9.3 Exchanges between young people and policy-makers on global issues
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Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the domestic level
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Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level
Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the domestic level
Youth dialogue is the only integrated top-level programme that allows young people to exchange views regarding global issues with policy-makers at the domestic level. There are regular national meetings with ministries through the governmental Council for Youth, Office of the Republic of Slovenia organize each year national conference where youth sector can exchange views with policy makers.
Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level
Since 2014, every year, the Slovenian youth delegate to the UN has taken part in the session of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which is dedicated to human rights topics.
The delegate participates on social development, and he or she appears together with the diplomatic representative of the Republic of Slovenia. The annual participation of a youth delegate at the UN during the autumn session of the General Assembly in New York allows this delegate to exchange views with other youth delegates, as well as with representatives of states and decision-makers at the international level.
Employees working in the human rights sector (Sektor za človekove pravice) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have contacts with the delegate during his or her preparations for participation in international forums.
Youth dialogue evolved as a method of working in consultation with young people to encourage their active participation in society.
The National Youth Council of Slovenia guides the national preparatory process for the implementation of a structured dialogue at the EU level. This council is guided by the National Steering Committee, which is composed of representatives of the following:
- the National Youth Council of Slovenia,
- the Youth Network MaMa,
- the National Agency of the Erasmus+: Youth in Action (Zavod MOVIT), the Office of Republic of Slovenia for Youth,
- the Ministry of Education
- the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
In the European Year of Youth 2022, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for youth organized 12 national youth dialogues on the regional level with the representative of national ministries (work, social affairs, education, culture, environment) and local governments. The cycle ended with a dialogue with the European Commissioner, Janez Lenarčarič, on the green future and solidarity. The whole process's conclusions will be used to prepare the National Resolution on Youth 2023-2032.
In the year 2021 Slovenia held the Presidency of the Counci of the European Union. In the frames of the presidency the 8th cycle of the youth dialogue was dedicated to the participation of youth. The dialogue among young people from Slovenia and around Europe took place mainly on line due to the covid situation. There was organized European Youth Conference where representatives from European Commision as well as from National Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. The main outcomes of the dialogue was reflected in two documents on the EU level: Council Conclusions on safegrouding and creating civic spaces for young people that facilitate meaningful participation and Resolution of the Council and of the represnetavites of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on the outcomes fo the 8th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue.
According to mlad.si the Youth Network MaMa, together with the National Youth Council of Slovenia, organised the 7th cycle of the youth dialogue, which began in January 2019. The cycle focuses on the future of work, challenges and opportunities for young people; addressing opportunities for young people through quality youth work and providing education and training for youth workers; and creating opportunities for young people in rural areas.
Several individual initiatives enable(d) young people to present their views, such as the following:
- A dialogue with the Vice President of the European Union, Frans Timmermans, on the future of the European union, as well as its integration and challenges (mlad.si).
- A dialogue with the European Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, on youth’s perspective on future of the EU (mlad.si).
- A dialogue with the former Prime Minister, Dr. Miro Cerar, and the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, on youth and the future of the EU.
A youth dialogue event was held with decision makers in November of 2016 (Dialog mladih s premierjem). This event included young people and the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Miro Cerar. The conference program was based on concrete proposals and measures in support of the “For social changes” (Za družbene spremembe) movement, specifically three key areas of the 5th Structured Dialogue cycle that promote a more tolerant environment:
- entrepreneurship and job
- creation youth employment
- enabling young people to participate in a diverse, integrated and inclusive Europe.
The outcomes of the dialogue are presented also to the decision makers on the national and international level, though the implementation of the suggested conclusions are used in the main documents such as National Resolution for youth.
The Youth Section of the United Nations Associations of Slovenia was established as a formal structure within the association in 2011 (Društvo za Združene narode za Slovenijo) unites young members (15–29 years) of UNAS and deals with UN topics that especially concern youth. The board of young people, mainly students from the University of Ljubljana prepares activities. The main aim is to offer youth additional insights and education on UN topics.
The goals of their operation are in line with the goals of the umbrella organisation, with the youth section emphasising the needs and interests of younger members. These goals are:
- to stimulate young people’s interest in global issues;
- introduce young people to the UN and its work;
- to acquaint young people with the goals and principles of the UN and its activities;
- to develop youth participation and active citizenship;
- to enable non-formal education and training of young people for work and creative projects;
- to develop youth volunteer work;
- to promote intergenerational cooperation and networking;
- to promote active action to achieve the set goals of the UN;
- to promote the research activity of young people in the thematic field of the UN;
- to cooperate with other organisations whose activities contribute to the development of the UN and serve to support it;
- to establish and maintain contacts with related organisations and associations at the international level.
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In order to achieve the set goals, the youth section carries out the following activities;
- organises lectures and round tables for young people on topics related to the goals and principles of the UN;
- organises campaigns to raise awareness among young people about the goals and principles of the UN;
- conducts workshops for young people on UN-related topics;
- organises youth conferences at both national and international level;
- encourages voluntary work amongst young people;
- prepares celebrations for UN International Days;
- organises professional excursions to various UN institutions;
- organises UN simulations for young people;
- organises social gatherings for young people;
- announces prizes for literary, artistic and photographic works on human rights;
- organizes film dinners;
- other activities compatible with the purpose of the youth section.
The UN Youth Delegate (Mladinski delegat OZN) is a relatively new programme in Slovenia. The National Youth Council of Slovenia, in cooperation with the Office for Youth and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has coordinated this program since 2014. The UN Youth Delegate spreads the message of the work of the United Nations and acts as a voice for young people from Slovenia in the UN. At the international level, a delegate usually participates in the regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York and the Third Committee meeting dealing with social, humanitarian and cultural issues, and such a delegate can also be involved in other high-level meetings at the international level. In the course of a one-year mandate, the delegate accomplishes the following:
- advocating, preparing and conducting workshops for young people,
- preparing content articles regarding areas covered by the United Nations,
- linking himself or herself with actors who are closely associated with the functioning of the organisation.
Furthermore, UN Youth Delegate also cooperates and works closely with Sector for Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they offer help and support in the preparation for the UN General Assembly. Annual participation at the UN General Assembly in New York also enables for both Slovenia and Youth Delegate to communicate the views and positions of Slovenia, as well as exchange of views with other stakeholders and decision-makers of foreign governments.
Climate change – as one of the most important topics nowadays, a local event regarding climate change was organized in Slovenia back in 2018: EU and Youth – Climate change. Young people, as active citizens were able to discuss and debate on topics such as minimizing the carbon footprint of an individual, limiting gas emission (eco-friendly transport), controlling the food and plant origin and finally, energy saving. This debate can be also connected to the Youth for climate justice (Mladi za podnebno pravičnost) movement mentioned in chapter 9.4.
EU consultation on the Youth Action Plan - Involving young people in EU external action – The European Commission invites youth to participate and give feedback to the Youth Action Plan – involving young people in EU external action” proposal. The consultation were taking place between 16.9-14.10.2021. The main goal was to empower young people on political, social or economic level thus include them in the decision-making processes and ensure the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.The main conclusions can be find in the EU web pages and the main message of youth is to take youth as reliable partners in decision making processes about future.
Combating AIDS/HIV with annual Virus Project (Projekt Virus), which aims to increase the awareness of AIDS/HIV and is implemented by the Slovenian Medical Students’ International Committee Ljubljana (Društvo študentov medicine Slovenija) every year since the 90s in the previous century. The main topic of the project is safe sex life, and it is delivered to youth through organized workshops and promotion activities, among other activities. On the 1st of December, Medical Students hand out condoms for free.