Youth participation in local affairs: a key feature of democracy in Ukraine

Odessa (Ukraine), 27 April 2017– “Sustainable change starts at the local level. Therefore, engaging youth to participate in local affairs is of the upmost importance’’ pointed out Saara Ilvessalo, member of the Congress (Finland, SOC). “It is also the only way to achieve a better and peaceful society”, added Eva Černigoj, member of the Congress (Slovenia, GILD). Sharing their experience as local and regional councillors, both Congress members inspired the 30 young representatives of civil society organisations, media and local authorities from Odessa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolayiv regions. On this basis, ideas were developed for initiatives to foster citizen engagement for a transparent decision-making and to strengthen local democracy in their community, during the three-day seminar organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The seminar was organised in the framework of the project “Promoting local democracy in Ukraine”, which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2015-2017.

Ukraine joined the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995, ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 11 September 1997 and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority on 2 September 2014. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter imposes compliance with a minimum number of rights and principles, which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures respect for these principles.

Contacts:  

Marité Moras, Head of Unit, Co-operation and External Relations Department, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 33

Svitlana Gryshchenko, Project Manager, Council of Europe Office in Kyiv,
Tel: +380 50 45 23 118