The future is not indifferent! Declaration of the climate impact on products, sanctions for companies in the event of wage inequality and subsidies for the media are the most important demands of the Federal Youth Session 2019. Once again, the young participants* have demonstrated their will and ability to participate and live citizenship - from the street to the Federal Parliament.
With the slogan "A new face for politics", the participants of the 2018 Youth Session dealt, among other things, with queer youth, corporate transparency and packaging waste in the retail trade.
Renew and consolidate: That was the order of the day in 2017. After a year full of news, 2017 was all about consolidating the new achievements.
In 2016 the Federal Youth Session celebrated its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, volunteers of the Youth Session made an anniversary film together with the director Morena la Barba. The anniversary was also celebrated with an exhibition on history, a quiz and a birthday cake.
In 2015 the Youth Session took a major step towards sustainability. Thanks to the cooperation with "Squeasy" the PET consumption could be reduced to almost zero!
Ecological questions have often occupied the participants of the Youth Session. In 2014, they also passed two petitions against "Food Waste".
After the Youth Session had been held in two parts at different locations in Switzerland in the past two years, this year the 200 young people met for the first time for four days in Bern.
Shortly after the tightening of the Hooligan Concordat 2012, the Youth Session dealt with the issue of catching violence and came to the conclusion that the use of pyrotechnic objects is not "violent behavior".
A PolitBuskers was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of the Youth Session: Young politicians had the opportunity to compete with each other in debates and discussion rounds on three stages throughout the city.
This has never happened before: in 2010, for the first time, a demand was passed in plenary without a dissenting vote. Unaccompanied migrant minors are to be given priority with a shortening of procedures without compromising quality.
Shortly after the end of the Swiss casting show "MusicStar", the political casting show under the motto "PolitStars" took place in Bern. The young people were less applauding when it came to the petitions: for the first time, more petitions were rejected than accepted in the closing plenary.
In 2008, in addition to the traditional Federal Youth Session, a one-day session was held during the summer and autumn sessions of parliament. Also, the Prix Jeunesse was launched.
As the renovations of the Federal Palace took longer, the National Council Chamber was only available on Sunday. The young people therefore held Saturday's debates on the Bundesplatz.
In 2006, the Youth Session had to move to Graubünden: Due to the renovation of the Federal Palace, the Youth Session met in Laax, parallel to the Federal Assembly.
The topic of "terrorism and the media" caused controversial discussions in 2005. Some of the demands of the Youth Session were also controversial, such as the abolition of the army and the simultaneous establishment of civil disaster protection.
"HEALTHvetia". This was the motto of the 2004 Youth Session, where young people spoke out for more participation in international health policy.
The numerous piercings of the young people pose new and unusual challenges for the metal detectors of the security check in the Federal Palace. And: Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler visits several working groups.
Three members of the Federal Council were present at the eleventh Youth Session. In 2002, the concept of "JuSe direct" was tested for the first time and was a complete success.
Ten years after the first Youth Session, the main topic was once again Switzerland's accession to a supranational organisation. A panel discussion with Ulrich Schlüer, Christine Beerli and Joseph Deiss led to heated debates.
In view of the low impact of the petitions and resolutions of the Youth Session so far, the young people decided to found a new body: the Forum. In the same month, the Forum had its first spectacular action.
In keeping with the motto "Communication", the 1999 Youth Session was broadcast live on the Internet for the first time. In addition, the Federal Council called for the establishment of an information platform on the Internet so that young people could inform themselves about the political system.
"Solidarity" was the central theme of the seventh Youth Session. Already in the opening speech, Federal Councillor Ruth Dreifuss urged those present to "keep the doors open for minorities, foreigners and the unemployed".
In 1997, the concept of the Youth Session was expanded; for the first time, regional youth sessions were organised in six Swiss cities. Once again, young people demanded with a large majority to join the EU.
Under the topic "Addicted Youth", the young people demanded the legalisation of cannabis products and the expansion of prevention. The young people identified a lack of security and integration in "today's consumer and performance society" as the cause of drug use.
"I am amazed by the spontaneity, the realistic demands and the impressive skills of the young people. Their way of arguing also struck me, even if they are more realistic than the youth in the 70s, they have not lost their idealism," said Federal Councillor Arnold in an interview. At the same time as EU accession, the Youth Session demanded voting rights for foreigners residing in Switzerland.
Under the theme "Youth and climate - not just words...", the Youth Session received CHF 30,000 from the BUWAL (now BAFU) to support concrete climate-protection projects. Among other things, this resulted in a reforestation project in Costa Rica.
Originally planned as a one-off event, the second Youth Session took place on 4 December 1993. A petition with 6000 signatures was given to the councillors as a central demand, calling for the creation of a permanent youth parliament.
On the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, the Youth Session was held for the first time in September 1991. The highlight: the discussion with the then President of the Confederation Flavio Cotti.
