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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

Young people’s opportunities to exchange views on global issues with national and international policy-makers mainly take place through specific consultations and hearings. As an example, ahead of the high-level 2030 Agenda meeting, government representatives have met for dialogue with representatives of the young civil society.  

When it comes to influencing government decisions, citizens and organisations have the opportunity to be heard through the referral system. The umbrella organisation for Swedish youth organisations, LSU (the National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations), is customarily appointed as a referral body for proposals affecting young people. 

For more information see section 5.4, Young people's participation in policy-making.

Agenda 2030

In 2016, the Government appointed a delegation with the aim of promoting, facilitating and stimulating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The delegation was commissioned to:

• assess the extent to which Sweden fulfils the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda 
• submit proposals for an overarching action plan for Sweden’s implementation
• disseminate information on examples of best practice in the area of socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development.

In autumn 2016 and spring 2017, the delegation collaborated with the young civil society through the National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations, LSU. Some of the overall challenges identified to be further developed were:

• To facilitate, within the framework of existing structures, the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making at all levels, in all aspects of the agenda´s implementation and in society at large. 
• To deepen and broaden the anchoring efforts and the dialogue with non-organised young people and youth movements, and to submit proposals linked to youth participation in the action plan.

The delegation’s remit ended in March 2019 when the final report was presented. Among the proposals in the final report, the following can be mentioned:

• The Government should instruct the National Agency for Education to develop a plan regarding the content, implementation and funding of skills enhancement and support measures to strengthen teachers’ and school administrators’ capacities to educate about sustainable development, and how this should be coordinated.
• The Agency should also be instructed, in collaboration with the Swedish School Inspectorate, to follow up how, and the degree to which, education for sustainable development is currently carried out in preschools, compulsory schools and upper secondary schools in Sweden. 
• Starting in the Budget Bill for 2022, the government offices should present a status analysis in an annex, and a full account of the government´s work to implement the 2030 Agenda. 

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

The National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations, LSU, nominates annually three young people to represent Sweden at the United Nations. 

One representative participates for 2-3 weeks in the session of the General Assembly in New York. The mission includes holding a speech in the General Assembly's committee responsible for human rights issues. The youth representative attends the Swedish delegation to the General Assembly, and works close to the Swedish UN Representation in New York and the Ministry of Education in Sweden. Preparatory meeting with youth representatives from other EU countries is organised by the European Youth Forum during the summer.

One representative participates in the UN High Level Forum for Sustainable Development. That is a relatively new forum for contributing to political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development, as well as following up and evaluating the implementation of 2030 Agenda. The youth representative is included in the Swedish delegation and works close to the Swedish UN Representation in New York and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden.

The third representative participates in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The ultimate objective of both treaties is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

LSU has also a representative in the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO.