In 2021 a young Polish woman, Izabela, was admitted to the hospital due to pregnancy complications. Her fetus had many problems and disorders and could not survive. But doctors were hesitant to operate on her because of a new law in Poland that bans abortion except in cases of incest and rape. Isabella’s condition worsened. She texted her mother: “my temperature is rising, I don’t think they will operate on me until the fetus’s heart is beating, and by then I could get sepsis.” She died a few hours later.
written by Stefan Lazarevic, Serbia
The very development of sports competitions led to the emergence of new types of sports, some of which were given the title of “women’s sports”, something like volleyball, while most others remained under the “men’s” category. Again, many would say that only time will manage to regulate it, but the situation actually took two steps back instead of a step forward.
written by TADJEDDINE Hayet, Algeria
In our society where technology took over our personal lives, It’s really another world behind our phone screens, a perfect world, everything is complete. We see thousands of stories and publications every day and we don’t know who’s real, who’s perfect and who’s just hiding behind his phone screen.
written by Marija Đakonović, Montenegro
Revenge pornography is a form of cyber violence where explicit images or videos are shared or misused without the consent of the person depicted. While revenge pornography can impact individuals of all ages, young women and girls are the most frequent victims. Particularly alarming is the prevalence of this issue among minors, who may not fully understand the long-term repercussions of sharing intimate images.
written by Afraa Maiza, Tunisia
Death boats, the name given to the boats that carry illegal immigrants on board. Boats carrying young people at the age of flowers, with their dreams, aspirations and hopes. But these are boats that don’t give life as much as they hope. These are boats that carry inevitable death, if not for all, then for the thousands of them.
written by Ruta Pels, Eesti People to People, Estonia
The youth policy and youth work in Estonia is defined by many legal acts. According to the Youth Work Act, a young person is a natural person between the ages of 7 and 26. Youth work as a professional area is not defined in the Youth Work Act, however it is defined in Youth Sector Development Plan 2021-2035.
written by Lazar Uzelac, Serbia
We remember and retell pranks from school, and in them there is always that “crumb of childhood”, naivety and clumsiness of youth. But, in the case of the professor from Trstenik, it about the intention to completely humiliate this professor, to, in the literal sense, make her fall on the floor and to immediately post video of this heinous act on social networks.
written by Džejlana Aganović, Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, and across much of the Western Balkans, young people often feel stuck between ambition and stagnation. While EU policies promote youth empowerment, democracy and inclusion, the reality on the ground often feels not as such.
written by Marlon Ramirez, Colombia
For more than 50 years Colombia has been submerged in an armed conflict that has brought various consequences, among them the forced recruitment of children and adolescents, who are kidnapped by both guerrillas and paramilitaries to be able to continue the fight almost indefinitely…
written by Emina Bilalović, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Climate change is a global phenomenon that has significant impacts on various aspects of the environment, economy, public health, and social well-being. Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country in the Balkan region of Southeast Europe, is not immune to the effects of climate change. Despite this, there is a lack of sufficient attention and awareness about the issue among young people and the media in the country.
written by CID, North Macedonia
In North Macedonia, the landscape of mental health among young people reflects a dynamic interplay of societal, economic, and individual factors. While the country boasts cultural richness and historical significance, the challenges surrounding youth mental health persist, demanding comprehensive attention and proactive measures to support the well-being of its younger generation.
written by Mateja Maletin, Serbia
In the past five years, children and young people have been increasingly exposed to digital violence, according to research by the umbrella organization of young people in Serbia. In the period from 2019 to 2021, a stable trend was recorded, where 37% of respondents stated that they had been exposed to digital violence, while this percentage increased to 40% in 2022, i.e. in 2023, even 47% of respondents stated that they were exposed to digital violence.