Empowering youth to shape democracy at the Nordic Baltic Youth Summit
Children & young people
8 Oct 2024
More than 250 young leaders from the Nordics and the Baltic countries gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, for the first ever Nordic Baltic Youth Summit. On the summit agenda were issues of peace and security, democracy, well-being, climate, and governance. “We need the voices of youth to help solve the challenges we face”, said Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Karen Ellemann.
Nordic Welfare Centre hosted two interactive workshops during the youth summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. In one of the workshops young people from across the Nordic and Baltic regions came together to discuss policy recommendations and advocate for youth involvement in decision-making; Convince decision makers to listen to youth on a regular basis. This workshop provided an opportunity for youth to practice their argumentation skills and share their views on why youth participation is crucial.
“We need the voice of youth”
In her opening remarks, Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, reminded participants of the importance of youth involvement in shaping the future:
– Our world is changing rapidly, and we need the voices of youth to help solve the challenges we face.
Including perspectives of youth with disabilities
One of the other workshops was led by representatives from the Nordic Youth Disability Summit and the Nordic Welfare Centre, focusing on how to enhance the participation of children and young people with disabilities in shaping democracy.
The workshop was designed to address the barriers young people with disabilities face, especially in education and employment policies across the Nordic region.
Hobbies and activities are not always accessible
The session was introduced by Ingvild Østli, and Ingrid Thunem, leaders of an umbrella organisation for youth with disabilities, Unga funktionshemmede, Norway. Discussions covered practical recommendations to include the perspective of youth with disabilities in key policy areas, particularly around accessible hobbies and activities.
Participants agreed that one of the biggest challenges is the lack of opportunities for youth with disabilities to engage in recreational activities, which can have wide-reaching negative impacts on their well-being and social inclusion.
Visibility drives different expectations
The group highlighted that visible and invisible disabilities create different expectations – those with visible disabilities are often presumed incapable of participating fully, while those with invisible disabilities are expected to manage without extra support. This disconnect often leaves young people in difficult positions, requiring them to constantly explain their needs.
The participants concluded that activity leaders need better training and awareness to foster truly barrier-free environments. This insight aligned with examples like the Barrierefri fritid project in Norway, organised by Unge Funksjonshemmede. The project focuses on improving access to hobbies, sports, and cultural activities by breaking down these barriers.
Building on earlier youth summits
Previous Nordic Youth Summits were held in Oslo in 2022 and Reykjavik in 2023, each drawing attention to the need for resilient structures that guarantee youth participation, particularly in times of crisis.
During the Vilnius summit, participants worked alongside decision-makers, representatives of youth organisations, and policymakers, ensuring that the perspectives of youth are included in key policy decisions moving forward. With participants from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, Åland, and the Faroe Islands, the summit fostered an environment of collaboration and networking across borders.
As the summit concluded, many youth expressed eagerness for feedback from decision-makers and the Nordic Council on their discussions and recommendations. Their hope is that their voices are not just heard but also translated into influence in policy-making processes. This anticipation underlines the importance of accountability and transparency in governance, especially regarding youth engagement, to ensure that their insights contribute to better decisions and a more robust democracy.
The summit coming to Finland
– Youth involvement was crucial during the pandemic, and we need even more of it to sustain the democratic spirit of our societies, said Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Nordic-Baltic Youth Summit was organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania, in cooperation with the Lithuanian Youth Council, Lijot, and the National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations (LSU) and supported by NORDBUK and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Finland took over the baton at the end of the Nordic Baltic Youth Summit and The Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi – Nuorisoala will organise next year’s summit.
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