Youth councils are a an example of youth voice engaged in youth-led decision-making . Youth councils exist on local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international levels among governments, NGOs, schools, and other entities. The history of youth councils extends back to the early twentieth century, when communists and Nazis formed youth-led decision-making bodies for the purpose of propaganization and recruitment. After a thirty-year lull, youth councils have come back into favor internationally with the popularity of the European Youth Council .

Youth councils have many purposes. Many are consultative bodies for more representative political bodies at all levels of government. The extent to which they have been established at all levels varies, as the United States, Canada, Western and Northern Europe have all seen a proliferation of these bodies. How they are composed varies, with some youth councils being elected by young people in the community, while others are handpicked by political officials or elected by youth NGOs.

Examples of youth councils

The Council of Europe also has an Advisory Council, which is part of a co-decision structure on the Youth field in the Council of Europe, called the Joint Committee. At the present, the Norwegian Lasse Thue is chairperson of the Advisory Council.

In Israel, There is a Nationla Youth Council, whose members are elected from 7 Regional Youth Councils, which are elected from Municipal councils, formed from representatives of School Student Councils and Youth Movements.

Resources on youth councils

• Global Youth Action Network
• Survey of International Youth Involvement
• At The Table - Youth in Decision-Making