Diary of a human rights youth worker

Neil Wotherspoon is a Scottish youth worker who successfully applied to the Council of Europe for human rights training.

20 November: Day of Arrival

Today, I set off for a Council of Europe training course in the Albanian capital of Tirana. The course will cover youth participation and policy and I am quite excited.

Last night was my engagement party so I am very tired as I head towards Glasgow Airport. A 29 year old Scotsman in Albania… this is going to be so much fun.

Europe's migration debate needs facts not emotion

In a speech at Leiden University earlier today, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland called for the debate on immigration in Europe to move from emotion to facts.

“The challenge for politicians and leaders in all walks of life is to move the debate on migration from emotions to facts,” Jagland declared during his visit to the Netherlands.

“We cannot escape demography,” he added. “As the stabilisation of the Euro is surely the most acute short-term challenge in Europe right now, our biggest long-term challenge is how to manage migration, not only from a legal viewpoint, but especially from a political and cultural viewpoint."

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Jagland sets Europe's "social" agenda

"Necessary and understandable" austerity measures should not undermine Europe's social contract, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland declared today

 

He told the 21st Congress session that: “Europe’s financial and fiscal crisis is starting to have an impact on social cohesion as well as on public trust in our democratic institutions.

"In such challenging times, exposed citizens living in economically fragile regions, youth and elderly people, migrants and Roma are affected the most.

"Radical measures are being taken in many countries to balance public budgets. This is both necessary and understandable. But at the same time, countries are running a high risk of undermining the European model of social cohesion."

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Jagland: Europe's 'Prince Charles Syndrome' Alienates Young People

Governments must resist the ‘Prince Charles syndrome’ and listen seriously to young people’s frustration if they are to maintain social cohesion, Thorbjørn Jagland warned today.

Speaking at the opening of the Forum For Democracy in Limassol Cyprus, the Secretary General pointed to the “staggeringly high” youth unemployment as fuel for discontent. He said that young people have expectations all too often ignored because they are considered “citizens in the making” who can wait their turn.

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