BDKJ Speyer fights for clear youth policy - a call for participation!

BDKJ Speyer fights for clear youth policy - a call for participation!

The political voice of young people is becoming louder and louder, and this was impressively demonstrated at the recent diocesan meeting of the Association of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) in the diocese of Speyer. On July 17, 2025, the focus was on the importance of child and youth policy, which is seen as a cross-sectional task. BDKJ diocesan chairman Pascal Garrecht underlined this point and appealed to all political levels to take the concerns of young people seriously. Youth work represents around 10,000 young people in the region who approach politics with their issues in mind.

A central topic of the meeting was the discussions that the BDKJ Speyer has already had with various members of the Bundestag. Not only were the topics of voluntary service and intergenerational justice on the agenda, but also the demand for a ban on the AfD. It became clear that young people are equal members of society whose views and needs should be taken into account in political decision-making processes. The BDKJ Diösesan chairwoman Theresa Verst explained the differences between voluntary and compulsory voluntary service - an aspect that is also of great importance for local discussions.

Political demands in focus

The BDKJ Speyer confronts political decision-makers with concrete demands. Low-threshold participation opportunities should be created at the local level, as well as independent contact persons for young people. The upgrade of the youth leader card (Juleica) is also on the list. State politics call for a voting age of 16 and free public transport for students and trainees. At the same time, the BDKJ strives to strengthen democracy education.

At the federal level, the organization calls on parliamentarians to guarantee equal opportunities and protection against discrimination for all young people. In addition, the BDKJ would like to establish regular exchanges with members of parliament in order to effectively convey the interests of young people into politics. The BDKJ also thinks about international issues, especially with regard to solidarity and social justice for disadvantaged young people in the global south.

Intergenerational justice as a new guideline

At its general meeting, the BDKJ committed itself to establishing intergenerational equity as a binding guideline. This was emphasized by BDKJ federal chairwoman Lena Bloemacher, who pointed out that politics should not be based exclusively on the needs of adults. The voices of the young generation must be heard so that they are perceived as equal members of society. A particular focus is on strengthening the representation of youth associations at local level in order to be able to bring young people's concerns more actively into the discussions.

A new study also shows that interest in political issues among young people is often limited by the complexity of the political process and a lack of representation in political bodies. However, understandable information and low-threshold participation opportunities can help to promote and ensure political participation among young people. In order to meet these challenges, the study suggests, among other things, actively involving educational institutions in political education in order to enable practical experiences.

Overall, it is clear that the BDKJ Speyer initiative is not only a sign of commitment to younger generations, but also a call for politicians to take young voices seriously. This is the only way to create a solidarity-based and just future for everyone, in which the concerns of young people are not only heard but also taken into account.

For more information on how the BDKJ advocates for the rights of young people, read the detailed reports on Diocese of Speyer, BDKJ and The knowledge.