The first panel discussion on “Youth Involvement in Decision-Making Processes in Parliament and Municipalities” was held today at the House of Culture in the Municipality of Ilinden organized by the Local Youth Council of the Municipality of Ilinden. The panelists at the event were Members of Parliament Monica Zajkova, Marija Petrushevska, Jovan Jauleski and Bojan Stojanovski, who are also members of the Youth Issues and Policies Club of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, and Dragana Bojkovska, an advisor in the Ilinden Municipality Council. The event was moderated by the President of the Local Youth Council of Ilinden, Dragan Gjurovski, and the Mayor of Ilinden, Aleksandar Georgievski, also gave a speech.
Mayor Georgievski, among other things, welcomed the idea of organizing this panel discussion and emphasized that the Municipality of Ilinden has successfully implemented many projects over the past period to support young people.
Monica Zajkova, as the coordinator of the Youth Issues and Policies Club of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, highlighted that the club is a partner to young people and will be one of the engines that will restore the trust of young people in institutions. The club is also constantly open to proposals, suggestions, and meetings with young people and youth organizations to create legislative solutions aimed at improving the quality of life of young people.
In her address, MP Marija Petrushevska emphasized that public debates are aimed at incorporating legislative solutions and amendments, such as the proposal for the law on high school organization. She sent a message to young people to get involved in the processes and inspire all young people around them to do the same.
Jovan Jauleski spoke about the problems of brain drain among highly-skilled young people as well as the extremely low involvement of young people in the decision-making process, as young people had no space. One such solution to this problem is the Youth Participation and Policies Act.
Bojan Stojanovski highlighted that with current policies, young people do not have enough space to highlight their problems and implement strategies and policies in the budget. Young people need to be bravely and actively involved in the processes, rather than being passive observers. Society needs to be motivated to create young and successful people.
Dragana Bojkovska emphasized that young people in municipalities can participate in the decision-making processes through local youth councils, which are representatives and engines for initiating youth policies. However, another way is direct communication between members of the municipality councils and young people, as they are the voice of the people, but also the voice to the people. It is important to inform young people in a timely manner about projects, activities, and support for young people in municipalities.
Participants actively participated in the panel discussion with questions for the panelists. The aim of such panel discussions is to lead an open dialogue and discuss publicly the interests that affect young people. Through joint debates and discussions, young people highlight their interests, attitudes, but also become aware of the ways in which they can do the same.
This is just the first of many similar events that the Local Youth Council of Ilinden in cooperation with all the young people of the municipality will organize.
