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1. Youth parliament

2. Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

3. Higher education student union(s)

4. School student union(s)

5. Other bodies

Youth parliament

Cyprus Children’s Parliament (Κυπριακή Παιδοβουλή)

The Cyprus Children’s Parliament was established in 2001 as a standing participatory body for persons under 18 with permanent residence in Cyprus. It evolved from the symbolic “Children’s Week” initiative at the House of Representatives and operates with the support of the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Children (PCCPWC), which is responsible for its coordination and funding.

The institution is governed by “The Regulation of the Cyprus Children’s Parliament” («Ο Κανονισμός της Κυπριακής Παιδοβουλής»)(first adopted in 2004, last amended in 2014). Although it enjoys state recognition and cooperates with public authorities, it is not a constitutional body and has no decision-making powers.

It consists of 80 voting members (56 Greek Cypriots and 24 Turkish Cypriots) and three observers representing the Maronite, Latin and Armenian communities recognised under the Constitution. Members serve two-year terms and are selected through district-level electoral assemblies mainly composed of secondary school Pupil Council delegates. The body meets in plenary approximately every two months and may establish thematic committees (e.g. education, health and environment, culture, legislative review).

The Children’s Parliament functions in a consultative capacity. Its resolutions and recommendations are transmitted to relevant ministries and parliamentary committees through PCCPWC. While not binding, its work has contributed to public debate and consultations on issues such as children’s rights, anti-bullying policies and education-related reforms, thereby institutionalising structured dialogue between minors and state authorities. In 2025, according to a State announcement, the Children’s Parliament was formally recognised as an institutional partner of the State, strengthening its role in structured consultation processes and direct policy dialogue with government bodies.

The 'House of Youth Representatives' (H Βουλή των Νέων Αντιπροσώπων)

The House of Youth Representatives is an annual initiative organized for the first time in 2016 by the Cyprus Youth Council (CYC) and the youth NGO Cyprus Youth DiplomaCY. It is a three-day event where young people from all over Cyprus conduct a simulation of the House of Representatives of the Republic and the House of Youth Representatives does convene to "legislate" through the adoption of parliamentary committee reports  produced during the simulation.

All young people in Cyprus, aged 16-30, are welcome to participate in the event, and no other specific criteria are established for participation. The selection of the 56 participants is carried out through an online participation form, with both responsible organizations overseeing the process.

The programme is funded by the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC).

The recommendations adopted within the framework of the House of Youth Representatives are formally transmitted to the Parliamentary Committees, relevant ministries, public authorities and stakeholders. The initiative facilitates ongoing dialogue between young participants and institutional stakeholders through regular meetings, consultations, and participation in public events, thereby contributing to continuous policy discussion on youth-related issues.

Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

Τhe Cyprus Youth Council (CYC)

The Cyprus Youth Council (CYC) was established in 1996 as a voluntary non-governmental and non-profit umbrella organisation representing youth organisations in Cyprus. It functions as a national platform for dialogue and cooperation among more than 60 member organisations, including political youth wings and non-political youth NGOs. Although not part of the constitutional structure, it operates at national level and cooperates closely with European youth structures.

The supreme body is the General Assembly, composed of representatives of member organisations and meeting annually. The executive body (Secretariat) is elected for a two-year term and ensures day-to-day coordination, while a Financial Control Committee oversees financial management.

The CYC organises activities, seminars and policy discussions for its members and serves as a key stakeholder in the EU Youth Dialogue together with the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. It actively engages in consultation processes and policy advocacy on youth-related issues such as employment, non-formal education and youth participation.

The CYC receives funding from various sources. The national funding comes from the Youth Board of Cyprus and the european from EU Programmes. It’s values and objectives are based on the U.N. Constitutional Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Municipal/Community Youth Councils

The Municipal and Community Youth Councils were established in Cyprus in 2001–2002 with the support of local authorities and the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC). As a result of the local reform, 16 Municipal and 7 Community Youth Councils operate across the country. They function on the basis of statutes and operating regulations approved by the YBC in cooperation with the local authorities.

Their composition typically includes representatives of the local Municipal/Community Council and young people from local youth organisations. Members are appointed or elected depending on the structure defined locally.

The Councils act as advisory bodies to local authorities. They prepare annual action plans addressing youth priorities and may propose policies, programmes and infrastructure projects for young people at local level.

Funding is provided by local authorities, while additional financial support may be granted through national schemes (e.g. Youth Initiatives of the YBC), European programmes such as the European Solidarity Corps, as well as private foundations and other external sponsors, such as the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.

Municipal and Community Youth Councils contribute to local youth policy development through advisory opinions and project proposals that are considered by local authorities. In several municipalities, their recommendations have informed youth-oriented initiatives and local funding priorities, strengthening youth participation in local governance.

Higher education student union(s)

Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions (Παγκύπρια Ομοσπονδία Φοιτητικών Ενώσεων)

The Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions is a recognised social partner established in 1973 representing student unions in Cyprus. Its supreme body is the Congress, which convenes annually in regular session or exceptionally when required. Between Congresses, governance is exercised by the Administrative Committee, whose executive body is the Secretariat.

The Federation currently comprises 16 member organisations. The Secretariat consists of eleven members, including the President, Vice-President, General Secretary, General Treasurer and additional members representing member student unions. It is elected for a one-year term according to voting rules based on the membership size of each student union and meets regularly to manage operational matters. The Federation aims to promote and safeguard the rights and interests of students in higher and tertiary education institutions through participation in relevant committees, advisory bodies and policy discussions.

Its funding derives from membership and registration fees, annual contributions from member organisations, support from the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC), as well as donations, grants and other external contributions.

The Federation participates in institutional consultations and represents students in decision-making processes concerning higher education policy. Through its involvement in advisory bodies and dialogue with public authorities, it contributes to policy discussions on student rights, governance and academic reforms.

School student union(s)

Pancyprian Student Coordination Committee (PSEM) (Παγκύπρια Συντονιστική Επιτροπή Μαθητών – ΠΣΕΜ)

The Pancyprian School Student Coordination Committee (PSEM) is the representative body of public secondary school students in Cyprus. Its regulations are incorporated into the “General regulations governing the operation of public secondary schools law” (Οι περί λειτουργίας των Δημόσιων Σχολείων Μέσης Εκπαίδευσης Κανονισμοί του 2017 (Κ.Δ.Π. 60/2017) issued by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. PSEM functions as an institutional mechanism for student representation within the secondary education system. 

PSEM is structured through a multi-level electoral system operating at school, regional and national levels. Its Secretariat consists of ten members (President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer and six additional members) and is renewed annually through internal elections. Representatives are indirectly elected through a hierarchical process starting from school student councils and progressing to regional coordination structures. The main objective of PSEM is to safeguard the rights and interests of secondary school students and to ensure their participation in decision-making processes concerning educational policies and school governance. The Committee receives financial support from the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC) to facilitate its operational activities.

PSEM receives funding from the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC) as well.

Other bodies

There are no other bodies in Cyprus that are important forums or assemblies of youth representation.