RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INCOMING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Federal Youth Advisory Board calls for more emphasis on child and youth policy in an ageing society

·       Child and youth policy is entering a decisive parliamentary term – the political debates ahead of the federal election are not doing it justice

·       The next federal government must invest in infrastructure for young people

·       The Federal Youth Advisory Board presents its recommendations for the incoming federal government

11 February 2025

In the context of demographic change in an ageing society, the coming parliamentary term will be a critical juncture for child and youth policy. The next federal government will set the course for the future of young people in Germany and thus also for our country. In various rulings,[1] the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) has pointed out that the rights of the young generation must be strengthened. “Federal policymaking needs to give greater weight to the freedoms of future generations,” says Baro Vicenta Ra Gabbert (Executive Board, Federal Youth Advisory Board).

The political parties’ current election manifestos contain a fragmented and limited understanding of child and youth policy that does not do justice to the realities of young people’s lives nor to the importance of child and youth policy for our society. “The next federal government,” emphasises Daniela Broda (Executive Board, Federal Youth Advisory Board), “faces the fundamental challenge of developing a society-wide and future-oriented perspective on child and youth policy that strengthens the rights of young people.”

Infrastructure policy must not be limited to railways, motorways and digital networks. “Young people’s opportunities depend crucially on whether and how investments are made in the institutions where they grow up – schools, early childhood education and care centres, youth work and health promotion,” says Federal Youth Advisory Board Chair Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schröer. Against this backdrop, the Federal Youth Advisory Board has drawn up recommendations on child and youth policy for the incoming federal government.

The Federal Youth Advisory Board advises the federal government on key issues of child and youth welfare, as well as on cross-cutting topics in child and youth policy.

Photo credit: Pia Jaeger (private photo)