A new concept for the Flemish Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan

The Flemish Youth and Children’s Policy Plan for 2020-2024 features a new concept: it focuses on maximum five cross-sectoral priority challenges for youth policy per plan. These challenges are chosen based on an extensive environmental analysis undertaken by the Department of Culture, Youth and Media, with key involvement from the youth sector, youth experts and researchers, representatives from other government departments, civil society organisations, and children and youngsters. In order to guarantee strong results and change on the ground, each challenge will be tackled by a project. The projects will have their own steering groups responsible for the implementation and follow-up of the specific project actions, indicators and plans. The aim of the new concept for the Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan is to promote a cross-sectoral and intergenerational approach to youth policy.

With the Youth and Children's Rights Policy Plan 2019-2024, the Flemish Government wants to offer concrete answers to the challenges children and young people are facing today. It gives a strong focus on where the government wants to go with regard to youth and children's rights. The plan focuses on all children, youth and young adults between the ages of 0 and 30. In the end, five priorities have been chosen:

1. Well-being and positive identity development.
2. Healthy and liveable neighbourhoods
3. Engagement in society through volunteerism
4. Leisure activities for all
5. Media literacy

The choice of the five priorities was made after extensive consultation with the youth sector and wider. Several participation moments were organized, the Department of Culture, Youth and Media made a broad environmental analysis and there was a round table discussion with Minister of Youth Benjamin Dalle who takes on the coordinating role of the Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan. A steering committee composed of ‘De Ambrassade’, ‘the Flemish Youth Council’, ‘the Knowledge Centre for Children's Rights’, ‘the Minorities Forum’, ‘Bataljong’ and the administration was involved in this preparatory process.

Integrity

Furthermore, integrity is on the agenda as a result of the #MeToo movement. Youth organisations were forced to appoint a contact point for integrity. The department supports them by means of trainings.