On this page

1. Formal Mechanisms of Consultation

2. Actors

3. Information on the extent of youth participation

4. Outcomes

5. Large-scale initiatives for dialogue or debate between public institutions and young people

Formal Mechanisms of Consultation

Youth Advisory Forum

The Youth Advisory Forum, is a platform consisting of nine young people between 16 – 35 years old, is chosen after a call for applications, and serves for a term of eighteen months. One of the members is nominated by the National Youth Council.

The Forum, chaired by the Prime Minister, provides a platform for young people their opinions on issues which do not necessarily affect young people directly but are related to the country’s development and the welfare of its citizens.

The Forum has the opportunity to advice the Government on laws, strategies and plans being discussed at national or international level. 

This appointment is valid for eighteen (18) months and may be renewed only once, subject to the fulfilment of all requisites. Members are also remunerated €1,733 annually in accordance with the rules governing advisory boards of the Public Service.

MSCED – Youths and Students

Young people are represented in a standing committee called Civil Society Committee of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD). The MCESD functions as an advisory council that forms opinions and issues recommendations to the Maltese government on matters of economic and social relevance. As per S.L. 431.01 of the Laws of Malta, the Civil Society Committee must have a youth representative.

Public Consultation Portal

Also, since 2014, young people may also avail of a consultation platform hosted by the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality called Public Consultations Online. In this platform legislations, policies, strategies, green papers and white papers are uploaded and become available for public consultation.

Consultation with young people also happens on an ad-hoc basis according to issue e.g. during the drafting of the National Youth Policy Towards 2020, the Sexual Health Policy, the National Pensions Reform or the Campaign the Vote 16.

Actors

Young people are chosen to form part of the Youth Advisory Forum after expressing interest following an open call. 

Young people are represented in the Civil Society Committee by the National Youth Council.

Any young person can participate and give their input through the Public Consultation Portal.

Information on the extent of youth participation

Data on young people’s participation is not collected.

OutcomesThe Standing Committee is consulted by MCESD on social matters.

Member of the Youth Advisory Forum are consulted on matters of national importance related to Malta’s present and future vision.

Through the online platform young people can give feedback on anything that relates to the document that is open for consultation. A detailed report of the outcome is published and made available to the public on the Public Consultations Online.
 

During instances of ad-hoc consultation young people are asked for feedback on the policy to be discussed at that particular time. During the consultation period of the National Youth Policy, apart from having the National Youth Council as part of the Ministerial Advisory Board, feedback was sought from youth organisations through a consultation seminar. During this seminar, workshops were held to represent young people’s voice.

Large-scale initiatives for dialogue or debate between public institutions and young people

The Faculty of Social Wellbeing organises the Dean's Forum. Through this initiative students and academics discuss and debate on social well-being issues and current events. 

Also Refer to Youth Advisory Forum and Youth Disability Rights Forum.