Youth participation is a guiding principle in the implementation of the youth strategy of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ). 

In 2025 the Youth Strategy of the federal government was developed into a National Action Plan for Child and Youth Participation. The aim is to make youth participation a permanent feature of political life. It aims to raise awareness of quality standards for effective participation and to strengthen self-determined children’s and youth parliaments and participation networks.

See also National Strategy to Increase Youth Participation.

One important issue is to raise awareness on democratic rights and values among young people. There is a great variety of programmes, initiatives and projects supporting the civic education of young people and more participation in elections. Further information on these programmes and initiatives can be found in the section Raising political awareness among young people.

Additional information from the federal states on the topic of participation is available in German at youthwiki.de.