Youth Policy In Belgium

This report is part of a series of international reviews of national youth policies carried out by the Council of Europe in collaboration and consultation with government agencies and ministries responsible for the development and implementation of youth policy, as well as with non-governmental youth organisations. The reviews are carried out by an international team which outlines the strengths and challenges of the countries' youth policies in a constructive manner, drawing where appropriate upon broader international evidence and debate. The international review process was established to fulfil three distinct objectives: - to advise on national youth policy; - to identify components which might combine to form an approach to youth policy across Europe; - to contribute to a learning process in relation to the development and implementation of youth policy.

Following on from the first two volumes of History of youth work in Europe, each of which was based on international seminars, the Belgian Presidency of the European Union held an international and interdisciplinary conference on the history of youth work. This third volume presents the work of this conference, which widened the scope of study from national histories to questions concerning the historical evolution of youth work methods, theories and targets. The 1st European Conference on the History of Youth Work made a two-pronged contribution: to learn from history and to engage in intercultural exchange and learning. This publication is intended to build bridges between past and future, east and west, north and south - and to inform contemporary debate on youth work and youth policy in Europe

A reference tool for initiating youth policy and learning about the diversity of national and international governance and about the infrastructure available for youth policy, its implementation, review and evaluation Today, we know much more about national and European youth policy, the role of research, participation of young people and monitoring and evaluation of youth policy than we did when the first Youth policy manual was published in 2009 by the EU–Council of Europe youth partnership. The concept of youth policy can be very narrowly or very broadly constructed. This volume positions youth policy in the context of public policy and reflects on the complex, cyclical nature of policy making, bringing together the results of knowledge gathering and debates central to the European agenda in the field over the last 15 years. Thematically, the manual focuses very specifically on those areas of youth policy that have been formulated and developed through European consensus-building – participation, information, volunteering, social inclusion, access to rights, youth work, mobility and digitalisation. We hope that the five parts of the manual, from the conceptual to the practical, and through a range of examples and questions for reflection, will help you to explore, understand and engage with the youth policy framework in your context, from your own perspective, and will provide you with a sense of all the stages of youth policy making. Most importantly, the manual includes a wide range of standards, tools and resources developed by and for the benefit of youth policy makers, youth work practitioners, youth researchers and young people across Europe. It is About Time! we strengthen the youth sector further to develop a new generation of positive and purposeful youth policies in Europe!

V.1. The different authors highlight the youth work policies in Belgium (Flanders), Germany, England, Poland, Malta, France and Finland.

Substantive issues, methodological lessons, support measures and youth policy standards: a reflection on the “third seven” Council of Europe international reviews of national youth policy The Council of Europe’s 21 international reviews of national youth policy have, over 20 years, produced a significant body of knowledge and a respected, innovative methodology. They have considerably enhanced the understanding and the development of “youth policy” throughout Europe. Following the first seven international reviews, a synthesis report was produced that endeavoured to construct a framework for understanding youth policy. A similar synthesis exercise took place after a further seven international reviews, reflecting both on the evolving process of carrying out the reviews and on new themes and issues for youth policy that had not emerged within the initial framework. This book, the third concerned with supporting young people in Europe, is a synthesis of the last seven international reviews, coupled with an overview of the learning that has accrued from all 21 international reviews. It draws together some of the conclusions and challenges that have emerged over two decades and considers some lessons for the future, not least alternative models of engagement in the youth field between the Council of Europe and its member states.

Ukraine is the 19th country overall, and the third of the Commonwealth of independent States (following Armenia and Moldova) to have its youth policy reviewed by the Council of Europe's international review team. Ukraine presented a range of new challenges: it was by far the largest country geographically and it embodied geo-political characteristics (from North to South, and East to West) that are reflected in its philosophy and approach to youth policy development. This international review explores three issues of particular interest to the Ukrainian authorities: health and healthy lifestyles, employment and employability, and patriotic education and citizenship, in addition, the international review pays special attention to questions of youth participation and engagement, and to those groups of "vulnerable" young people who are at most risk of social exclusion. The review argues for the establishment of a more open development model for youth policy in Ukraine, supported by a clear strategic vision and the strengthening of its commitment to local capacity and autonomy in shaping relevant programmes and projects, in particular, it also advocates the promotion of more diverse methodologies in the implementation of youth policy, based on non-formal learning and skills-development principles.