What is youth policy, and what major elements should a national youth policy strategy include? How can young people be consulted and otherwise involved in developing youth policy? How do institutions such as the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations address youth policy, and how can this work be concretely linked to the efforts of a national government to develop a youth policy agenda?
These are some of the essential questions addressed in this publication. The Youth Policy Manual should be considered a resource, a tool and a helpful guide both for policy makers in the youth field and for non -governmental organisations and other stakeholder groups who advocate for improved youth policy at the national level.
This manual proposes one possible model for how a national youth policy strategy can be developed. It is based on the author's observations from the countries of South-eastern and eastern Europe, as they gain experience in addressing youth policy in a transversal and cross-sectorial manner and with the active involvement of young people.
Youth policy in Moldova, is the latest in the Council of Europe series of youth policy reviews. As Moldova is the 16th country to be reviewed since 1997, this report has been enriched by the experience gained from the previous reviews of countries in western and eastern Europe and one in the Commonwealth of Independent States (Armenia). These reviews have nurtured the development of an informed way of thinking about youth policy and strategies for implementation.
The report is based on a cross-sectoral understanding of youth policy, it focuses on youth policy structures, education (formal and especially non -formal), transition to the labour market and entrepreneurship. There are overviews of policy related to social security (health and social protection, childcare), juvenile justice and sport. Particular attention has been paid to questions such as migration, urban—rural divisions and the Transnistria issue. There is also a chapter dedicated to cross-cutting issues, including youth information, youth participation and social exclusion.
