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.”
Co-chairs Carolina Claus and Benjamin Günther are responsible for managing the Youth7 process, with support from eight volunteer coordinators. They also ensure that the contents of the Communiqué that will be drawn up during the Y7 Summit are incorporated into political practice. “Our work only really begins once the Y7 Communiqué has been adopted,” explained Carolina Claus. “That is when we start reaching out to representatives at various levels to ensure that our policy recommendations are heard.”
Priority areas
Since the spring, the young G7 representatives have been working on current issues and developing political recommendations in four priority areas:
- Sustainable & Green Planet
- Economic Transformation for Shared Progress
- Resilience of Democracies
- Global Health & Solidarity.
In light of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, a fifth priority has been added: Youth, Peace & Security. A delegation from Ukraine will also attend the Y7 Summit upon the invitation of the Federal Chancellery.
During the Y7 Summit, the delegates will finalise their policy recommendations and adopt a joint Communiqué. Federal Youth Minister Lisa Paus has confirmed her attendance at the Summit and will meet with the delegates on 17 May to discuss their submission. The Communiqué is scheduled to be presented to Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 20 May 2022.
- Livestream of meeting with Federal Youth Minister Lisa Paus (17 May 2022, 1:30 pm CET): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u8to6azDLo
