SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER
for past events of the community of democracies
please visit https://community-democracies.org/
 CoD YouthLeads
SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER
Youth engagement in public life is an important element of sustainable democracies. For the Community of Democracies,
youth engagement is one of the cross-cutting themes mainstreamed into all activities undertaken by the CoD and also a
priority for the CoD 2019-2021 Presidency of Romania.

In 2020, the CoD launched the #CoDYouthLeads social media campaign to share engaging and inspiring stories of youth
about their contributions towards defending, promoting, and strengthening democracy. The campaign brought together
seventeen young activists and democracy leaders from different countries and regions, from Canada to Estonia through
for past events of the community of democracies
Nepal to Haiti. Please find their stories here. please visit https://community-democracies.org/

The examples of activities with the involvement of #CoDYouthLeads are the following:

• In July 2020, the Community of Democracies organized a digital Youth Forum with the Romanian Presidency of the CoD,
gathering representatives of global and regional youth networks from around the world to discuss political and civic engage-
ment. YouthLeads voiced their opinions on advancing youth inclusion in public life. Please read more about the Forum here.

• The Youth Forum Statement, developed by youth representatives as part of the event and led by the CoD YouthLeads,
called on governments to adhere to the democratic values and fundamental rights, which are of importance to youth and
in line with the Warsaw Declaration principles, including equality, inclusion, and diversity. Please read the statement here.

• CoD Youth Leads Statement on the attack on youth in Afghanistan on November 2, 2020. Please read the statement
here.

• CoD YouthLeads Event In Solidarity With Belarus: Youth for Democratic Change held on February 4th, 2021, con-
sisted of presentations by young Belarusian democracy activists and a series of interventions from the CoD YouthLeads
responding to the presentations. Please view the full event here.