Social participation and youth engagement for better health

Social participation and youth engagement are increasingly recognised as essential for developing inclusive, equitable, and sustainable health policies. Engaging individuals, communities, and civil society ensures that diverse voices are heard throughout the policy cycle and across all levels of governance. The EU’s commitment to participatory democracy is reflected in initiatives such as the EU Youth Strategy (2019–2027), annual youth policy dialogues, and the appointment of the first Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.

Despite global commitments, including a 2024 WHO resolution on social participation in health, many countries face challenges in implementing genuine participatory mechanisms. EuroHealthNet’s Country Exchange Visit in Ljubljana, Slovenia, brought together national and regional public health representatives to share experiences, learn from good practices, and explore tools and strategies to strengthen youth and community engagement in health governance. Participants discussed innovative approaches to institutionalising participation, explored European-level policies and frameworks, and fostered cross-country collaboration to support community-driven initiatives.

The visit highlighted how meaningful youth engagement can improve individual wellbeing, strengthen public health outcomes, and create impactful partnerships between government and civil society.

Read the Country Exchange Visit report here.