Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Youth project

© OSCE

Model OSCE

During its Chairmanship year, Switzerland gave a stronger voice to young people and enhanced their involvement in OSCE activities. To achieve this goal, Switzerland organised a Model OSCE series in which one delegate from each of the 57 OSCE participating States was invited to take part. These 18–30 year-olds were able to familiarise themselves with the issues and structures of the OSCE through simulated meetings of the Ministerial Council and the Permanent Council.

They thus had the opportunity to acquire  their first diplomatic experiences and prove their negotiating skills and leadership qualities as well as practise their public speaking. In this Swiss OSCE Chairmanship year the 57 “youth ambassadors” were also given the opportunity to negotiate their own “Youth Action Plan”, which they presented at the high-level meeting of the Ministerial Council in Basel in December.

Project (Model OSCE)

 

Model OSCE: second round of negotiations in Belgrade

Model OSCE second round of negotiations in Belgrade
Model OSCE second round of negotiations in Belgrade.

Belgrade, 08-10 July 2014 – Following the first round of negotiations in January 2014 in Vienna, the second Model OSCE simulation takes place in Belgrade. The Swiss OSCE Chairmanship organises the event in close cooperation with the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vanja Udovičić, the Serbian Minister of Youth and Sports, and Ambassador Dejan Šahović, Head of the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship Task Force 2015, opened the conference. During these three days in Belgrade, the 57 Youth Ambassadors from the OSCE participating States are to continue their negotiations on the Model OSCE Youth Action Plan. The aim of the conference is to adopt the document by consensus within the framework of a simulated Model OSCE Ministerial Council.

The Youth Ambassadors will present their Youth Action Plan during the Ministerial Council in Basel in December 2014. The Model OSCE Youth Action plan covers a broad spectrum of OSCE topics, including education, protection of minorities, conflict prevention and environmental questions.

Model OSCE first round of negotiations in Vienna

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, accompanied by a group of young participants in the first round of model OSCE negotiations in Vienna
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, accompanied by a group of young participants in the first round of model OSCE negotiations.

Vienna, 15-17 January 2014 ─ The first simulation is hold to coincide with the official opening of the Swiss Chairmanship. The Youth Ambassadors kick-off negotiations on their Youth Action Plan and discuss topics they believe should be covered by an OSCE Youth Action Plan.

The Youth Ambassadors negotiate in two different formats – the informal meetings are hold in small groups while the preparatory committees takes place in plenary meetings. The event in Vienna is brought to a close by a simulated Model OSCE Permanent Council.

In addition to negotiating their Youth Action Plan the Youth Ambassadors are given the opportunity to meet with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, and several Heads of Field Operations. They also have the possibility to discuss issues affecting young people with other high-level OSCE representatives.

The Youth Ambassadors want to continue their negotiations on the Model OSCE Youth Action Plan in Belgrade in July 2014.

Speech by the President of the Confederation Didier Burkhalter: “Politics is not just about today. It is also, and most importantly, about tomorrow.” (PDF, 5 Pages, 52.7 kB)

Additional information

Project Model OSCE

Partner organisations for the Model OSCE project

Last update 26.01.2022

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