Promoting and Increasing Youth Political Participation and Civic Engagement in the OSCE Region

In an effort to address the challenges that youth face in relation to political participation, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) organized two Youth Leadership Forums (Forums) in 2014. The Forums were held within the framework of the project, titled “Promoting and increasing youth political participation and civic engagement in the OSCE region”. The Forums brought together almost 100 experts and young leaders from 37 OSCE participating States including politicians, journalists, civil servants, civil society, media representatives and online activists. The purpose of the events was to discuss how the OSCE and its institutions can better assist participating States in meeting their commitments on promoting the inclusion of youth in democratic processes. Forum participants discussed the challenges to democratic institutions and youth political participation.