The five Youth Representatives in the RYCO Governing Board gathered in a joint activity in Podgorica, Montenegro in the last days of February. The meeting served as a platform to jointly discuss the activities for 2021, deliberate with the RYCO Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General and exchange on challenges, opportunities and the role of Youth Representatives in the RYCO Governing Board.
The meeting continued with the discussion around the OSCE Mission to Montenegro’s Training for Youth Representatives and meetings with the representatives of RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro and RYCO’s partners.
The meeting was attended by five Youth Representatives in the RYCO Governing Board Ms Françeska Muço from Albania, Mr Edis Prapashtica from Kosovo*, Ms Andrea Mićanović from Montenegro, Mr Vladmiri Gjorgjevski from North Macedonia and Mr Marko Kostić from Serbia.
Welcoming the Youth Representatives to the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović introduced youth representatives with work of the office and its main achievements since the establishment. He put a particular focus on the fruitful cooperation of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro with many local and international partners and stakeholders that is mirrored in a number of direct opportunities that have been provided to young people and to those working with youth throughout various capacity building trainings, youth hubs, etc. that took part in Montenegro in the previous years.
The Youth Representatives outlined that such of meetings with the RYCO Local Branch Offices – that are entitled for the implementation of various polices and decisions and which are in a direct contact with the RYCO beneficiaries on a daily basis is beneficial for the functioning of the organization and that it should become a practice.
RYCO’s unique governance system brings together government and civil society representatives to ensure young people are represented at all levels within the organisation.
The RYCO Governing Board is the organization’s highest decision-making authority. It is composed of two representatives from each Contracting Party: one government representative in direct charge of youth policy, and one youth representative. The youth representatives are no younger than 18, and no older than 30 years of age at the start of their mandate. They serve a mandate of three years, with no possibility of extension. Each Contracting Party selects a youth representative using its own mechanisms in a transparent, inclusive and democratic manner and in close cooperation with civil society dealing with youth. Decisions of the Governing Board are taken by consensus.
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*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence
Preuzeto sa: RYCO