• 2025-08-11

Youth for Democracy – Their Voice Must Not Be Ignored

Press Release by the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) on the Occasion of International Youth Day

On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) extends its congratulations to all young people and calls on institutions, decision-makers, and society as a whole not only to listen but also to act in line with the voices and needs of youth!

At a time when as many as 49% of young people in Serbia are planning to leave the country (according to KOMS’ 2024 research), the message is clear: young people want to live in a country that hears them, respects them, and values them.

Young people are not only the future—they are the present. Their ideas, energy, and demands must be visible and represented at all levels of decision-making: from local communities and national bodies to regional and European levels.

The Center for Democracy Foundation strongly supports young people in their struggle for: a dignified life and work, quality education and fair employment opportunities, safe housing conditions, mental health care, gender equality, and security.

For decades, CDF has been continuously working to empower youth to actively participate in policymaking, take the initiative in reform processes, and become the drivers of change leading towards a democratic society and EU membership.

Together with young people, we are building an environment in which one chooses to stay—not out of necessity, but out of choice.

Center for Democracy Foundation