The biggest youth organization in Armenia, the Federation of Youth Clubs - #FYCA, is deeply worried by the difficult financial situation faced by the Council of Europe and the draft contingency-plan, which proposes to cut budget for Youth sector due to the reduction of its overall budget in the last years.
On the 23rd of May, the budget committee will meet. FYCA hopes that this meeting will bring decisions considering the youth sector as vital for the long-term survival of the Council of Europe, as well as the democratic development in Europe.
FYCA, with its dozens of youth clubs, was one of the first Armenian organizations, which benefited from the Youth Department - Council of Europe's opportunities and resources, European Youth Foundation's financing, organized and participated in different educational events in the European Youth Centre, Strasbourg and European Youth Centre Budapest, thus developing Youth field and Youth Work, Human Rights Education, Democracy and Youth Participation in Armenia since the very beginning Armenia joined the Council of Europe.
The budget cut for Youth sector is unacceptable. The Council of Europe youth sector plays an instrumental role in the support and advancement of youth work services and youth sectors across Europe, and provides unique assistance to communities, organizations and movements looking to create positive change within their realities.
In countries where values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law are under threat, the presence of the Council of Europe and its efforts to strengthen civil society, and in particular the youth sector, are of crucial importance. What will be the financial implications for smaller countries, with the foreseen partial agreement which will replace the youth department? Thousand of young people will stop benefiting from the quality activity opportunities by the youth sector funding through the hard every day work of the International NGOs, like ECYC, MIJARC Europe, YEN, YEE, WostAYN, etc.
Youth organizations empower young people to become multipliers in their communities for human rights, rule of law and democratic citizenship. Budget cuts would mean that many youth organizations are no longer able to carry out their education work, because in many countries the existence of these funds is vital for youth organizations.