A three-year campaign” “

Adopting measures aimed at identifying and preventing any form of violence of which the young could be victims, and reaffirming the importance of the participation of the young in the development and implementation of measures of prevention: that’s the essence of the final declaration of the meeting of ministers and authorities responsible for youth policies among the members of the Council of Europe (COE), held in Budapest on 23-24 September. So, after World Youth Day in Cologne, people are once again talking about youth in the light of the “growing manifestations of violence and their negative consequences for human dignity and social cohesion in our democratic society, especially in areas of conflict”. The declaration underlines “the need to promote education in intercultural dialogue to combat racism, include equality between the sexes in youth programmes and make every effort to reduce violent images and content, internet included, transmitted by the media”. To this end the Council of Europe has for the two-year period 2006-2007 pledged to promote a European campaign on diversity and human rights and to encourage member states to ratify the Convention of the Council of Europe on combating the trafficking of human beings. The texts of the declaration and the resolution can be found on the website . The ministers, in their final declaration, first of all express their concern “for all forms of violence, in particular those linked to sexual discrimination, against children and youth, including disabled or immigrant youth or in any case those who form part of minority groups”. “Concern” is also expressed for “the violence deriving from homophobia, racism, xenophobia, anti-semitism, fear of Islam and every other type of intolerance, as well as for the situation of young refugees and for the victims of violence deriving from situations of conflict”. NEED FOR STATES TO INTERVENE IN UNISON. The nations that signed the European Cultural Convention are invited by the ministers in their declaration “to realize programmes and adopt measures aimed at reducing and preventing violence in everyday life”. Such policies must respect and apply six common principles urged by the ministers: “first, studying the forms of hidden violence, analysing their causes and consequences on those who are involved in them in a direct or indirect way; second, realizing preventive educational strategies; third, recognizing that the young are potential actors in the prevention of violence and hence the need to actively involve them in combating this social scourge; fourth, involving youth NGOs; fifth, publicizing as widely as possible the measures adopted; and sixth, reducing violence in mass media products targeted at youth and young children”. In relation to the violence linked to sexual discrimination, governments are invited to “insert the question among the priorities on their agenda”. As far as violence connected with racism and intolerance is concerned, the ministers advise that “intercultural dialogue and programmes of international exchange for youth be increased”. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. Specific policies are also needed to promote the prevention of violence at school and in the family, places where children spend most of their time. In particular, the final declaration recommends that provision be made for “special courses for teachers, and that young people be involved in an active way and enabled to grow up in a non-violent and harassment-free environment”. A specific appeal is also made to the COE: that it “pay particular attention to the development of networks and alliances between youth and governmental and non-governmental organizations, at the national, European and international level, in educational courses in which the issue of prevention must be taken into consideration with a non-sectorial approach”. THE PRIORITIES FOR 2006-2008. At the end of their summit, the ministers adopted a resolution spelling out “the priorities of the policies for youth of the Council of Europe for the next three years”. First “promoting education in human rights and favouring intercultural dialogue to foster, among other things, global solidarity and the peaceful resolution of situations of conflict. Second, encouraging the participation of the young in the world of work and of rights. Third, realizing policies for the development of adolescents and children. From this point of view, the ministers regard as very important the European campaign for youth on diversity, human rights and participation planned for 2006-2007.