How it all began
Coinciding with the 2022 European Year of Youth, the Youth Political and Civic Engagement Cohort was the first Democracy Cohort to officially launch on September 15, 2022.
A global inter-generational alliance to reimagine democracy
The Youth Democracy Cohort is one of several multi-stakeholder platforms that have been launched as part of the Year of Action of the Summit for Democracy, initiated by U.S. President Joe Biden in December 2021 and where President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also participated. The Cohorts bring together governments, civil society, and the private sector – and their resources, activities and expertise – to advance good governance and democratic renewal around the world.
The European Commission, the Governments of Nepal and Ghana, the European Partnership for Democracy, AfricTivistes and EDYN (the European Democratic Youth Network) jointly presented the Cohort as co-leaders during the International Day of Democracy in Brussels, with the aim of supporting young people in democracies locally and globally.
“The broad engagement and participation of young people at all levels of policymaking is the engine that drives strong and stable democracies forward. The European Commission is committed to advancing youth democratic participation worldwide, as shown equally by the imminent adoption of our first ever Youth Action Plan for EU external action. I am proud that we are joined by so many partners in launching together the Youth Participation Cohort.”
Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen