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FROM PARTICIPATION to INFLUENCE: CAN YOUTH REVITALISE DEMOCRACY? Final Report PREMS 0 91715 FROM PARTICIPATION TO INFLUENCE: CAN YOUTH REVITALISE DEMOCRACY? Final report 91715 PREMS 0 ENG The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European World Forum for Democracy Union. All Council of Europe member states have signed up to the European Convention on Human Strasbourg, 3-5 November 2014 Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states. FROM PARTICIPATION TO INFLUENCE: CAN YOUTH REVITALISE DEMOCRACY? Final Report World Forum for Democracy Strasbourg, 3-5 November 2014 Council of Europe The opinions expressed in this work are the responsability of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Council of Europe. All requests concerning the reproduction or translation of all or part of this document should be addressed to the Directorate of Communication (F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex or [email protected]). All other correspondence concerning this document should be addressed to the World Forum for Democracy Division. Cover: SPDP, Council of Europe Photo: Council of Europe Layout: Jouve, Paris © Council of Europe, May 2015 Printed at the Council of Europe Contents ILLUSTRATORS 4 FOREWORD 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 No alternatives? Diagnosis of young people’s discontent with democratic institutions 7 “Let’s figure this out together” – Youth bringing democracy back to life 8 FORUM PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS 11 Opening Session – 3 November 2014 11 Round Table Discussion: Young people - actors of global change? – 3 November 13 Round Table Discussion: Youth empowerment for democratic transformation? – 4 November 16 The Labs 18 Round Table Discussion: From youth initiatives to system change – 5 November 82 Closing Session: The Voice of Democracy – 5 November 85 Democracy Prototyping sessions 89 ILLUSTRATORS Mr Jean Charles ANDRIEU DE LEVIS LAB 1 - Action Civics LAB 12 – Project Citizen Ms Violette BERGER LAB 7 – Artificial intelligence for Democracy LAB 15 – Youth in global summits Mr Aurelien CANTOU LAB 9 – Politically attractive reforms for increasing youth influence LAB 14 – Citizens voting for bills Mr Matthieu CHIARA LAB 2 – Understanding Democracy LAB 20 – Young Mayor Programme Mr Guillaume DELOIZON LAB 6 – Democracy Watchdogs LAB 11 – Young City changers Mr Daniel DEPOUTOT LAB 21 – Young Democracy Creators Ms Maria LUCHANKINA LAB 8 – Participatory Democracy in School LAB 16 – Youth participation in Elections Ms Nelly MASSERA LAB 3 – ‘Directing’ Democracy LAB 18 – Youth Social Moveents : challenging the system on the street ? Mr Jérome RICH LAB 10 – Structures for Youth Advocacy LAB 13 – Have your say Mr Eugène RIOUSSE LAB 4 – In from the Margin Ms Aline ROLLIN LAB 17 – Hacking Democracy Mr Laurent SALLES LAB 5 – No to neo-nazis, no to hate speech LAB 19 – Youth Parliament World Forum for Democracy Page 4 Foreword While the number of democracies in the world has been growing steadily, it has to be said that these democ- racies, whether established or in transition, now face major challenges. Among these challenges, in particular, is the disenchantment with political representation and skepticism regarding policy decisions among young people who are at risk of being increasingly alienated from public political life. The more recent democracies also face their own challenges when it comes to involving young people, whose expectations about freedom of expression, transparency and good governance are often frustrated. Yet, in Hong Kong, Kyiv and Cairo young people have been on the front line of the fight for democracy and human rights, aspiring to live in a society based on the rule of law and human dignity. In Western democracies, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey, a large majority of young people see human rights and freedom of expression as priorities which Europe should be promoting. There is clearly a strong “appetite” for democracy. It would be wrong to say that all young people have lost interest in politics. But a gulf has opened up between traditional political structures and young people and this gulf needs to be bridged for the health and the sustainability of our democracies. To face this challenge, it is necessary to consider ways of gearing politics and democratic practice to young people’s current methods of communication and mobilisation; particularly social media. How can we draw on young people’s energy to revitalise democratic institutions and processes? In the digital age, what tools, apart from voting, can we put in place to encourage youth participation and to enhance democratic vitality? Are youth parliaments an effective means of getting young people involved in deci- sion-making processes? Social movements, which are the only means of expression in some countries, are often regarded as locomotives for political change, strengthening democracy and human rights, but can they have a significant and lasting impact in countries which do not yet have a democratic tradition? Should young people, who were born in the digital age, be encouraged to use online platforms for the purposes of active and responsible citizenship? These important and relevant questions have been debated at the World Forum for Democracy 2014, organ- ised by the Council of Europe with the support of the City of Strasbourg, the Alsace Region and the French Government. Representatives of civil society (media and business circles, academics, and young activists) and political leaders from more than 100 countries have discussed - including via a digital platform - the issues and challenges of youth participation, and have pinpointed the opportunities they offer for democratic renewal. Thorbjørn JAGLAND, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Jocelyne CABALLERO, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe Philippe RICHERT, President of the Alsace Regional Council Roland RIES, Mayor of Strasbourg Page 5 The World Forum for Democracy 2014 “Best of” “The traditional concept of democracy is not any more sacred. Now we are questioning the concept. Now we are looking for alternative forms of participation.” – Mohammed Al-Saud, civil society activist from Syria “The most important thing is to give really the possibility to young people to have their new vision, because they are not just the future of democracy, they are the present of democracy.” – Ons Ben Abdelkarim, Secretary General of Al Bawsala, Tunisia “Participation in itself is not enough, it needs to lead to action and to change; otherwise people lose faith in the system.” Participant from the audience “Tangible change is in the air. Young people are already transforming many aspects of daily life from the way we learn and communicate to the way we do business. They are also ready to change the way demo- cracies work.” – Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe “Youth have a voice. They need to be heard and listened to. And that’s what’s so important for everyone to realise: that youth need to be given the opportunity to speak.” – Simone Bernstein, Co-Founder and President of volunTEENnation.org “You have a voice, you have the rights, you have all kinds of influence that are right now neglected on all areas, not only on the national area, and we need to raise our voice in order to change that.” – Katharina Nocun, civil liberties activist and blogger from Germany “Get into politics if you really want to change things. I think that the best way and maybe the fastest way is to enter the system, work for politics, get elected and try to bring more opportunities for youth.” – Daniela Chacon, Vice Mayor of Quito, Ecuador “If you are unable to change a political party, how can you change an entire society?” – Henry B. Tam, Director of Cambridge University’s Forum for Youth Participation & Democracy “My advice to young people is that you really don’t have to wait to be Bono or Bill Gates. You can make a difference now! As a young person full of passion and creativity. There has never been a better time to take action.” – Nancy Lublin, CEO of ‘Do Something’ and founder of ‘Crisis Text Line’ “How many old people are ready to step back to create space for young people in political positions?” – Participant from the audience “We used to look at politicians as rulers, we are moving to see them as representatives; we were consumers of governance, we are now co-creators; we were complainers, now we are problem-solvers.” – Abhishek Thakore, Founder of The Blue Ribbon Movement, India “This is a revolution. This is the digitalisation of the world. What is responsible for this great economic transformation is the digitalisation of society and it’s all the young people in this room. You have created revolution and you don’t even know it. You’ve created new narrative for society.” – Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation on Economic Trends and economic and social theorist “No representation without conversation.” – Pia Mancini, Director of Net Democracy, Argentina “The biggest enemy of our democracy is apathy” – Participant from the audience “It’s very important that when you go to vote, you know that you will make a difference with what you vote for, and you don’t just vote for either Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola - which is unfortunately what election currently means in most of our societies.” – Chantal Mouffe, Director of the Centre of Democracy at the University of Westminster “People don’t go to the streets when they have nothing to lose - they go when they have something stolen from them” – Andrij Shevchenko, Member of Parliament, Ukraine World Forum for Democracy Page 6 Executive Summary This summary is a synthesis of recurrent points and arguments by Forum participants and high level speakers expressed during the Forum’s labs, unconferences, democracy prototype workshops and plenary sessions.
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