National Youth Policy

National Youth Council

Belgium 10,449,361 27.30% 12-29 0.7419.80%

Yes Yes (Flemish)

Yes (Flemish)

Brazil 202,656,788 40.30% 15-29 0.6415.40%

Yes Yes Yes

Bulgaria6,924,716

24.3% 15-29 0.6928.10%

Yes Yes No

Canada 34,834,841 28.20% 15-2 or 16-28 0.82

14.30% No (Local institutions i.e. Quebec)

No (Local institutions

i.e. Quebec)

No

Czech Republic

10,627,44825.5% 15-30 0.73

19.50%Yes Yes Yes

Denmark 5,569,077 30.10% 15-29 0.7714.10%

No Yes Yes

Greece 10,775,557 23.90% 15-35 0.7255.30%

Yes Yes Yes

Iran80,840,713

42.4% 15-29 0.66-

Yes No No

Ireland 4,832,765 33.30% 10-25 0.74330.40%

No Yes Yes

Mexico120,286,655

46% 12-29 0.749.40%

YesCurrently

being drafted

No

Saudi Arabia

27,345,98646.9% 15-24 0.56

28.30%Yes No No

Turkey81,619,392

42.3% 15-30 0.6917.50%

Yes Yes No

Ukraine44,291,413

25.5% 14-35 0.7317.30%

Yes Yes Yes

United States 318,892,103 33% 12-25 0.8

16.20%No

Currently being

draftedNo

48 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

49 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

50 http://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/

51 http://www.youthdevelopmentindex.org/cms/cms-youth/_images/197918019952385f3219c75.pdf

Appendix BNational Youth Policy Overview

Main Objectives Institutions Responsibility Legislation

Belgium

• Opportunity equality for the

youth• Personal and professional development

• Encouraging participation in

civil society

• Finically supporting all youth institutions

• Developing and analyzing youth policies

• Providing aid to youth work• Informing the public on youth

policy

None

Brazil

• Promoting autonomy and

emancipation of young people;

• Developing and promoting social

and political participation, directly and through its

representations;• Promote creativity and participation in the development of

the country;• Recognition of

youth as a subject of universal,

generational and individual rights;• Promoting the

well-being of trial and full

development of the youth;

• Regarding the identity and

individual and collective diversity

of youth;• Promoting safe life, culture of

peace, solidarity and non-

discrimination, and• Enhancing the

dialogue and interaction with

others of the young generations.

• Encourage free association of young people.

• Provide the youth who have not completed basic education

programs in the form of education for young people and adults, tailored to the needs and specificities of youth, including at night, except for the special

education laws.• Ensure the right of the young to the professionalism, work and income contemplates the

adoption of the following measures

• Ensure the right of the young to diversity and equality

contemplates the adoption of the following measures

• Ensure that youth participation in production, reworking and enjoyment of

cultural property process• Ensure the right of the young to communication and freedom

of expression includes the adoption of the following

measures• Promote, in all levels of education, environmental

education aimed at the preservation of the

environment and sustainability, according to the National

Environmental Policy

• Right to citizenship, Social and Political Participation and Representation Youth• Right to Education

• Right to Professionalization, the Work and Income• Right to Equality and Diversity

• Right to Health• Right to Culture

• Right to Communication and Freedom of Expression• Right to Sport and Leisure

• Right to Sustainability and the Environment• The Right to Public Security and Access to Justice

Canada • Opportunities for participation and

citizenship; • Safety and protection;

• Fighting social exclusion and

promoting inclusion; • Making

information available and using

it (through new technologies); • Mobility and

• Youth-related government action

• Relations and concerted action with partners from

different sectors• Follow up to the Québec

youth policy and preparation of the action plan

• Research, accessibility to, and coordination of the activities regarding the monitoring of

youth issues• Funding for youth-related

action• Facilitating communications

None

internationalism;• Multiculturalism;

• Equality.

Czech Republic

• Fulfillment of the family function

• Personal development of

young people and their position in

society • Education for

active citizenship including

participation • Support for

healthy lifestyles • Protection against

negative phenomena and

their effects

• To develop, in synergy with NGOs, schools and school facilities, an information

• System for young people and, in this way, to improve the access of young people to

information.• To initiate the establishment of networks of organizations dealing with the provision of

information to young people in various sectors.

• To develop regularly updated databases of innovative

approaches and good practices in providing information to

young people.• To support access of young

people to information services (improving coordination of information services, web-based and other innovative approaches to provision of

information to young people – e.g. mobile information units

for young people, etc.).• To provide information of

high quality (the education and training of persons responsible for youth information, adapting

information and guidance services to the needs of young people, improving evaluation of the quality of information,

accessibility and comprehensibility of

information, etc.)• To support the participation

of young people in information-related activities.

• Articles of the constitution concerning youth explicitly Resolution of the Presidium of the Czech National Council

No. 2/1993 Coll., on the proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms as a part of the

constitutional order of the Czech Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “CFRF”)

• Article 29 of CFRF - It stipulates the right of adolescents (15 to 18 years of age) to special working conditions, to

increased protection of health at work, to special protection in labor relations and to assistance in preparation for

professional career.• Article 32 of CFRF - It stipulates the protection of

parenthood and family and special protection of children and adolescents

• Article 233 of CFRF - It stipulates the right to education.• Act No. 218/2003 Coll., on the responsibility of youth for illegal acts and on justice procedures in the matters of youth

(Act on justice procedures in the matters of youth)• Act No. 109/2002 Coll., on institutional upbringing or

protective care in educational facilities and on preventative custody in educational facilities

• Act No. 561/2004 Coll., on pre-school, primary, secondary, post-secondary and further education (School

act)• Act No. 140/1961 Coll., Criminal Code, Catch VI,

criminal offences against family and youth• Act No. 359/1999 Coll., on social and legal protection of

children• Act No. 94/1963 Coll., on family

• Act No. 262/2006 Coll., Labor Code, Section 246, prohibition of work by adolescents

Denmark

• Educating 95% of all youth in the

country by 2015• Developing a

democratic youth • Encouraging participation in

civil society

• Ensure that the youth has a comprehensive understanding

of democratic functions• Increasing young people’s

participation in society, and the education system

• improving the accessibility and quality of information

youth receive

None

Greece

• Implement youth programs and youth

policy that better address the real

needs of the Greek youth.

• Unemployment, employment and labor relationships; • Social exclusion, social

inclusion, youth rights and participation;

• Environment, climate change and green development.

• Article 16 – concerning Education and information of free and responsible citizens

• Article 21-concerning health issues & special measure taken for the protection of youth, old age, people with

special needs & those poverty “Kallikratis” law "young people participate by the age of 18, with the right to

vote&be voted in the elections for the municipal and region counsellors".

• Law 3443/2006 on Local Youth Councils, • 2413/1996 on intercultural education,

• 3748/2009 on “performance incentives”, • 2672/2009 on Entrepreneurship Support Structures,

• 3879/21.9.2010 on institutions providing lifelong learning services.

Ireland • To develop youth work policies and strategies which

• To facilitate young people and adults to participate more

fully in, and to

• Child Care Act 1991 dealing with the provision of care by the State for those children (up to 18 years of age) who

need it.

develop and enhance young

people's personal and social

development • To support the

youth work sector in providing

effective youth work opportunities for young people and to consolidate existing provision

of youth work services and

initiatives to ensure both quality of

service and value for money

• Gain optimum benefit from, youth work programs and

services.• To enhance the contribution

of youth work to social inclusion, social

• Cohesion and active citizenship in a rapidly

changing national and global context

• To put in place an expanded and enhanced infrastructure for

development, support and coordination at national and

local level.• To put in place mechanisms for enhancing professionalism and ensuring quality standards

in youth work.

• Children Act 2001 dealing with justice issues as they pertain to children and young people.

• Education (Welfare) Act 2000 dealing with school attendance and educational welfare.

• Youth Work Act 2001 dealing with the provision and coordination of youth work services.

• Education Act 1998 dealing with the national framework for education at primary and secondary levels.

• Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 setting out the limited circumstances in which children and

young persons may be employed

Saudi Arabia

• Achieving the social integration of young people and expanding their

participation in the various areas of youth activity.

• Combating drug abuse among young

people, and other types of behavior that are harmful to their physical and

psychological wellbeing.

• Reducing the gap between what

schools offer to students and youth perception of their need for life skills and information

that help them live better and build

their future. • Improving the lives of young

people and meeting the special needs of

young people in low-income

families. • Providing young

people with job opportunities that are consistent with their dispositions,

abilities and competencies, increasing their

participation in the workforce, and

combating unemployment

among their ranks. • Fostering a

generation of young people enjoying

good physical and emotional health.

• Studying means for advancing the developmental

role of schools, training needs, and forms of cooperation with

local bodies. • Planning a joint campaign by

government agencies, the media, educational institutions,

and the private sector to influence social culture and the

culture of Saudi youth, instilling values of productive work in ways commensurate

with the needs of society. • Designing a special

programme of vocational guidance in general education schools including work value

concepts. • Implementing a study of the health of young people, and using the results in policy-making and in awareness

campaigns. • Introducing awareness-raising

materials on preventative health, nutrition and healthy behavior in school curricula

and school activities in a permanent systematic manner

and at an early age. • Launching a national

campaign to combat excessive speeding and traffic accidents

among young people. • Launching a continuous

campaign to combat smoking and drug abuse among young

people. • Launching awareness campaigns and advice

addressed to parents on caring for children educationally,

intellectually, and behaviorally, and providing advice to family

members through schools, centres of the Ministry of Social Affairs, television

programmes and other media. • Designing a package of

prototypical activities aimed at

Royal Order No. A/2 of 2003

enhancing family cohesion. • Mapping the distribution of

sports and youth facilities against the geographical spread and population distribution in the regions and governorates.

• Design a comprehensive system for the use of school

facilities, playgrounds and halls in youth activity, with the

participation of parents and in coordination with the

concerned authorities. • Providing places of youth

activities with the equipment necessary for enabling persons

with special needs to participate in various activities

Turkey

•To place the perception about

youth on a correct ground,

•To determine the needs, expectations

and concerns of young people,• To determine institutions and organizations

working on youth and to ensure

cooperation and coordination among

them,• To provide

necessary support and encouragement in order to enable and strengthen the

activities of the non-governmental

organizations in the field of youth,

• To use resources in a way that fully contributes to the development of

youth,• To support the

personal and social development of young people,• To develop

consciousness of young people as

citizens,• To help young

people fulfill their potential by taking into consideration

theneeds of diverse young groups.

Commitment to human rights, democratic values and the

Republic,• To adopt, to live and to

maintain national, historical, cultural and humanitarian

values,• To develop a rights-based

approach,• To prevent all kinds of

discrimination and to realize equal opportunities,

• To consider individual and social differences as wealth and to consider this wealth a means

of social solidarity and integration,

• To be based on research and knowledge

• To give priority to disadvantaged young people,

• To pursue international standards in policies and

practices,

ARTICLE 58. The state shall take measures to ensure the training and development of the youth into whose keeping our state, independence, and our Republic are entrusted, in

the light of contemporary science, in line with the principles and reforms of Atatürk, and in opposition to ideas aiming at the destruction of the indivisible integrity of the state with

its territory and nation.The state shall take necessary measures to protect the youth from addiction to alcohol, drug addiction, crime, gambling,

and similar vices, and ignorance.

Appendix CNational Youth Council Overview

Mission Objective Composition Finances

Armenia: National Youth Council of Armenia

To promote the consolidation and the strengthening of RA. To promote the deepening of democratic processes, and the establishment of legal state and civil society in RATo assist to the development and promotion of Youth Policy in Armenia. To assist to the involvement of youth in the solution of national tasks. To promote the spreading of the idea of human (in particular, of child and youth) rights protection.To consolidate Armenian youth around the concepts of patriotism, freedom and democracy. To ensure the mutual assistance of Armenian youth NGOs.

To assist to realization of projects and programs of youth organizations

To assist the projects aimed to youths’ intellectual, spiritual and physical development

To promote all the rights and legal interests of Armenian youths living in RA and abroad

To assist to the solving of youth’s social problems

To promote the development of science and education, as the primary domains preparing young specialists

To assist to young families

To come out for the young peoples’ friendship and mutual assistance in RA and abroad

To participate in the development and promotion of national and international youth projects

To establish contacts with the regional and international youth institutions, and support the integration of Armenian youth NGOs into them

To present motions concerning Youth Policy in the legislative and executive powers of RA

To consolidate the young people living in Armenia and abroad around the aims of NYCA.

General Assembly

The Board President General

Secretary Revision

Commission

Member – organization’s entrance fees and membership fees.

Presents and contribution, state, cooperative and non – governmental organizations’ assignments.

Assignments from income from its subsidiaries’ production, commercial, intermediary and other activities.

Other sources, which are not forbade by RA legislation.

NYCA can have property and real estate, which can be bought with its own funds, be got as a present or be got by testament.

NYCA funds can be spent only for the realization of its statutory goals and objectives.

Organizational costs can’t exceed the 70% of the whole annual costs

Belgium: The Youth Council of the French-Speaking Community

The Youth Council of the French-Speaking Community is the official advisory body and voice of the French-speaking young people in Belgium. Its role is to have young people (16-30 years old) participating in the democratic process, especially by collecting their opinion about a variety of themes that directly or indirectly affect them, to then relieve it to the politics. The Youth Council defends young people’s interests and represents them at national and international level.

Provide advice on request or initiative from the political world

Promote citizen participation and empowerment of youth

Consult young people on the issues that concern them to build a class about to relay to the world of politics

Represent young people and the youth sector at national and international level

General Assembly

Board of Directors

Team of permanent workers

Cyprus: Cyprus Youth Council

The purpose of the Comp is to promote dialogue and cooperation between its member organizations, while providing a representative framework for development initiatives in actions, exchange information and experience to promote the resolution of various problems young people face.

To promote the dialogue and communication among NGYOs

To offer a representative framework for the member organisations, to develop initiatives, implement actions, exchange information and experiences and develop a dialogue in issues that involve youth

To develop European Consciousness within the Cyprus youth

To empower the participation of youth I political, social and cultural life and active citizenship

To promote the recognition of NGYOs and non-formal education from the wider public

To promote the participation of youth in decision-making bodies on issues that involves them, and promote policies for youth

General Assembly

Audit Committe

Excutive Secretariate

The Cyprus Youth Council is supported financially by a governmental annual grant, the membership fees, by E.U. and U.N. funded projects, by private sector donations

according to the resolutions, decisions and suggestions of the U.N., the E.U. and the Council of Europe

Czech Republic:Česká Rada Dětí A Mládeže

The mission of the ČRDM is to promote conditions for quality life and overall development of children and young people Czech Council of Children and Youth is now only a truly representative platform that brings together and supports the vast majority of national as well as many regional and local associations of children and youth. The word "Board", which is the central word of its name describes both functions of the organization, the balance of long-term stability ČRDM crucial. Means not only the opportunity to discuss democratic youth movement within its problems and needs and these can then communicate openly and to represent the state authorities (local government) and political representation, partly developed professional credit that is offered on a large scale also used by the parental and professional public and partners across government and non-profit sectors.

ČRDM will be lean and efficient organization with clearly defined rules of the game.

ČRDM solve the ratio between the level of democracy and the flexibility and efficiency.

ČRDM will be a trusted partner to all its member organizations without regardless of their size or influence.

ČRDM a functional internal communication channels to enable rapid communication and competent individual associations and the governing bodies of the Council.

ČRDM will continue to work towards consensus on the quality of the membership and the internal rules of the game (voting and electoral system, competence and responsibility and Chairman of the Board, the creation of a representative opinion ČRDM and others) and accordingly modify its statutes and internal rules.

ČRDM will work more closely with regional councils of children and youth and strengthen their stability with

Congress The Board General

Assembly Members

respect to representation of local associations in them.

Denmark: Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd

The struggle for democracy, youth and community organizations. It is the story of DUF. DUF was founded in 1940. Leaders of the democratic youth would show that, despite disagreements and differences had something in common: The desire to maintain and expand democracy. And a vision of binding and voluntary communities as a basis for community development.

DUF promotes renewal and development of organizations working with children and young people, so that they can continue to provide exciting and attractive leisure activities.

DUF advocates on behalf of its member organizations and works actively to improve the framework for volunteer activities – for the benefit of children and young people.

DUF promotes children and young people’s active engagement in sustaining and creating democratic societies – nationally and internationally

Members Board Secretariat

Portions of lottery funds are also directly to the DUF central work. The funds are used to gather and strengthen the Danish children and youth and to manage grant schemes. DUF received in 2013 approximately 17.2 million crowns for this purpose

European Union: European Youth Forum

The Youth Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives by representing and advocating their needs and interest and those of their organizations. In the current uncertain political and social context that affects young people, they can be powerful catalysts for positive change and contributors of innovative solutions to Europe’s problems.

Increase the participation of young people and youth organizations in society, as well as in decision-making processes;

Positively influence policy issues affecting young people and youth organizations, by being a recognized partner for international institutions, namely the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations;

Promote the concept of youth policy as an integrated and

The General Assembly

The Council of Members

The Board The Financial

Control Commission

The Secretary-General

The Consultative Body on Membership Applications

Membership fees;

Contribution of members, national or international institutions or other organizations or individuals;

Sponsorship; Grants; Subsidies and

aids

cross-sectorial element of overall policy development, namely through youth mainstreaming;

Facilitate the participation of young people through the development of sustainable and independent youth organizations at the national and international level, particularly in respect to ensuring dependable, adequate funding for them;

Promote the exchange of ideas and experience, mutual understanding, as well as the equal rights and opportunities among young people in Europe;

Uphold and promote intercultural understanding, democracy, respect, diversity, human rights, active citizenship and solidarity;

Contribute to the development of youth work in other regions of the world.

Greece: Hellenic National Youth Council

The H.N.Y.C. (Hellenic National Youth Council) was founded in July 1998, after strenuous efforts by Greek political and social youth organizations and obtained an elected administration in November of that year; it is an independent, non-government, non-profit federation of youth organizations

To highlight the problems that concern us such as racism, xenophobia, oppression of sexual diversity, social exclusion, unemployment, isolation, national issues, the Hellenism abroad, are some of the issues under discussion.

President Executive

Committee Council

Members Making

bodies ESYN Solicitor

Ireland: National Youth Council of Ireland

The H.N.Y.C. (Hellenic National Youth Council) was founded in July 1998, after strenuous efforts by Greek political and social youth

NYCI is committed to playing a leadership role in actively raising the profile of

Membership Staff Board NCYI

Assembly

organizations and obtained an elected administration in November of that year; it is an independent, non-government, non-profit federation of youth organizations

youth work, enhancing the status of youth work and young people, and increasing the resources available to youth work.

NYCI embraces the genuine challenge of being representative of voluntary youth work organizations, as defined in the Youth Work Act 2001, and will ensure that its Memorandum and Articles of Association reflects this commitment.

NYCI is also committed to ensuring that all its members have the opportunity to participate fully in the organization, and will promote and encourage interdependent relationships between member organizations and in how NYCI itself operates.

NYCI will be responsive to the needs of its members and work in partnership with them to ensure that the considerable knowledge, expertise and experience of the collective is brought to the development of programs.

Russia: National Youth Council of Russia

The National Youth Council of Ireland is the representative body for national voluntary youth work organizations in Ireland. It represents and supports the interests of around 50 voluntary youth organizations and uses its collective

Cooperation with legislative bodies;

Interaction with executive bodies on youth;

Preparation of educational seminars, giving opportunities to participate in

General Assembly

The Board President General

Secretary Revision

Commission

experience to act on issues that impact on young people. It seeks to ensure that all young people are empowered to develop the skills and confidence to fully participate as active citizens in an inclusive society. NYCI's role is recognized in legislation through the Youth Work Act 2001 and as a Social Partner in the Community and Voluntary Pillar.

training-courses (including those organized by Youth Directorate Council of Europe);

Publishing references, information and other issues on and for youth and children organizations;

Developing public relations and promoting work of children and youth organizations.

Representation of Russian children and youth organizations interests on the international level.

Ukraine: Ukrainian Youth Forum

Consolidation local youth and children's organizations to properly represent the interests of Ukrainian youth in dealings with public authorities and internationally. UYF Mission Promoting youth and children's organizations in Ukraine and their unions, coordinating youth movement in Ukraine and its integration in the international youth movement.

Consolidation of youth and children organizations for sufficient dialogue with the state and on international level;

Ensuring sufficient conditions for youth associations – members of the Forum; Developing of system of motivation of youth to participate in youth organizations; Coordination of activities of youth and children organizations;

Representation of Ukrainian youth and children organizations in international youth organizations.

United Kingdom: British Youth Council

The British Youth Council, as the national youth council of the UK, aims to connect with our member organizations and networks of local

Promote equality among young people, and all young people in our membership are valued

Serving membership

Youth Led-Networks

Campaigning and

Programs and Training £919,832

Policy and Communications £162,220

youth councils, to empower young people aged 25 and under, wherever they are from, to have a say and be heard. We aim to help them to participate in decisions that affect them; have a voice and campaign on issues they believe in, inspire them to have a positive impact, and gain recognition for their positive contribution to communities, society and the world.

equally. Recognize that

young people are diverse, with different needs and opinions, and we believe that this is to be recognized and celebrated.

Believe that young people should be recognized for their positive contribution to society and their place as citizens, now and in the future.

Consulting Training and

Recognition International

Work

International Activities £210,386

Governance £19,625

Fundraising £18,080

Total £1,330,143