The Council of Europe is inviting young activists and youth civil society representatives to apply for the Youth Advocacy for Democracy and Human Rights Training Course, taking place from 28 September to 3 October 2026 at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, France. The programme is organised by the Council of Europe Youth Department under the Youth Revitalising Democracy project and will run alongside a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), giving participants an opportunity to engage with European institutions and decision-makers.

The training is designed to strengthen the ability of young people and youth organisations to advocate for democracy, human rights and meaningful youth participation in decision-making. Participants will learn how the Council of Europe works, become more familiar with its standards and mechanisms, and develop practical skills for designing and implementing human rights-based advocacy strategies at local, national and international levels.

The programme will use a participatory and experience-based approach, combining human rights education, democratic citizenship education, peer learning and practical exercises. Participants will have opportunities to exchange experiences with other young activists, learn from examples of effective advocacy and engage with experts from Council of Europe institutions. As the training takes place during a PACE plenary session, participants will also have opportunities to interact with members of the Parliamentary Assembly and attend relevant sessions.

The course is particularly suitable for young people aged 18 to 30 who are actively involved in youth councils, youth organisations, international youth networks or other youth civil society structures. Local and regional youth councils, as well as youth branches of political parties, are also eligible. Applicants should hold a leadership or decision-making role within their organisation and be in a position to follow up the training through advocacy campaigns, initiatives or other activities after the course.

Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law and youth participation, as well as a genuine interest in taking further action in these areas. They should be able to participate in the entire programme, contribute actively to the follow-up activities of the Youth Revitalising Democracy project and work independently in English. Participants are generally expected to reside in a country that is party to the European Cultural Convention, although exceptions may be considered where justified.

Up to 30 participants will be selected. The selection process will consider the applicants’ experience, motivation and suitability for the programme while also seeking diversity in terms of geographical background, gender, organisational experience and other relevant factors. Selected participants will be notified by 1 September 2026.

The Council of Europe will cover accommodation and meals for the residential training at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. Participants will normally stay in shared twin rooms. Travel expenses to and from Strasbourg, as well as eligible visa costs, will also be reimbursed in accordance with Council of Europe rules, provided participants attend the full training course. Participants are expected to arrive on 27 September and depart on 4 October 2026.

The working language of the training course will be English, and applicants must be able to communicate and participate independently in English. The programme is also designed to be accessible to participants with disabilities, with appropriate arrangements available where required.

The application deadline is 14 August 2026 at 14:00 Strasbourg time. This is a fully funded opportunity, with accommodation, meals, eligible travel expenses and visa costs covered according to the Council of Europe’s participation rules.

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