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1. Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/ Updates

Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

Promoting youth participation is an aim that is reflected in several documents and action plans, but this issue is not tackled in an individual strategy.

Currently, there is one official document which contains guidelines to increase young people's political and civil society participation, the National Youth Strategy 2009-2024 (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Stratégia 2009-2024). Besides that, the EU Youth Strategy for the 2019 - 2027 years also has a significant role in this field.

The National Youth Strategy

Before the National Youth Strategy 2009-2024 [(Nemzeti Ifjúsági Stratégia 2009-2024) (hereinafter referred to as NYS)] was developed, there was extensive technical consultation (between governmental and non-governmental actors - involving representatives of non-governmental organisations and youth experts), it was thoroughly prepared.

The Parliament has adopted National Youth Strategy 2009-2024 as a resolution [Parliament Resolution 88/2009. (X. 29.) OGY on the National Youth Strategy (88/2009. (X. 29.) OGY határozat a Nemzeti Ifjúsági Stratégiáról)].

As a central document, this strategy provides the main directions for improvement. It provides long-term guidance for all actors in the related fields to plan and organise for the improvement of youth living conditions. Taking into account various conditions, it gives general directions.

The action plans of the National Youth Strategy define concrete actions related to its 3 main pillars:

• Improving the social and political context of successful social integration of youth age groups;
• empowering youth age groups and their communities;
• promoting youth work and non-governmental youth organisations.

The NYS is based on a broad consensus of 

• the Parliament, 
• the parties, 
• the experts and 
• NGOs. (See more in sub-chapter: 1.3 National Youth Strategy)

It declares and accepts as a principle that youth participation should be improved. The Strategy sets out the main directions for improvement, and to support the implementation of this. Action plans are defined for periods of 2 years concerning

• the necessary instruments,
• concrete actions and
• responsible actors.

Scope and contents

National Youth Strategy 2009-2024

NYS analyses the situation of youth across the country, then formulates principles and goals and integrates these ideas with various other social strategies. It partly provides local and country-wide guidelines and also formulates horizontal and specific goals.

Horizontal aims: 

• promoting equal opportunities,
• awareness-raising on being Hungarian and being European, and
• emphasising sustainable development. 

Specific aims:

• social integration,
• supporting the work of youth communities, and
• supporting the work of civil organisations.

Key objectives set by the strategy from the perspective of participation:

• strengthening the system of student interest representation,
• encouraging youth to participate in public affairs regarding all the issues related to them,
• developing and educating the skillset and attitude that is required for active participation,
• increasing the level of participation of youth organisations in decision-making processes and operational support of these.

Specific target groups

There is no specific target group within youth whose participation should be particularly encouraged. Young people aged 8-12 years minimum and 25-30 years maximum are the main target group. At a certain point in the document, special attention is given to young people with disabilities.

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

National Youth Strategy 2009-2024

The authorities responsible for implementing the strategy are primarily the relevant ministers (usually those responsible for child and youth policy, education, social inclusion and employment). The implementation and control are reviewed by professional strategy working group and the Deputy State Secretary for Young People.

There is no available information on evidence-based monitoring, assessment, or evaluation.

Revisions/Updates

There are no public, governmental or social debates or plans for dialogue on the topic of youth participation.