Feb 19 • 10:33 UTC 🇱🇻 Latvia LSM

Raising the age threshold for youth to 30 years

The increase in the age threshold for youth to 30 will broaden the support available to young people in Latvia and enhance their participation in youth programs and policy-making.

Latvia has introduced changes to its youth policy by raising the age threshold for defining youth from 25 to 30 years. This adjustment is aimed at allowing a larger group of young adults to access government and municipal support, participate in youth programs, and engage in decision-making processes. The reform addresses the current social and economic realities where education, entry into the labor market, and independent living often occur later than in previous generations. This initiative demonstrates a shift in the government's approach to youth engagement and policy adjustment, catering to the changing landscape of youth life stages.

Additionally, the amendments clarify the roles of the Ministry of Education and Science and local municipalities in relation to youth policy. The reforms also strengthen the functions of the Youth International Program Agency in implementing youth policies, suggesting a more streamlined approach to how youth initiatives will be executed moving forward. These changes are intended to align more effectively with the developmental needs of today's youth and to ensure that government support is relevant and accessible.

Moreover, the legislation reinforces the concept of a national youth dialogue, which is a consultative process designed to enhance youth participation and gather feedback on decisions, laws, and planning documents that can affect young people. Agita Zariņa-Stūre, the chairwoman of the Education, Culture, and Science Committee, emphasized the importance of these amendments in promoting active youth participation in the formation of national policies that impact their lives directly.

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