COPENHAGEN, 12 August 2024 – On the occasion of International Youth Day, being held under the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” President Pia Kauma (Finland) has appointed a new Special Representative on Youth Engagement, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to empowering young people and recognizing their critical role in shaping the future.
Appointing David Stogmuller (Austria) as the OSCE PA’s Special Representative, Kauma emphasized the importance of engaging with and working for youth. “The energy, innovation, and unique perspectives of young people are essential to tackling the complex challenges of our time,” said President Kauma. “At the OSCE PA, we are dedicated to ensuring that youth have the opportunities and platforms to actively shape the policies and decisions that will define our shared future.”
Kauma noted that Stogmuller’s appointment is a significant step towards strengthening youth engagement. Stogmuller, who has served as the Chair of the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians for the past two years, brings a wealth of experience and passion to this role, the President noted.
Stogmuller commented: “Young people are at the forefront of innovation, particularly in areas like sustainable development and digitalization. By harnessing their creativity and drive, we can make significant strides in these fields. It is crucial that we continue to empower youth and provide them with the tools and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to our collective future.”
Stogmuller pointed to the recently adopted OSCE PA Bucharest Declaration, which includes a groundbreaking resolution on “Youth Perspectives on the Future of International Relations, Multilateralism, and Sustainable Development.”
“This resolution is a testament to the OSCE PA’s dedication to youth engagement, as it was uniquely crafted with direct input from young people across the OSCE area, in collaboration with young parliamentarians,” said Stogmuller, who sponsored the resolution of behalf of young people and the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians.
OSCE PA Special Representative on Central Asia Farah Karimi (Netherlands), who served as OSCE PA Special Representative on Youth Engagement from 2021 to 2023, this week is contributing to the “Central Asia and Türkiye Youth Talks” event taking place in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 12-16 August.
This event, co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the World Bank Group, brings together 30 young people from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The focus is on building the capacity of youth for active participation in decision-making processes, developing leadership and networking abilities, exchanging knowledge and experience among young community leaders, and promoting confidence-building and collaboration between the youth of different countries.
Special Representative Karimi will moderate a session on Leadership on Political Participation tomorrow and will engage in a discussion with young leaders about the prospects of supporting young people in Central Asia.
