Inclusion and participation of young people

One of the objectives of the National youth work and youth policy programme 2024–2027 is that young people’s opportunities to participate in and influence social debate and decision-making improve.

The objective of the Youth Act is to support diverse inclusion. The obligation to promote young people’s inclusion applies not only to municipalities but also to central government administration and all activities supported by the central government.

The Youth Act also obliges municipalities and central government authorities to offer and organise for young people an opportunity to participate and exert influence in the processing of issues related to local, regional and national youth work and youth policy or to otherwise consult young people on these issues. In addition, young people’s views shall be heard in matters concerning them.

The Local Government Act and the Basic Education Act also contain obligations to promote the inclusion and consultation of children and young people. The municipalities must have a youth council or a similar participation group, which must be given an opportunity to exert influence in different sectors. Schools must have a student body that enables cooperation between the students and the education provider.

The Ministry of Education and Culture promotes the participation of young people

• Objectives of National youth work and youth policy programme 
• By funding the digital panel Digiraati.fi, which provides a platform for dialogue between young people and various organisations. The service is part of the website Demokratia.fi maintained by the Ministry of Justice. Contacts with organisations interested in the digital panel's piloting: [email protected]
• by subsidising national youth work organisations
• by subsidising development projects that promote participation and democracy education and serve the youth sector  

National youth work and youth policy programme 2024–2027