The National youth strategy (NYS) of Cyprus 2017-22 was prepared by the Youth Board of Cyprus and adopted by the Council of Ministers on 18 May 2017. The Youth Board of Cyprus is responsible for youth issues in the country, with the full involvement of national stakeholders.

The NYS defines, for the first time, the vision of the country for its young people. It is the government’s commitment to implementing actions that guarantee quality of life and to offer opportunities for all the young people. It aspires to ensure the active participation of all young people in society and to explore ways that empower them to realise their full potential as citizens.

In pursuit of this aim, the NYS is establishing an integrated, cross-sectoral mechanism for designing, implementing and monitoring all interrelated policy areas that affect young people. By defining objectives and corresponding measures under eight main fields of action, it ensures that there is a medium and long-term plan for improving the situation of the young.

The fields of action, which are aligned with the European youth strategy, are: education and training, employment and entrepreneurship, health and well-being, participation, voluntary activities, social inclusion, youth and the world, creativity and culture.

The NYS considers young people as valuable citizens who can actively and creatively contribute to the development and prosperity of their own country, local community and eventually to global advancement. Young people’s participation in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation is a core value of the NYS. This participatory approach ensures also that policy responses aim to meet the needs and challenges of all young people and that the youth dimension is reflected in policy making and action planning.

The NYS was announced to the public on 30 May 2017 in a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nicos Anastasiades. The President announced the government’s commitment in making the strategy a reality through specific actions and by setting youth at the top of the list State priorities.

For the promotion and implementation of the policy aims set out in the NYS, two three-year action plans will be formulated and a monitoring mechanism will be developed.

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ReferNet Cyprus, Youth Board of Cyprus