Stance on the Law of Youth

LIBURNETIK Organization, part of National Youth Congress and part of Leading Board, supports heavy the recommendations and suggestions given by National Youth Congress on the Law of Youth.

We followed carefully and step by step the whole development that drafting this law had and we gave our suggestions and were was considered right even our objectionsfor items or articles that could bring uncertainties of youth or youth organization independence. We addressed the items that according to our experience and expertise are harmful and irreparable to young people.

We did those objections whenever we have had the opportunity on different tables, official statements and with suggestions we gave now and then on changing and amendments, which the draft law should have according to us.

We believe that if this draft law goes for approval on this form than there will be long-term negative effects not only on law approval but also on every law initiative that can be undertaken without taking in consider suggestions and target group consulting. The most problematic article is the 13th one and is presented as such because there is currently no law regulating networks. The closed law for that is Law no. 8788, date 7.05.2001 “for Non-Profit Organization”http://shtetiweb.org/2012/11/21/ligji-per-organizatat-jofitimprurese/).

Given what the above law contains then what the Ministry seeks to do is illegal and may set a precedent for further violations.

Specifically we present the official statement of the Larger Network of Youth Organizations:

Congress statement
1.
Tirana, 03 July 2019
NOTES

Today, the National Youth Congress became part of the Hearing on the Law of Youth held in the Committee on European Integration. Having a Law of Youth doesn’t necessary guaranty us for better conditions for youth or youth organizations in Albania because:

- Currently we have the Law for NGOs, Law for Volunteering, National Youth Action Plan and many political documents that are partly implemented, are not implemented or are not fulfilling the purpose which they were created.

-On Western Balkan countries that have a similar reality to ours, Law for Youth faced great challenges on implementation. Our position as the largest and most representative structure of youth organizations in Albania on the current draft of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth is that this draft should:

– Review Articles 1,2,3,9,11 and 14.

- To exclude article no. 13 that predicts creating a Representative Youth Organization that harms the principle of free organizing and independence. The National Youth Congress has as part of its mission collaborating and constructive approach with institutions and at the same time, it is our duty to respect the General Assembly's willingness to raise our voice and insist on cases that are incompatible with our values and vision.

2.
The National Youth Congress by representing the will of 100 non-profit organizatios focused on youth, organized informal groups, youth political party forums and student governments is directing you this letter to express our disagreement with Article no. 13 predicted by “For Youth” Draft-Law. The National Youth Congress is a legitimate umbrella organization representing youth organizations and enjoys the recognition of young people, youth councils of Western Balkan countries and many affiliated networks in European Union countries. Article 13 of this Project-Law provides for the establishment of a structure that will represent youth organizations in Albania and be subordinate to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. This model has been attempted and failed in many neighboring countries and the European Union, leaving behind a burden that is costing our peers in these countries. Civil society, and above all young people, must be supported and listened to, but not possessed as this, in a democratic country of ours, puts in danger our future as the principle of democracy and free organization is violated.

Also, through this letter we would like to express our disappointment to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth who after receiving verbally and in writing all of our recommendations at the discussion tables did not reflect these in the Draft Law by bringing in this way an unfavorable situation for all of us and at an inopportune moment. Our network organizations have systematically participated in the consultations conducted by the ministry and our disregard for this primary requirement shows that the consultation has not met its objective.

The Final stand of the National Youth Congress Finals

The National Youth Congress by representing the will of 100 non-profit organizatios focused on youth, organized informal groups, youth political party forums and student governments is directing you this letter to express our disagreement with Article no. 13 predicted by “For Youth” Project-Law.The National Youth Congress is a legitimate umbrella organization representing youth organizations and enjoys the recognition of young people, youth councils of Western Balkan countries and many affiliated networks in European Union countries. Article 13 of this Project-Law provides for the establishment of a structure(National Youth Representative Organization) that will represent youth organizations in Albania and be subordinate to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.We disagree with this article for the following reasons:

- According to the European Commission's 2019 Progress Report on Albania, public administration has been highly politicized and this would bring about the exclusion of youth organizations with opposing ideologies.This would cause the political crisis to shift to the youth sector, thereby creating room for deepening future crises.This model has been attempted and failed in many neighboring countries and the European Union, leaving behind a burden that is costing our peers in these countries. Civil society, and above all young people, must be supported and listened to, but not possessed as this, in a democratic country of ours, puts in danger our future as the principle of democracy and free organization is violated.

-Currently we have the Law for NGOs, Law for Volunteering, National Youth Action Plan and many political documents that are partly implemented, are not implemented or are not fulfilling the purpose which they were created. This shows the incapacity of public administration to implement those policies. As a consequence, we as NYC, do not want to unite a successful model to an incompetent institution.

According to the accompanying report of this project-law, this structure will develop and implement youth policies.This is the government’s responsibility and not of a non-profit organization, so once again this Law and specifically this article go against what is right to be done. Also, through this letter we would like to express our disappointment to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth which after receiving verbally and in writing all of our recommendations at the discussion tables did not reflect these in the Draft Law by bringing in this way an unfavorable situation for all of us and at an inopportune moment.