Dear His Excellency Ambassador Nasser Kamel,
We, the undersigned youth leaders and Civil Society Organization (CSO) representatives from the Euro-Mediterranean region, write to call for the establishment of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Union for the Mediterranean under the auspices of the UfM in line with the recommendations of the Mediterranean Youth Academy - MYA. This is a unique opportunity for the UfM to signal that young people are high on the priority agenda and ensure that policies of UfM reflect the needs and priorities of the youth constituency.
We acknowledge that the UfM structure doesn't currently include Advisory Councils, and the Youth Engagement Dossier is relatively new. Therefore, we propose an Advisory Council on Youth that operates on a regional level as a more fitting structure within the UfM's existing framework. This council would offer a crucial platform for amplifying youth voices across the Euro-Mediterranean region, and ensuring representation from the diverse youth experiences within the member states, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative approach to policy making.
The Vision
This initiative is inspired by successful models in other international organizations, such as the co-management system within the Council of Europe and various United Nations agencies.
The proposed Advisory Council on Youth of the UfM’s, would provide platform dialogue, knowledge, in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect, and contribute to setting standards, work priorities, and making budgetary and programmatic recommendations for the youth work in the region.
The Council should be formally recognized by the UfM and integrated into its structure, with members participating in UfM ministerial meetings to propose policy recommendations.
Proposed Action Plan
1. Setting up a Joint Task Force/Working group on the establishing of the Advisory Council of the UfM, which would involve UfM Secretariat representatives with expertise in relevant UfM programs and youth engagement, volunteer member state representatives with experience in youth policy and regional development, and external youth policy experts with a strong understanding of Euro-Mediterranean youth issues.
Overall, the task force should be balanced in terms of representation from UfM Secretariat, member states, and external experts, it should also be diverse in terms of gender, age, nationality, and background to reflect the wide range of youth experiences in the Mediterranean, and members should demonstrate a strong commitment to youth issues and the goals of the Advisory Council.
This Task Force would detail the proposal for the long-term vision, mandate, structure, composition, decision-making procedures, selection procedures and criteria.
2. Formal Recognition: Secure a formal agreement from the UfM to establish the Advisory Council on Youth.
3. Selection of Representatives based on the structure proposed by the Joint Task Force and adopted by the UfM. These representatives would be young leaders (18-30 years old) who belong to youth organizations from across the Euro-Mediterranean region, representing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise relevant to UfM priorities, and their selection should prioritize a balanced representation of genders and ensure geographical diversity.
4. Resource Allocation: Ensure the Council is adequately resourced, including funding, staffing, and access to relevant data and research.
5. Integration in UfM Activities: Facilitate the involvement of Council members in UfM ministerial meetings and other relevant activities.
6. Policy Formulation and Advocacy: Enable the Council to formulate opinions and proposals on youth-related issues and advocate for their integration into UfM’s policies and programs.
Collaboration and Resources
We acknowledge the importance of fiscal responsibility and are open to exploring creative solutions to ensure the Council's sustainability. This could involve seeking co-funding from relevant stakeholders, international organizations, or the private sector in addition to leveraging existing UfM resources.
Why is this of High Importance
The establishment of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Union for the Mediterranean is a critical step towards strengthening the engagement of young people in the Euro-Mediterranean region. It will ensure that youth voices are not only heard but are influential in shaping policies that affect their lives and futures. With the Council’s insights, the UfM can develop more youth-centric programs, reflecting the aspirations and needs of young people in the region.
We urge the UfM to respond positively to this recommendation. By supporting the establishment of the Advisory Council on Youth, the UfM can demonstrate its commitment to engaging young people in the policymaking process and ensuring their meaningful participation in shaping a prosperous, peaceful and integrated Euro-Mediterranean region.
We, the undersigned, remain available to support the initial consultation efforts and provide any support needed in ensuring that this Council becomes a success.
We look forward to your positive response and are ready to collaborate closely to bring this initiative to fruition.
Sincerely,
Signatories