Tirana, 24 October 2014 – Tirana City Council and Human Rights House in Albania / CRCA Albania in cooperation with Tirana Youth Leadership, organized today the ceremony of signing the founding document of the Youth Advisory Board at Tirana Municipal Council.This document was signed by 33 youth organizations, members of ‘Tirana Youth Leadership’ network, which will also be part of this board.
The Youth Advisory Board will function as an counsulting structure by youth for youth at Tirana City Council, and will aim to increase the participation of young people at all stages of decision-taking and policies’ making at local level.
The Chairman of Tirana Municipal Council, Mr. Aldrin Dalipi, emphasized in his speech the importance of youth participation in youth policy making at the local level, because in that way the voice of the community can be heard. He proposed that such youth boards should be extended across the country.
Mr. Altin Hazizaj, director of HRH/CRCA Albania, was focused on the importance of establishing the Youth Advisory Board as a mechanism of positive model which gives a boost the citizens’ participation in decision making. Ms. Aspasjana Kërxhalli the representative of ‘Tirana Youth Leadership’, highlighted in her speech the ways that the youth interests can be addressed in local government and said that the Youth Advisory Board should be part of the ongoing consultation on various issues affecting young people.
The establishment of this Board is a success of youth movement in Tirana, after many lobbying and advocacy initiatives. It is the first time that Tirana City Council, a local elected body, creates a space of democracy and youth participation. The City Council in cooperation with Tirana Youth Leadership, have decided to jointly build a new experience of youth participation, which can serve as a positive role model for local and central government.
The event was attended by more than 60 participants, representatives of youth organizations and other civil society organizations in the country, local institutions, foreign agencies in the country as well as from the media.