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9. Youth and the World

9.3 Exchanges between young people and policy-makers on global issues

Last update: 2 March 2026
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  1. Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the domestic level
  2. Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the domestic level

In 2020 The minister responsible for environmental issues and climate signed the so-called Kwon-Gesh Pledge, following the efforts of several Czech Youth Organizations and initiatives and the Czech UN Youth Delegate. It means a commitment that the ministry should take on board young people in the implementation of the climate policy.

The space for exchanges with young people is rather ad hoc, organized by the civil society, academia and the interested policy-makers themselves.

One of the most widely known and oldest youth initiatives is the 'Prague Student Summit' organised by the Association for International Affairs and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Education, Youth and Sports.

Apart from these opportunities recognized or funded by the state, Czech young people is also active within many other non-governmental international activities and projects such as the European Youth Parliament. There are also several other "model" programs for young people imitating the deliberations of the UN, NATO, EU or the American Congress. 

 

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

Basically, when possible the Czech Republic uses the opportunities to delegate young people or youth representatives to international events for young people with the aim to exchange their view on global or any other social and political issues. Such activities are supported by all International Organisations where the Czech Republic is a member and where it is possible to ensure proper representation and the funding support.

Within the scope of the Structured Dialogue with Youth, youth representatives are regularly sent to the EU Youth conferences and other international events implemented under this programme.

Since 2016, there is the UN Youth Delegate Programme, offering the opportunity for two selected youth representatives, based on an open public annual call, to exchange their views within the General Assembly of the United Nations and respective UN youth forums, such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum and similar UN Forums for Youth. Together, delegates commit to building a sustainable and inclusive community that goes beyond their individual mandates. They focus on:

  • SDG 4 (Quality Education) – promoting critical thinking, digital literacy and accessible learning tools,
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action) – increasing awareness and resilience to climate impacts,
  • and especially SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) – systematic collaboration across sectors, regions and generations.

The 2025/26 Agenda is thus a nexus of innovation, resilience and long-term sustainability, with a clear goal: to give young people in the Czech Republic a voice – and the tools to meaningfully exercise it.

YOUTH2030 – Young People (UN Youth Strategy)
The aim of this strategy is to enable young people to realize their full potential and stand up for their rights, and to ensure youth engagement and participation in the implementation, review and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as other relevant global agendas and UN frameworks.

Since 2010, the Visegrad (V4) cooperation in the Youth Field was renewed and youth representatives are invited to the V4 meetings in the youth field and youth policy.

Young people from the Czech Republic also regularly participate in various youth events, Forums, competitions and activities of the European Union, youth events of the Central European Initiative, UNESCO Youth Forums, Youth and Environment Europe (YEE), Conference of the Parties (COP) and youth activities of the Council of Europe. Czech representatives can be also elected to the Advisory Council on Youth and participate in the Youth delegate programme of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. 

Within bilateral relations, the inter-ministerial Czech-German Council for youth exchanges and cooperation meets regularly and involves also youth representatives from the Czech Council of Children and Youth and the Czech-German Youth forumthe latter involving annually young people in political and social cooperation at international level.

Also, Czech political representatives in international bodies such as the European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of Regions and others are often allowed to bring young people to their relevant meetings. There, young people can also exchange views on global and political issues.