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The General Secretary (GS) of the Celtic League has written to the Scottish and Welsh Government's to ascertain what the position in these respective countries is with regards to how youth organisations are structured, organised and in particular how their rights are represented at a European level.
Currently in Europe the rights of 90 European national youth councils are represented by the European Youth Forum (YFJ) – an European umbrella youth organisation and the biggest regional youth platform in the world. Members of the EYF also include some of the biggest international non-governmental youth organisations like the Scouts and the Young Women's Christian Organisation (YWCA). However there is no national youth organisation from any of the Celtic countries, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland, who are members of YFJ. The rights of young people from the other Celtic countries on the Forum are therefore only represented by the Youth Council of France and the British Youth Council.
National youth councils can be represented in the YFJ if they are voted to become members, which they can do after spending at least one year as an 'Observer' and then 'Candidate Member'. This has therefore not excluded some non-state national youth councils from becoming full members of YFJ, such as the Flemish National Youth Council (Belgium) and the Catalan Youth Council (Spain). Consequently the rights of young people from both Flanders and Catalonia are therefore directly represented at a European level and do not have to go through the youth councils of their host states.
In the light of various reports from both Scotland and Wales (e.g. Kathleen Marshall's report into the quality of life of young people, due to be published this week and 'Extending Entitlement: supporting young people in Wales') it is clear that improvements need be made in both countries. It should not be left to the British or French youth council's to represent the rights of young people in the Celtic countries in Europe, who have by all accounts failed to prevent a poorer quality of life in these countries, than in those countries where the centre of their own power lies (i.e. London and Paris). Young people in the Celtic countries need their own direct voice at all levels, if issues that affect them uniquely are to be dealt with adequately.
The full text of the letter from the GS to Minister Fabiani in Scotland can be found below. A similar letter to Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, in Wales has also been sent. Both the Scotland and Wales Government's are responsible for the priority area of 'social inclusion', which includes young people, on the British Irish Council.
"Linda Fabiani Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Culture scottish.ministers [at] ...
Dear Minister Fabiani
Representation of Scottish Youth
I am writing to you in order to make an informal assessment for our organisation of the current situation in respect of how the rights of young people are coordinated/upheld in Scotland and at a European level in particular.
Specifically, I am interested to discover if Scotland has its own youth council in much the same way that there is a Catalan National Youth Council in the state of Spain or a Flemish National Youth Council in the state of Belgium. If this is not the case I would like to know why this isn't an area that has been developed previously and how the various youth organisations in Alba/Scotland liaises with each other.
In addition I would also like to determine how Scotland is represented on/by the British Youth Council (BYC), who are full members of the European Youth Forum (YFJ) - the main umbrella organisation that represents the rights of young people at a European level. Moreover, I would like to know if Scottish youth currently have a direct link with the YFJ and if so, through what organisation/channel?
I would be further interested to know, if the current Scottish Government, is willing to foster and encourage the creation and/or participation of a national youth council for Scotland in the YFJ in the future. The Celtic League believes that direct involvement in such organisations as the YFJ, rather than relying on a third party (in this case the BYC it would seem) is the best means for young people to lobby for the rights they want and need.
In the light of the report to the United Nations, due to be published this week by Scotland's Children's Commissioner, Kathleen Marshall, which highlights a number of areas where the quality of life of young people needs to be improved, it would seem that a national youth council for Scotland, with full membership of YFJ, would be beneficial in directly lobbying for the rights of Scotland's young people at a European level.
Many thanks in advance for your time in answering my questions and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League"
European Youth Forum
'Extending Entitlement: supporting young people in Wales'
(voir le site) gentitlement?lang=en
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
09/06/08
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