Youth participation in Belgium
Is there a national youth council, representing young people in your country? If yes, please provide the name, number of member organisations and number of young members.
YES, The National Youth Council. It`s a dome-organisation of national youth organisations in The Netherlands for youth between 12-30 year. The purpose is to improve and enlarge youth participation. Some 16 organisations are affiliated. For example CNV youth(a (trade) union), DWARS (a political youth organisation of the political party GreenLeft), Expreszo(a magazine for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in The Netherlands) and so more.
Is there a ministry dealing concretely with the youth affairs in your country? If yes, please provide the name of the ministry.
YES, There is a ministry for youth and family. The minister is Andre Rouvoet
Does the government in your country has a specific youth policy/youth strategy?
YES, The youth and family policy is one of the spearheads of the government of Balkenende IV. Therefore there is a minister for youth and family with its own programme ministery.
From what age are young people allowed to vote in the elections? If different age for different elections (parliamentary, local, regional, etc.), please specify.
From 18 years old
From what age are young people allowed to be elected in the elections to the representative bodies? If different age for different elections (parliamentary, local, regional, etc.), please specify.
From 18 years old
Are there any youth participation initiatives at the local level (in municipalities), e.g. local youth parliaments/youth councils, meetings of young people with decision-makers? Please describe.
Yes, almost every political party has a special party for young people. Its very approachable. For example the Christian Democratic Appel has also got a Christian Democratic Appel for Youth.
Are there youth participation/decision-making bodies at schools, e.g. school parliaments, student councils, etc.? Please describe.
You have students councils. Students can give their opinion about the school system. Some schools also have other kind of student groups, for example to organise other activities such as student parties.
Are there are youth parliaments or other youth participation bodies on the national level? Please describe.
The foundation European youth parliaments The Netherlands. It is the Dutch branch of the European Youth Parliament. The foundation organises yearly several EYP sessions.
Is there any kind of education to youth participation/active citizenship included in the school curricula in your country, e.g. civic education? Please describe.
Yes, named “civics”. It is a social, economic and political course. But it is very basic.
Do media inform about youth issues? Are young people involved in media and their production, e.g. as journalists? Please describe.
Their is news especially for youth on television. When logging in to msn messenger(to chat with friends) there also appears a news page. Of course youth is also on Twitter and You Tube, where they can also find news. And of course there are other media like news papers. But the media doesn’t inform especially about youth issues. Next to that youth is not actively involved in media.
Are there youth information centres, official youth websites or other sources of youth information available for young people? Please describe.
Yes, we have a site “ youth information point”. They give advice to young people about every subject. For example about housing, school, work, drugs, money… Young people can also ask questions. You also have the site “Dutch youth institute” only about youth issues. It is also for adults. You can find all kind of information dealing with youth. For example things that have changed, or where you can follow a training about education or where is held a lecture on youth. Some municipalities have beside the general site of the municipality a special page for youth.
Are young people in your country informed about the European youth policy and its priorities? What do you think can be done to make young people aware about this? Please describe.
Youth is not very much informed about European youth policy. Not explicit at school, only at home when there is talked about policy. I think it would be a good idea to introduce a course on school about national as well international politics.
Author: Jennifer Merks
E-mail: Jennifermerks1@hotmail.com
The surveys were submitted by the participants of the YouthVoice project from the respective EU Member States. The questionnaires were part of their preparation for the Youth Voice project and each national group had to undertake a small research about youth participation in their country. The organisers cannot guarantee correctness of the answers.