The delegates of the Y7 Summit come from the G7 member states Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and the UK. Guest delegations from the European Union, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Ukraine will also participate in the deliberations. Bettina Bundszus, Director-General at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth attended the opening today and welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Federal Youth Minister.
“Young people should have a say in all decisions that affect them,” commented Federal Minister Lisa Paus in advance of the event. “That is the hallmark of democracy, and that is where the Y7 Youth Summit comes in. Here, the young people of the G7 states and their peers from various guest countries including Ukraine can engage with policymakers. At the national level, Germany promotes youth participation in a variety of ways, including through an action plan for child and youth participation. The Y7 Youth Summit is a major opportunity for young people to be given a louder voice in international processes, too.” The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth provides funding for the Y7 Youth Dialogue 2022.
Y7 Summit contributes to active social participation
IJAB, the International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany, is coordinating the Y7 Youth Dialogue 2022 in cooperation with the German National Committee for International Youth Work. “These past years, with the Coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, have again reminded us that none of the problems of our time can be solved by one nation alone,” commented IJAB Director Marie-Luise Dreber. “The international youth work community works to ensure that young people learn not only to understand global developments, but also how to play an active role in shaping them. They do so based on mutual understanding and across national borders. This requires active social participation, to which the Y7 Summit contributes in a very specific way.”