The city should get a youth advisory board.
This is what city councilors from Die Linke and Die Party are calling for.
There are already offers of political participation, but apparently not yet sufficient.
At least in the case of Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), the city councils run into the idea of open doors.
The city carried out an extensive youth survey in 2020. More than 3,500 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 took part online. 66 percent of the participants wanted more political participation. A similar picture at the IAA, during a panel discussion with Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), young people also called for more participation in the decision-making processes.
City councilor Marie Burneleit (Die Party) heard the same thing at the event "GAPs - what do young people need in an expensive city?" The consequence: The Left and The Party are calling for a city youth council. Young people should be given a political say. "Political participation is only possible for people over the age of 18 through elections, before that at most in the context of voluntary activities," says Burneleit. “As a city, we shouldn't just talk about citizen participation, we also have to live it. Other municipalities are successfully implementing the concept of a city youth council. We can do that too. "
There are actually plenty of examples of youth councils, for example in Stuttgart, but also in the Munich area: Fürstenfeldbruck, Garching or Unterföhring. The committee would be elected and would have the right to be heard and to propose resolutions relating to young people, analogous to the senior or disability advisory board.
The administration rejected a similar request in 2012 with reference to the numerous already existing opportunities for participation. At that time, the Laim district committee had submitted a corresponding application. At OB Reiter, however, the city council's idea is met with sympathy. There are already offers. But: "I can well imagine involving young people even more and have already discussed this in various forums." Many young people are very committed to the topic of environmental protection, for example, but can only contribute their ideas without obligation. “So far, they do not have the right to submit applications to the city or the city council. From my point of view, that should be a prerequisite for real participation. "
As long as the voting age is 18, you have to think about how you can better involve children and young people, says SPD parliamentary group leader Christian Müller.
Overall, however, he is skeptical because there are already enough offers.
In addition, there is a risk that “an additional body, such as a youth council, will create parallel structures”.
Green City Councilor Clara Nitsche said it was fatal and unacceptable that young people did not feel heard enough and taken seriously.
“We want to reach all children and young people and look for suitable solutions and ways together.
Of course, all suggestions have to be taken seriously and examined further. "
"It is important to listen more to the young people's voices and to involve them in active politics," says CSU councilor Alexandra Gaßmann.
“We want to focus primarily on digital participation.
It's quick, easy and adapts to the lives of children and adolescents. "
