Young people must stand up against populism, nationalism and extremism that risk silencing them, says Secretary-General
Inauguration of the major event of StrasbourgYouth action week which marks the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe youth sectorSecretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric called on young people to remain engaged in the revitalization of democracy and to confront the new threats to human rights, democracy and the rule of lawincluding in the context of the ongoing military aggression Russia versus Ukraine.
“This week will see the emergence of ideas and examples which will be a source of inspiration, both in the Council of Europe and in all the countries of our continent”, declared Marija Pejčinović Burić to the approximately 450 participants of the Youth Action Week, noting that their recommendations proposed at the end of the week “will be heard, because they come at an important moment, marked by the return of populisms and nationalisms on our continent”.
“They are threatening to silence your voice,” she warned, pointing out that the most extreme example of such tendencies is Russia’s brutal, unlawful and ongoing aggression against Ukraine. “The consequences are shocking: rapes, murders and torture, all crimes that we hoped never to see again in Europe,” said the Secretary General. “Many young people stayed in the country and witnessed these horrors, which will remain with them forever. Others have fled their homes and communities in search of safety in neighboring countries. Our thoughts are with them all. The Secretary General added that several young Ukrainian activists take part in the Youth Action Week and mentioned other ways in which the Council of Europe is working with youth organizations and Ukrainian authorities and adapting its activities to the changing of the situation.
For half a century, the Council of Europe has been leading the development of participatory and inclusive youth policies, youth work and youth research in Europe. Much has been done; the importance of these achievements for Europe was reiterated by the Secretary General, as well as by other speakers during the opening session: Ambassador Breifne O’Reilly, Permanent Representative of Ireland and President of the Committee of Ministers; Spyros Papadatos, President of the Youth Advisory Council and Véronique Bertholle, Deputy Mayor of the City of Strasbourg. Actively promoting participatory democracy and engagement with young people is one of the priorities of the Irish Presidency, which is supporting the event.
Among the milestones of the Council of Europe’s work with and for youth since 1972 are the creation of two European Youth Centres, in Strasbourg and Budapest; creation of the European Youth Foundation to provide financial and educational support for youth projects; the creation of a unique co-management system bringing together governments, the Council of Europe and young people to ensure that the voice of young people is taken into account in policy-making at national and international level. The “All different – All equal” campaigns and the campaign against hate speech were launched by young people and reached them in all Member States. The Council of Europe will continue its work with young people, governments and other actors in its member states, within the framework of the Youth Sector Strategy 2030, the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on the protection of youth and youth civil society, and in other frameworks, the speakers underlined.
Youth Action Week is a flagship event of the Youth Campaign to Revitalize Democracy “Democracy Here, Democracy Now”. Throughout the week, young people debate such pressing issues as the right to vote, non-discrimination, gender equality, the role of education in building democracy, the threat of hate speech , minority youth, ‘disruptive’ youth participation, digital citizenship, as well as peace and resilience in the face of armed conflict.
Speech by the Secretary General