The event “Youth Initiatives for EU Integration,” part of the “Youth Advocacy Initiative Incubator” project, highlighted young people’s engagement in advocacy for the rule of law and human rights, particularly focusing on combating violence against women and corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The event included a presentation of the campaign “The Power of Youth: A Bridge to Europe.” The goal of this campaign is to promote initiatives that support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration into the EU. The initiatives have the support of Aurelie Valtat, European Integration, Political, Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to BiH, and Lana Prlić, a representative in the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since advocacy initiatives by young people for EU integration in BiH are crucial for the country’s progress and development, a manifesto/coalition of BiH NGOs and institutions was presented during the promotional event, and everyone was invited to join.
Young people from Sarajevo, Travnik, and Tuzla noted that youth advocacy initiatives for EU integration in BiH are crucial for improving the quality of life for all citizens. They expressed their commitment to a robust and transparent process of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union.
The goal of this program is to enhance the involvement and impact of young people in shaping and implementing EU-integration policies in BiH, ensuring they have a substantial role in political decisions and reforms related to EU integration. Young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina will actively engage in decision-making processes, consult with relevant institutions, participate in meetings, and share their suggestions, views, and solutions, and will therefore be able to actually influence the policy development process.
“The BiH society is facing serious challenges, including political polarization, lack of commitment to the rule of law and our path to EU membership. The “Youth Advocacy Initiatives Incubator” project is our answer to these challenges. Our goal is to empower young people, provide them with advocacy skills and encourage their active participation in EU integration efforts. We believe that youth initiatives are crucial for shaping a better future, so we organize activities to foster a deeper understanding of challenges and promote constructive dialogue. We believe in the power of young people and want to highlight the crucial role of EU integration for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future. We urge young people to engage actively in advocacy, networking, and fostering strong partnerships among the BiH government, the international community, and young leaders,” said Jasmina Čekrić, Executive Director of PROI.
At the event, Jasmin Bešić, CEO of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, addressed the attendees: “For over 20 years, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been dedicated to supporting initiatives that improve the status of young people. We are particularly focused on advocating for strategic commitments from government institutions and the effective implementation of youth-strategies. Young people’s voices should be heard in decision-making processes that shape their future. Bosnia and Herzegovina is working towards EU membership, which involves aligning key laws that affect young people. That’s why we emphasize the importance of hearing young people’s voices on critical issues like the rule of law, human rights, and gender equality. These issues might not appear to be top priorities for young people, but they profoundly impact their daily lives. It’s important for us at the Institute that their perspectives are listened to and valued, both by the BiH government and the EU.
The project “Youth Advocacy Initiatives Incubator” is implemented with the support of the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
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