Youth Mainstreaming

Young people have also been among the biggest victims of the crises of the last decade, be it the austerity measures following the global financial collapse or the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, young people are a shrinking group compared to the adult population in the developed countries and their political clout to influence policies is diminishing. As a result, the issue of unequal burden-sharing between generations is gaining more and more attention. One of the tools that can be used to strengthen the voice of youth and downplay the relevance of potential intergenerational conflicts is the mechanism of youth mainstreaming, which is receiving increasing attention from both the youth sector and key governance architects around the world. This chapter explores the conceptual foundations of the youth mainstreaming mechanism, presents the relevant definitions of youth mainstreaming, and examines the core principles of youth mainstreaming. The benefits of youth mainstreaming for different stakeholders are also examined, in particular by reviewing the available evidence provided by different organizations and policy institutions. Based on the available evidence, youth mainstreaming spaces are explored as a way for different stakeholders to recognize a relevant tool for creating equality and voice for young people in youth mainstreaming.