The report of the conference “Democracy in Action: Youth Work Matters!”, held in Strasbourg from 3 to 5 December 2025, is now available. Europamente took part in the conference, which brought together youth workers, researchers and civil society representatives from across Europe and beyond to reflect on the role of youth work at a time when democratic spaces are increasingly under pressure.
Hosted at the European Youth Centre of the Council of Europe and organised by IJAB – International Youth Service, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, the conference took place against a worrying global backdrop. Over the past decade, democratic systems have been steadily eroding, with fewer countries classified as democracies and a growing number of people living in contexts where civic participation is restricted. This trend directly affects civil society, and particularly youth work, which operates precisely where young people first encounter participation, dialogue and collective action.
The report highlights how attacks on democracy are often incremental rather than overt. During the conference, participants shared experiences of shrinking civic space, increasing scrutiny of organisations, cuts to funding and growing pressure to continuously justify their work. These dynamics emerged across very different national contexts: from authoritarian regimes where youth organisations face direct repression, to democratic countries where mistrust towards civil society is expressed through administrative burdens or political narratives questioning legitimacy and impact. What clearly emerged is that democracy cannot exist without active citizens and organised civil society—and that anti-democratic actors are well aware of this.
Several discussions focused on three intertwined dimensions of democratic backsliding. The first is the growing repression of civil society, which remains one of the strongest indicators of democratic decline. The second concerns funding: not only are fewer resources available for democracy promotion and youth work, but financial pressures are increasingly used as a tool to limit independence and scale down impact. The third dimension is language. The deliberate distortion of concepts such as democracy, human rights or freedom of expression has become a powerful way to undermine democratic values, placing youth workers in the challenging position of having to clarify, defend and rearticulate the meaning of these terms in their daily practice.
Beyond diagnosing the challenges, the conference was also a space to look forward and share responses. The report documents a wide range of approaches through which youth work contributes to democracy: from strengthening participation at the local level and creating physical spaces for encounter, to using culture, sport and digital tools to engage young people in accessible and inclusive ways. A recurring message throughout the conference was that young people are not only the future of democracy, but very much its present. Despite growing political and social pressures, many young participants expressed energy, ambition and a strong desire to be involved—if given the opportunity and the tools to do so.
One of the most complex questions addressed during the conference concerns the political role of youth work. How political can, or should, youth work be? While many organisations traditionally define themselves as non-partisan, the defence of participation, equality and rights has become increasingly politicised. The report does not offer simple answers, but underlines the need for clarity of values, differentiated strategies and stronger support frameworks that allow youth work to remain inclusive while standing firm in defence of democratic principles.
The report closes with a powerful metaphor: democracy must be cultivated. Youth work is one of the key practices through which democratic values are nurtured, but it cannot do so in isolation. It requires trust, long-term investment and enabling conditions at local, national and European level. For Europamente, participating in this conference reaffirmed the importance of creating spaces for dialogue, participation and civic engagement, and of connecting local experiences to wider European processes.
The full report is now available online and offers valuable insights for anyone working with young people or interested in the future of democracy in Europe.
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