Research is a critical part of developing policy and programmes for young people. In this chapter, Richard Carter from Barbados provides an analysis of youth policy in his country.
International Reports
Ways of promoting youth participation in education in Denmark
Sine Lehn from Denmark provides an analysis of young people’s participation in Danish society. As with Portugal, Denmark has been experiencing a marked decline in the participation of young people in the electoral system.
Young people’s participation in Germany – mobile youth work
Germany is a country of contradictions: on the one hand, it has a strong legal base, which enshrines in law the right of young people to participate in decisions that affect them. On the other, its established youth representative structures are no longer adequate in the light of major change, that is the reunification of East and West Germany.
Youth participation in decision making process in Lithuania
Since its independence from the Soviet Union, Lithuania has developed new policies and systems based on a democratic political system. Within this process, Lithuanian society has also been addressing the importance of young people in their society. Algirdas Augustaitis describes the significance of youth organisations in the development of a contemporary youth policy that was driven by young people.
The empowerment of young people through participation in public life and civic society in Portugal
Like many European countries, Portugal is experiencing significant shifts in its demographic structure. Specifically the implications of a reduction in the young population resulting in lower levels of young people’s participation in the political process. Catarina Lains discusses the important role played by government structures…
Youth and nation building in South Africa – from youth struggles to youth development
South Africa has undergone dramatic political changes over the past ten years. Steve Mokwena discusses the initiatives the post Apartheid government has put in place to facilitate the participation of young people in the political decision making process.
A report on young people’s participation in public decision making in Uganda
Uganda has made a number of explicit commitments to engaging young people as full actors on the political process. D Kawaka Obbo discusses the evolution of a unique
system of consultation, mobilisation and representation of young people in the Ugandan political system.
Promoting young people’s involvement in public decison making in the USA
The aim of this report is to give a glimpse of some of the work taking place in the USA to try to engage young people in public decision making.
