Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement:
"Being with and thinking with young people, learning from and with youth, participating and acting together across generations have been core to the Council of Europe's mission for decades.
"Today, on International Youth Day, we celebrate the positive contributions of each youth cohort to shaping our societies. Young people are not just the future; they are the vibrant present, actively at the forefront of promoting and defending our organisation's values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
"Young people are a central component of democratic decision-making, as acknowledged in the Reykjavik Declaration. They are highlighting key issues of our times, such as tackling the triple planetary crisis, ensuring equal rights for all, and combatting democratic backsliding. Young people are drivers of progress and change for a better tomorrow. The youth of Ukraine are a powerful example of standing up for the values of the Council of Europe. It is our responsibility to ensure they can exercise their fundamental role in the recovery and reconstruction efforts of their country.
"The Council of Europe is dedicated to supporting the democratic participation of young people across Europe, by embedding a Youth Perspective in all our intergovernmental work and other deliberations. The Advisory Council on Youth has been an invaluable partner in our co-managed decision-making system for over half a century.
"The democratic legacy that we shape, we shape and pass on together to ensure a future where Europeans can live in freedom, security, and dignity.
"I have confidence in tomorrow because I have confidence in youth".
