Tomorrow, on 16th October Estonia will be awarded the Future Policy Award 2019 for youth civic engagement and political participation for sustainable development and peace. Award will be presented to Mart Laidmets, the Secretary General of Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and Reelika Ojakivi, the Director of Youth Affairs of the Ministry.
„This award, the Oscar of policy planning, is to all young people and youth workers in Estonia,” said Mart Laidmets. “This is an important recognition for Estonia for its evidence-based, engaging, systematic and effective youth policy. Lives of young people in Estonia have improved significantly due to our policy approach. I am sure that our current youth strategy as well as the co-created up-coming strategy become a very good inspiration for other countries,” said Laidmets.
The award highlights the current youth strategy of Estonia for its effective approach to diversify and enlarge youth civic engagement and youth participation. The jury noted that Estonia’s Youth Field Development Plan presents a comprehensive policy plan for young people and aiming to ensure that each young person has ample opportunities for self-development and self-realization.
This award is continuation of positive recognition of Estonia’s youth policy approach in international level. In 2018, the OECD’s report “Youth Stocktaking Report” highlighted Estonia as one of the few OECD countries where the trust towards the government is higher among young people compared to older generations. According to the OECD, it can be linked to comprehensive development of youth field as it is in Estonia. Clear vision and strategy are needed to empower young people and support them to gain essential competences for their own well-being as for their role as an active citizen, the report noted.
In addition to Estonia, the Future Policy Award is presented to the Council of Europe and Nepal. This is the first time when Estonia is being awarded for this policy award. The award celebrates policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations. Every year, there is different area of life in focus. Previously the award has focused on agroecology, rights of women and children, forestry, biodiversity and food security.
Awards will be presented at the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, Serbia. Award is presented by the World Future Council, Inter-Parliamentary Union, UNDP and the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, International Labour Organization and Youth Policy Lab.
Award ceremony can be followed live at 4PM EET here.
