As we approach the end of 2024, it is essential to evaluate the performance of the Youth Council of Lezha (KVR) and its alignment with its legally mandated role. The KVR, established by Law 75/2019, aims to be an official advisory body for policies affecting young people. But, is it functioning properly?
KVR began the year with 4 new members, a representative from the municipality, and the president as the leader. However, during the following year:
– Two members from H.A.N.A. resigned after feeling unheard and often silenced. For them, leaving was a form of protest against the council’s failure to fulfill its mandate and a signal that the structure needed urgent changes.
– Another member was appointed by the municipality as a director in one of its departments, which automatically nullified her participation in KVR, as it should consist of impartial youth directly from the community and civil society.
– Since May 2024, KVR has been left with only one active member, making it impossible to function properly and in need of restructuring.
H.A.N.A. recently approached the municipality for information on the recruitment and composition of KVR. It appears that the new members are primarily high school students, unlike the previous composition, which represented more diverse age groups. This means there is a lack of balanced representation, including young professionals, leaving a gap in representation and argumentation on youth issues.
We also inquired about the frequency of the president’s participation in KVR meetings, but did not receive a clear answer. Meanwhile, the question about specific local policies influenced by KVR was not met with a concrete example. However, in response to our question about the structure’s effectiveness, the municipality rated it positively, referring to the structure’s activities throughout 2023.
– What does the 2023 KVR Report indicate?
According to the report, KVR has been primarily focused on workshops, debates, and social activities rather than exercising its advisory role on municipal policies. There is a lack of indicators showing which and how many local youth policies have been impacted.
– The main question is: How can KVR transition from being a group engaged in informal activities to a formal advisory body that fulfills its legal duties?
– What should KVR do to improve?
1. Strengthening the advisory role → Actively engage in youth policies and participate in the policymaking process within the municipality.
2. Specific recommendations → Propose recommendations on issues like youth employment, education, and social services.
3. Capacity building → Ensure its recommendations are considered in the municipality’s budget for 2025.
H.A.N.A. is committed to supporting KVR in fulfilling its role and ensuring it protects and represents the best interests of the youth in our community. It is time for reflection, learning, and action!
