Existence of a National Strategy on social inclusion

Flanders has no separate strategy plan on the social inclusion of youth but several separate strategies all catering towards social inclusion and children/youth. Below, we describe some of the strategies at the regional level (Flemish level).

Scope and contents

Relevant legislation within the domain of Culture, Youth and Media:

The New Youth Decree (Jeugddecreet) in Flanders

Since 1 January 2024, Flanders has had a single, integrated Youth Decree that forms the core legal framework for youth policy and youth work in the Flemish Community. This new decree was approved on 23 November 2023 and entered into force at the beginning of 2024.

Prior to 2024, there were multiple separate decrees governing different aspects of youth policy and youth work. The new Youth Decree replaces four of these with one consolidated legal framework, thereby simplifying and strengthening the regulation of youth policy and the support system for youth organisations.

The decree brings together provisions on:

• Youth and children’s rights policy, including tools such as the Youth and Child Impact Report (JoKER) and mechanisms for evaluating policy effects;
• Support for youth work, including subsidies and recognition systems for youth organisations at local, above‐local (regional/Flemish) and target‑group levels;
• General subsidisation conditions, including criteria for operational and project funding;
• Training and certification, such as the formal recognition of animator and instructor training;
• Political youth movements, with a specific recognition and support framework;
• Local youth policy, including the role of local youth councils and collaboration with community commissions.

This structure creates a more coherent regulatory base that integrates youth rights, youth policy planning, youth work support and subsidy management into one comprehensive legal text. The Youth Decree explicitly maintains and strengthens instruments related to youth rights. This includes the Youth and Child Impact Report (JoKER), which requires policy makers to assess the effects of new legislation on young people, ensuring that youth rights are systematically considered in all relevant policymaking.

Flemish Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan 

The Flemish Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan (JKP) is an important policy instrument through which the Flemish Government shapes a policy for all children and young people aged 0 to 30 in Flanders and Brussels. No later than 6 months after the start of the policy period, the plan establishes 3 to 5 priorities based on a broad vision of youth policy and children's rights. It is one of the transversal policy plans of the Flemish Government, with the Minister of Youth acting as the coordinating minister. The plan is based on the children's rights that serve as the ethical and legal framework, as laid down in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Constitution, and the European, regional, and international treaties to which Belgium is a party. The Department of Culture, Youth and Media coordinates the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the JKP.

For the current cycle 2025–2029, the JKP currently focuses on four main priorities:

• Space to be young: Ensuring that children and young people have physical, social, and mental space to develop, relax, and express themselves.
• Feel good about yourself: Strong emphasis on mental well-being, self-confidence, and health (including prevention and support services).
• Living together in solidarity: Promoting inclusion, diversity, and social cohesion, with attention to equal opportunities and combating exclusion.
• The road to adulthood: → Supporting young people in transitions such as education → work, independence, housing, and participation in society.

Relevant legislation within the domain of Equal Opportunities:

Framework Decree on equal opportunities and equal treatment policy

The Framework Decree on Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment Policy (Decreet houdende een kader voor het Vlaamse gelijkekansen- en gelijkebehandelingsbeleid) of 10 July 2008 sets up a general framework for the implementation of a proactive and preventive policy on equal opportunities. The Flemish equal opportunities policies simultaneously take into account differences between social groups (diversity), the need for personal development (emancipation) of these groups’ members, with no one being excluded (non-discrimination) and everyone feeling responsible for mutual well-being (solidarity). It seeks to counteract discrimination, whether it is based on gender, disability, sexual orientation, inaccessibility or ethnicity. This decree doesn’t focus on young people but is also relevant towards them.

Strategies within the domain of Education:

Decree on ‘learner support’ (Leersteundecreet, 2023)

The old M‑decree – which focused mainly on pupils with specific educational needs and reasonable accommodations – has been replaced structurally by a new approach centred on active learner support. The new model was approved in May 2023 and came into effect from 1 September 2023.

Under this Learner Support Decree:

• The primary goal is to help all pupils reach their full potential by providing support that is appropriate for their needs while keeping learning and participation at the centre. 
• Support involves both school‑based efforts (broad basic care and elevated care) and specialised learner support services for pupils with more complex needs. 

This shift emphasizes learning outcomes rather than simply the presence of a disability. Support is structured so that pupils can stay in mainstream education when possible, with external help layered in as needed.

The Parliamentary Act of 28 June 2002 on equal educational opportunities

The Parliamentary Act on Equal Educational Opportunities (Decreet Gelijke OnderwijsKansen GOK) guarantees the principle right for enrolment in a school of choice, independent of colour of skin, national or ethnic origin, religion or gender, unless of course if the school is full, if the pupil was expelled in a previous year or if the parents do not accept the pedagogical project and school regulations. Local Consultation Platforms watch over the implementation of the equal opportunities policy at the local level.

The policy domain of education organises also specific provisions for migrant pupils and pupils of whom Dutch is not the mother tongue:

• Reception classes for non-Dutch speaking newcomers (onthaalonderwijs voor anderstalige nieuwkomers OKAN) are organized in primary and secondary education
• The Brussels Curriculum provides extra support for the language of instruction in the 1^st stage of Dutch speaking secondary education in Brussels. Additional measures support the Dutch speaking elementary schools and the integration of not-Dutch speaking children in the Brussels peripheral municipalities, in the municipalities along the language border and the neighbouring municipalities

Strategies within the domain of Welfare, public health & family policy

Decree on Integrated Youth Care

On March 1, 2014 the Decree on Integrated Youth Care (Decreet betreffende de integrale jeugdhulp) came into force. This decree entails a far-reaching cooperation between all anchors sectors involved in youth. The main objective is that every young person with a problem finds as quick as possible the appropriate help. By intervening in the organization and functioning principles of the existing youth care, the new landscape will be much clearer. The new act puts the young central. The inherent strength of children and young people and their immediate surroundings are considered the main source of assistance. The act anchors this principle and translates it into practical assistance to all amenities. They are also encouraged to cooperate across sectors and action is taken to ensure that there are 'no gaps' in youth care. When first aid is insufficient, social workers always point the way to more specialized or more substantial help. Therefore, the Act installs the intersectoral gateway for "non-directly accessible help”. In total there are six sectors involved:

• Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities (VAPH)
• Youth Welfare
• Child and Family (K&G)
• General Welfare Work (AWW) with the Centres for Integral Family Care (CIG)
• Mental Health Centres (CGG)
• Centres for Educational Guidance (CLB)

Decree on Poverty Reduction (2003)

Within the Flemish Government the fight against child poverty is a top priority within the general fight against poverty. It is one of the key priorities of the Flemish Action Plan for Poverty Reduction 2025-2029 (see below). In this fight against child poverty, also a strong emphasis is laid on youth. 

In the Act on Poverty Reduction (Decreet betreffende Armoedebestrijding, 21 march 2003) a permanent poverty consultation (permanent armoedeoverleg - PAO) is created to ensure the participation of people in poverty reduction policies in all sectors. This permanent poverty consultation consists of a horizontal and a vertical component. The horizontal consultations ensure an integrated approach. In the horizontal consultations the representatives of the various policy areas collaborate with employees of the Flemish Network against Poverty  (Vlaams Netwerk tegen Armoede), The Link (De Link) and the inter-federal department for combating poverty, insecurity and social exclusion (Steunpunt tot bestrijding van armoede, bestaansonzekerheid en sociale uitsluiting). The vertical consultations are organized per policy domain. Main objectives of these vertical consultations are the testing of specific policy initiatives of the policy domain among people in poverty and the proposal of adjustments. The organization of these meetings is the responsibility of every Flemish minister in consultation with the Flemish Network of Associations against Poverty. The vertical consultation takes place at least twice a year for each policy domain.

Flemish Poverty Reduction Action Plan (Vlaams actieplan armoedebestrijding 2025-2029)

The poverty decree (art. 5) and the implementing act (art. 2 and 5) determine the legal basis of the Flemish Action Plan on Poverty Reduction (or VAPA). 

The Flemish poverty reduction policy is an inclusive policy. This means that every Flemish Minister, also the Minister of Youth, has the responsibility to devote attention within their policy area to reducing poverty. The Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family is responsible for coordinating the poverty policy. The Welfare and Society Division supports the coordinating minister and the Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family, each for their competence in the area of poverty reduction. 

The Flemish Action Plan on Poverty Reduction (VAPA) provides an overview of the efforts of the various Flemish ministers to fight poverty. The action plan includes specific objectives formulated for each of the fundamental social rights (participation, social services, income, family, education, leisure, work, housing and health).

The VAPA has three focal points: living, poverty reduction in families with young children and employment. Furthermore, it focusses on the impact and measures regarding COVID-19. 

Responsible authority

Responsible authorities are mentioned in the section above where the contents and scope are described:

• Flemish Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan 2025-2029: Flemish Minister of Youth and the Department of Culture, Youth and Media
• Flemish Poverty Reduction Action Plan or VAPA (Vlaams actieplan armoedebestrijding 2025-2029): Flemish Minister on Poverty Reduction and the Department for Health, Public Health and Family

Revisions/Updates

The strategies on social inclusion of young people have no major revisions/updates. Minor updates of the separate strategies are mentioned in the section above where the contents and scope are described.