Y-Turnout EU

About Y-Turnout EU

The context we live in

We live in times of growing political disengagement and gender gaps amongst young people in Europe whilst democratic backsliding and shrinking civic spaces is happening across Europe.

We are witnessing daily the growing threats to and infringement of Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights (SRHRs) of women and LGBTQIA+ peoples across contexts. We note in particular the intersections of marginalisation – as racialised, ethnicised, and migrantised, as youth, as women and queer – that intersect and amplify experiences of marginalisation in access to and exercise of SRHRs.

There is an urgent need to reinforce fundamental rights under Article 2 TEU and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Objectives of Y-Turnout EU

Empower young Europeans to actively participate and shape policy at EU, national, local levels with the aim of strengthening participatory democracy and fostering citizen engagement;
Foster SRHRs as a key policy area intersecting gender and LGBTQIA+ equality, access to healthcare, and racial and social justice;
Meaningfully include and engage marginalised youth across intersecting identities, including Roma, Muslim, migrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

What will the CQ Youth Team be doing?

Phase 1, May 2026: Y-SRHR Advocacy
Online toolkit and workshop to build youth advocacy skills for SRHRs across Europe

The May 6th and May 8th online workshops by SÜDWIND (Austria)
A two-day virtual workshop on EU SRHR advocacy & policy navigation. Consists of three sessions:
- SRHR EU policy and legislative framework;
- human rights-based, intersectional and gender-sensitive approches in SRHR Advocacy;
- amplifying youth voices: EU survey on justice, rights and values)

Phase 2, Sep-Oct 2026: Y-Caring Democracy
National youth-led participatory policymaking forum on SRHRs in Utrecht

The national round table of Colored Qollective and Utrecht Municipality (between Sep-Oct 2026)
A public round table focused on amplifying the voices of queer and trans youth of colour and migrantised youth and making their voices heard by political authorities and decision-makers in shaping local policies on SRHRs that impact their well-being and equal participation.

Phase 3, Nov 2026-Sep 2027: Meaningful Y-EU
Transnational youth-led events to engage youth across 10 EU Member States

To engage citizens across 10 EU member states and to encourage meaningful
participation of youth in exchanging good practices that guarantee the universal access to sexual
and reproductive public health, fighting discriminatory practices which obstruct healthcare
access, in alignment with EU values and gender equality.

The transnational youth-led event of Amref Health Africa (Italy) in Milan (between Nov 2026-Jan 2027)
A two-day transnational youth-led event mobilising youth in good practices’ exchange and amplifying African youth & diaspora voices in EU SRHR participatory policymaking. Consists of four sessions:
- Round table with representatives of second generation and African diaspora organisations;
- Simulation (DEVE);
- Session engaging participants in EU Survey on justice, rights and values;
- Co-creation of Y-Turnout EU manifesto.
The transnational youth-led online conference of Plan International Deutschland (Germany) (between Jan-Mar 2027)
A one-day transnational youth-led online conference mobilising citizens in good practices’ exchange for the implementation of the EU legislation combating FGM/C. Consists of four sessions:
- Roundtable with FGM/C experts;
- Simulation (FEMM);
- Session engaging participants in the EU survey on Justice, rights and values;
- Promotion of Youth in ACTion for change manifesto.
The transnational youth-led event of KOPIN (Malta) in Msida (between Mar-May 2027)
A two-day transnational youth-led event mobilising youth in good practices’ exchange and participatory policymaking of EU actions supporting Local Authorities’ role in Comprehensive sexuality education. Consists of four sessions:
- Round table with representatives of local authorities and educational institutions, youth organisations and migrant-based organisations;
- Simulation (CULT);
- Session engaging participants in the EU survey on Justice, rights and values;
- Co-creation of Y-Turnout manifesto.
The transnational youth-led event of Medicos del Mundo (Spain) in Madrid (between May-Jul 2027)
A two-day transnational youth-led event mobilising youth in good practices’ exchange and participatory policymaking of EU actions upholding universal access to health. Consists of four sessions:
- Round table with health professionals and anti-discrimination experts;
- Simulation (SANT);
- Session engaging participants in the EU survey on Justice, rights and values;
- Co-creation of Y-Turnout manifesto
The transnational youth-led event of Colored Qollective and Utrecht Municipality in Utrecht (between Jul-Sep 2027)
A two-day transnational youth-led event mobilising youth in good practices’ exchange and participatory policymaking of EU actions advancing SRHRs for racialised queer communities. Consists of four sessions:
- Field visit – Utrecht Trans Clinic;
- Simulation (LIBE);
- Session engaging participants in the EU survey on Justice, rights and values;
- Co-creation of Y-Turnout manifesto.

Cross-cutting phase, Jan 2027-Jan 2028: Collaboratorum – Digital Platform

Digital platform by BTIN (Europe)
For democratic participation uniting youth in Europe in stigma-free policymaking upholding SRHRs.

Phase 4, Sep-Nov 2027: Y-Turnout in Brussels

The transnational youth-led round table of Collectif des Femmes (Belgium) in Brussels (between Sep-Nov 2027)
A one-day transnational youth-led round table uniting youth in stigma-free policymaking upholding SRHRs. Consists of three sessions:
- Field visit in EU Parliament;
- Presentation Y-Turnout Manifesto;
- Session engaging participants in the EU survey on Justice, rights and values.

Key outputs

Y-SRHR Advocacy Action: equipping youth with advocacy skills to influence decision-making;
Y-Caring Democracy Forums: structured dialogues in 10 cities between youth, grassroots leaders, professionals and local policymakers;
Meaningful Y-EU Transnational Events: simulations of European Parliament committees (DEVE, CULT, FEMM, SANT, LIBE);
Y-Turnout EU Manifesto: youth-driven policy proposal presented at a Brussels roundtable.

Expected effects and impacts

700 youth in Europe directly engaged and more than 25,500 people reached across 10 EU Member States;
The inclusion of youth, particularly marginalised youth across intersecting identities, and the amplification of their voices in policymaking at all governance levels;
Strengthened engagement as youth in Europe, inclusive participation, and gender equality, with the aim of ensuring that SRHRs remain a priority on the EU agenda.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.