Youth policy in Latvia

Andris GrafsThe Ministry for Children and Family Affairs

Director of Youth Affairs department

May 2008

Documents regulating youth policy

Youth Law Youth Law (08.05.2008)

State Youth Policy Concept (2002)

State Youth Policy Program (2005-2009)

Yearly State Youth Policy Programs (as well for Year 2008)

National Development Plan (2007-2013)

Legislation under line ministries, in youth policy fields (employment, education, health etc)

Under preparation in 2008:

• State youth policy Guidelines 2009-2019 (will be in place of State Youth Policy Concept)

• Profession standard for youth affairs specialist

• Rules of Cabinet of Ministers for training of youth affairs specialists

• Rules of Cabinet of Ministers for financial support to youth initiatives, participation and youth work

Institutional mechanism of youth policy at national level

Ministry for Children and family Affairs – the coordinating institution on youth policy by present regulation on youth policy since 2004

One of the main assignments of the Ministry is to work out legal acts and policy planning documents on youth policy, as well as to carry out youth policy within the framework of its competency.

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs:•formulates legal acts and policy documents or takes part in preparing such documents; •arranges reports and expert conclusions on youth related issues; •represents the Ministry in youth related activities and events, organized by international organizations, foreign and Latvian institutions;•ensures cooperation with state and municipality institutions, as well as nongovernmental organizations (societies and foundations) on youth related issues; •represents the viewpoint of the Ministry in the sessions of the committees of the Saeima, the Cabinet, in work groups created by other ministries, in joint meetings and seminars; •develops methodical guidance and recommendations on coordinating and developing state and municipal youth policy, as well as on improving the work with the youth; •methodically leads the work of municipal youth affairs coordinators and the directors of Youth initiative Centres on implementing youth policy;•promotes the establishing of consulting and coordinating institutions that ensure participation of youth.

In order to effectively carry out the coordination of youth policy, the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs puts into effect the following interventions:

•Drafting and monitoring of State youth policy Drawing up policy documents and legal acts;Analysis of the impact of the policy; Working out recommendations within the framework of youth policy thematic directions for municipalities, state administrative institutions and to structures connected with youth affairs.

•Securing of the participation mechanisms for implementation of youth policy

Organizing the work of the Council of Youth policy coordination ; Organizing the work of the Consultative committee of youth organizations; Organizing of Latvian Youth Congress (Forum) every two years;Involvement of youth researchers;

Interventions of the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs in implementing state youth

policy

•Support to municipal youth infrastructure and to ensure the usage of leisure time.

Development of youth initiative centers;Adapting the environment for the availability of physical activities;Establishment of youth education and health center.

•Projects to support youth initiatives and youth organizationsSecondary controls for EU program “Youth in Action”; Support program for developing the work of youth organizations. Different priority projects / participatory projects.

•Methodological support to develop regional youth policyJob description of municipal youth affairs coordinator;Assistance to drafting the strategy of municipal youth affairs; Assistance to create the mechanisms of youth participation

Interventions of the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs in implementing state youth

policy

•Development of information system for youth Administration of youth portal www.jauantneslietas.lv;Administration of the section Youth Policy of the home page of the Ministry;Editing a bulletin for the municipal youth work coordinators; Annual informative campaigns on current issues of youth policy; Editing of informative and methodological materials, including the translation of materials into the state language; Initiating of researches on youth affairs.

•Improvement of youth consulting and training systemWork with municipality youth affairs coordinators; Training for the representatives of municipalities on youth policy and drafting the municipal strategy of youth policy.

Interventions of the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs in implementing state youth

policy

Interventions of the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs in implementing state youth

policy

Ensuring the international cooperation and development of international youth policy

Representation of Latvia in the EU on youth policy; Bilateral agreements on youth policy (Flanders, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany) CBSS Working group on youth policy Council of Europe co-operation on youth field Information exchange on youth affairs between countries

• Council of youth policy coordinationThe objective is to promote the development and implementation of youth policy

in the country and youth involvement in the decision making process. Main function is to ensure coherent implementation of youth policy in the country, as youth policy is carried out by different organizations. The council is chaired by the Minister of Children and family Affairs and there participate 8 line ministers, 3 national youth organizations and Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments.

• Consultative commision of Youth organizationsEstablished to ensure the participation of youth organizations in the process of

planning, implementing and evaluating youth policy. The main task is the analysis of current situation in youth policy, identification of problems and drafting of proposals for development for the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs. The commission is chaired by the director of Youth Affairs Department of the Ministry.

Consultative institutions on youth policy

Presently there are 527 municipalities in Latvia – 53 of them are regional town municipalities, 7 city municipalities, 35 amalgamated municipalities and 432 rural municipalities.

The municipalities carry out youth policy within their competency on the local and regional level, exercising the autonomous functions set by the law “On Municipalities”.

Important moments:Municipal youth affairs coordinatorsStrategy for youth policyMunicipal youth affairs consultative commissions and boardsYouth initiative, children and youth and free time centers in municipalities

Municipal youth work

Voluntary work, participation

Education (including non-formal education) and training

Support to young families

Culture

National defence and patriotic education

Employment and unemployment

Social order and justice

Diminishing of the social exclusion of the youth

Social security of the youth

Sports and wholesome leisure activities

Health situation of the youth

Main aspects in youth policy

The Ministry for Children and Family AffairsYouth Affairs Department

Andris Grafs, andris.grafs@bm.gov.lv, 67356492

www.bm.gov.lv/jaunatnes politika