Democracy
Write a motion
A motion is a proposal. If you want to make changes in your local branch, your district, or the entire organization, you can submit a motion outlining what you want to change and why.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child aims to protect and promote children’s rights, regardless of their background, and give them the right to be treated with respect and express their opinions.
How democracy works in Unga Örnar
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Democracy begins with children
For us, democracy isn’t something that begins on the day you turn 18 and get to vote. Democracy begins much earlier, when children feel that their voice matters, that adults listen, and that society actually changes when they get involved. Unga Örnar works with democracy every day by giving children and young people influence over their daily lives, their leisure environments, and the decisions that shape their lives and futures.
We start from a simple but often forgotten insight: children and young people are not just future citizens, they are citizens here and now. Yet most lack formal power, while political decisions about the economy, climate, school, safety and leisure affect them more than any other group. Our democracy work is therefore about leveling that power imbalance.
Influence in practice
In our own activities, children and young people practice democracy by making decisions, taking responsibility, and organizing themselves together. Through meetings, camps, activities, and local involvement, children learn not only how democracy works in theory, but how it feels to be taken seriously. That one’s opinion counts. That compromises are needed. That change is possible.
But democracy cannot stay within the organization’s walls. Therefore, we work politically to ensure that the perspectives of children and young people have a real impact on society. We demand that the best interests of the child should always be the starting point in political decisions – not as an afterthought, but as a self-evident basis, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child as Swedish law.
We want to see structures that make children’s influence real: children’s representatives in every municipality, functioning student and youth councils with mandates, and decision-making processes where children actually get to have their say before decisions are made. Just “listening to children” is not enough if it does not also lead to change.
Democracy requires equal conditions
Democracy presupposes equality. A child who worries about the family’s finances, who cannot afford to participate in leisure activities, or who grows up in unsafe environments has less opportunity to get involved, make their voice heard, and feel trust in society. Therefore, our democracy work is closely linked to the fight against child poverty and for an equal and safe leisure time.
When we push for increased child and housing allowances, free public transport for young people, and access to free leisure activities, we do so for the sake of democracy as well. An equal childhood is a democratic prerequisite. No one should be excluded from community, influence or optimism because of their wallet or postal code.