Youth Dialogue for the G7
Part of the civil society engagement, Youth7 (Y7) is the voice of the young generation within the Group of Seven (G7). Y7 provides input to multilateral cooperation in the shape of policy recommendations and proposed solutions to current global challenges. Under its Presidency, Germany welcomed Delegates to Berlin on 16-20, May 2022.
The Youth7 process, an integral part of the G7’s civil society engagement, consists of a youth dialogue and participation process.
Y7 convenes Delegates from across the G7 member states and the European Union as well as partner countries. Together, the young people discuss the current agenda of the G7, the Presidency programme and their own priorities.
They develop answers, propose solutions to the global challenges of today and tomorrow, and communicate their perspective to the G7 leaders. In addition to the youth engagement process, six other engagement processes with civil society representatives exist: Business7, Civil7, Labour7, Science7, Think7 and Women7.
Youth7 regularly works alongside these engagement groups, which cooperates closely to advocate on behalf of their shared concerns.
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States form the Group of Seven (G7). Together, they work on issues ranging from economics, foreign and security policy and global development to climate policy. Other current fields of cooperation are the future of democratic societies, global health, and alliances for gender equity. The European Union has observer status at G7 meetings. In addition, international partner countries are regularly invited to participate.
In 2022, Germany holds the Presidency of the G7 and will host the annual summit of the G7 heads of state and government summit at Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian Alps on 26-28 June 2022. Further meetings of ministers and working groups take place throughout the year. Germany also coordinates the work of the G7 on current developments and crises. All these fora encourage an open and informal exchange and provide opportunities to develop shared positions. During G7 Summits, a comprehensive Communiqué is usually adopted that addresses current and future challenges.
The Presidency of the G7 rotates among the G7 members, with Japan taking over on 1 January 2023. The G7 is not an international organisation with permanent structures and institutions, so the country holding the Presidency has a particular responsibility for coordinating, and actively shaping multilateral cooperation.
IJAB – International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany has been mandated to coordinate the Y7 process under the German G7 Presidency. IJAB is honoured to make this exciting process a success for and with the youth delegations.
The German National Committee for International Youth Work (DNK), the coordinating body for European and international youth work in Germany, represents the German Federal Youth Council, German Sports Youth and Ring politischer Jugend. The DNK team has valuable experience in youth participation processes and guides the Y7 youth delegates as they work on policy recommendations.
Youth7 Germany 2022 is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth(BMFSFJ) under Germany’s G7 Presidency.
Finally, the support given by Germany’s Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions (BAFzA) in organisational matters.