Neoclis Neocleous

"Young people feel that decisions are being made for them, but not with them." The panel "From Voting to Public Decisions: Building Real Pathways for Youth Participation" brought together Amalia Avraam, Lawyer at Michael Kyprianou & Co LLC and Co-Chair of the Technical Committee on Youth, and Charalampos Stylianou, President of the Executive Committee of the European Youth Economic & Political Forum. It was moderated by Neoclis Neocleous (@NeoclisN), journalist at Alpha Cyprus (@alpha_cyprus). Ms Avraam said the key to lasting youth engagement is showing results. "To get young people to participate a second time, you have to show them that their participation the first time actually made a difference." What is missing, she argued, is ownership of decisions, and those who choose to abstain also bear responsibility for the outcome. She pointed to the bicommunal Technical Committee on Youth, which through the way it was formed largely reflects Cypriot society, while cautioning that bottom-up politics has its limits. Mr Stylianou said that despite a lack of trust, there is willingness and initiative among young people. What has been missing is the connection between them and decision-making. Social media, he warned, is a double-edged sword: "Algorithms promote tension, but not substance." Young people need to be brought closer to where decisions are made, and he expressed confidence that the state is willing to listen.

From Voting to Public Decisions: Building Real Pathways for Youth Participation Youth participation in democratic life is often concentrated around elections, consultations and campaign periods, while opportunities to influence agenda-setting, implementation and scrutiny between elections remain limited. Strengthening meaningful participation requires institutional mechanisms that allow young people to contribute consistently to public decision-making at local, national and European levels. At Cyprus Forum 2026, this panel will examine what institutional changes are needed to create stronger pathways for youth participation beyond the ballot box. It will consider how young people can engage more effectively in shaping policy, how existing participation mechanisms can be strengthened, and how decision-makers can ensure that youth input translates into meaningful influence. Bringing together perspectives from youth representation, law, civil society, research and activism, the discussion will explore how democratic institutions can move from periodic consultation towards more sustained and effective forms of youth participation. 🎙️ Speakers: Amalia Avraam, Lawyer and Co-Chair of the Technical Committee on Youth, MICHAEL KYPRIANOU & CO LLC Mustafa Özbilgehan (@Ozbilgehan13), Lawyer, President of the Turkish Cypriot Youth Federation Orestis Matsas (@OMatsas), Research Scientist, University of Cyprus (@UCYOfficial) & Activist Chair: Neoklis Neokleous (@NeoclisN), Journalist, Alpha Cyprus (@alpha_cyprus) 📅 30 September 2026 🕦 09:15–10:00 📍 Aphrodite Room #CyprusForum2026