Switzerland has a decentralized youth policy system with responsibilities divided between the federal government, 26 cantons, and municipalities. The goal is to support and involve youth at the local level. Key aspects of Swiss youth policy include promoting youth participation through organizations like 60 Youth Parliaments and the Swiss National Youth Council, protecting youth through the Child and Youth Promotion Act, and funding youth programs and projects at all levels of government. International programs such as Erasmus+ and Youth in Action also provide opportunities for Swiss youth.

2. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
«Our world needs you»

3. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss Confederation

4. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss Confederation
Four national languages
• German, French, Italian, Rhaeto-Rumantsch (Rumantsch)
Switzerland is a federal state
• state power is divided between the federal government,
cantons and municipalities
• The cantons/ municipalities have wide-ranging powers and
their own sources of income
• solving issues at the lowest possible level

5. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss Confederation
Confederation
Cantons
Municipalities
People
• 26 cantons
• equal rights
• high degree of
independence
Confederation
has responsibilities
in those areas
where it is granted
powers by the
Constitution
• 2396 communes
• smallest political
units also have their
own responsibilities
• level of autonomy is
determined by the
individual cantons

6. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss Confederation

7. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Linguistic diversity

8. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Policy
What is Youth Policy in Switzerland?
• Supporting / Respecting
• Participation / Integration
• Protection / Promotion of Activtities
• Financial Support / Projects
Goal: Policy with young people and not for young people!
For Whom?
• Young People < 25 /30 years
Who and Where?
• Gouvernement / NGO / People
• Federal / Cantons / Municipalities

9. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Policy: International
Switzerland participate in a number of international programmes
Examples:
• Bologna
• YOUTH IN ACTION
• Erasmus+ (temporary solution)

10. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Policy: Federal
National law
• Swiss Constitution, Swiss Civil Code, Swiss
Criminal Code
• Child and Youth Promotion Act (KJFG)
Completely revised 2013
• International Acts of Protections
Different Offices
• The Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO)
• The Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH)
• The State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER)
• The Federal Office for Professional Education and
Technology (OPET)
• The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco)
• The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
• The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP)
• The Federal Office of Sports (FOSPO)
Support / Cooperation
for protection and promotion
Mostly financing
Programmes 2011
• Youth and Violence
• Media literacy and the protection of minors from
harmful media content

11. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Policy: cantonal / municipal
• Own youth projects
• Financing youth projects
• Cooperation with NGOs
• Implementation federal projects
• Intercantonal cooperation

12. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Policy: NGO / People
Various Organisations, NGO, Umbrella Organisations,
Foundations, Clubs, Programmes and Projects
In: municipalities, cantons, confederation
Example:
• Swiss National Youth Council (SNYC)
• Umbrella Organisation Swiss Youth Parliament

13. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Parliaments
60 youth parliaments in Switzerland and Lichtenstein
• Support wishes/concers of young people
• Involve young people in polictical decisions
• To represent opinions of young people
• To motivate young people for polictical participation
• Giving a voice
Projects, demands or requests
for action and for Information

14. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Parliaments

15. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Youth Parliaments
Umbrella Organisation Swiss Youth Parliament
• Organisation for 33 national, cantonal, local youth
parliaments
• Conference last Weekend
• «Genial versatile/manifold»
• How to make the swiss youth policy more
youthful
• Information: «Easyvote»

16. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss Youth Sessions
„Politicans doing your job, if you are doing theirs“
200 young people can receive an insight into Swiss policy at the
parliament building
Same as the Youth Session in Latvia?

17. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss National Youth Council (SNYC)
Umbrella Organisation for 64 Youth Organisations
Projects (with/without cooperation FSIO)
• Youth Sessions
• Youth Rep
• No hate Speech
• Speak Out

18. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Swiss Youth Session 2014
Topics
• Swiss – EU
• Job and Familiy
• Racism
• Equalisation Gender
• Youth unemployment
• Foodwaste

19. Swiss Youth Policy
Embassy of Switzerland in Riga
Thank You!