Council for Youth – Young People Have a Say Too!
Acting on the proposal of the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted a directive establishing the Council for Youth of the Federation of BiH, which creates a permanent expert, inter-ministerial, advisory, and coordinating body that will play a key role in shaping policies concerning young people in the Federation of BiH.
Acting on the proposal of the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted a directive establishing the Council for Youth of the Federation of BiH, which creates a permanent expert, inter-ministerial, advisory, and coordinating body that will play a key role in shaping policies concerning young people in the Federation of BiH.
The Council for Youth of the Federation of BiH is envisioned under Article 18 of the Law on Youth of FBiH as an inter-ministerial working body of the Government whose main task is coordinating and harmonizing youth policy and overseeing implementation of the Law on Youth.
The role of the Council for Youth is to actively promote and protect youth rights, monitor social activities that may be important for young people, and propose concrete measures and activities. Additionally, the Council participates in coordinating youth policies, provides recommendations and opinions to FBiH institutions in legislative processes, and contributes to developing and monitoring strategies and plans of interest to young people.
One of the Council’s more important roles is establishing cooperation and coordination among all actors involved in creating and implementing strategic documents for young people in the Federation of BiH. The Council is also tasked with regularly reporting to the FBiH Government on its work and the state of youth-related issues.
The FBiH Council for Youth will consist of ten members appointed for four-year terms. Member selection will take into account balanced gender and geographical representation. Five members are proposed by the relevant FBiH ministries (culture and sports, labor and social policy, health, education and science, and justice), and five are appointed by the Assembly of the Youth Council of the Federation of BiH. Council member appointments are made by the FBiH Government through a special decree, with candidate proposals confirmed by the Ministry.
Regular funding for Council activities is secured through the Federation of BiH Budget, with the possibility of using donor funds when needed.
Since the adoption of the Law on Youth, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has advocated for and worked toward full implementation of the law and all its mechanisms that promote better conditions for young people, so that together we can create a better future for generations to come.