Plan d’action « Je participe ! » 2027–2031: Strengthening and Evolving the Cantonal Policy on Childhood and Youth

The Canton of Fribourg has approved the Plan d’action « Je participe ! » 2027–2031, a strategic framework to strengthen and evolve its cantonal policy on childhood and youth for the next five years. The plan was validated by the State Council on March 31, 2026, and officially presented on April 24, 2026, by the Department of Health and Social Affairs.

As the third phase of the cantonal Strategy for Childhood and Youth, the plan reaffirms the canton’s commitment to a coherent and coordinated approach for children and young people aged 0 to 25. It builds on previous efforts to ensure continuity and long-term planning in youth policy.

A key component of the plan includes conducting an evaluation of the current strategy, establishing an updated overview of the situation of childhood and youth in the canton, and preparing the renewal of the strategy toward 2045. These steps aim to ground future policy in an up-to-date understanding of the needs and lived experiences of young people in Fribourg.

In response to the cantonal motion 2022-GC-216, the plan introduces permanent support for the organization of the Cantonal Youth Session starting in 2027. This initiative seeks to address expressed demands at the cantonal level for greater youth engagement in public life.

The plan’s priorities were developed based on the work of the Cantonal Commission for Childhood and Youth (CEJ), recommendations from the 2024 Cantonal Youth Day titled “Cross-Views on Youth in Complex Situations,” and collaboration with various institutional partners. Seven priority themes and tasks have been identified for the 2027–2031 period to address current challenges through structured and cross-sectoral action.

The « Je participe ! » initiative, originally launched following a 2006 regional law on children and youth, operates as a participatory process involving children, young people, associations, municipalities, and state services. Past editions have brought together hundreds of actors and numerous municipalities in inclusive policy development, with specific efforts to include marginalized youth and entrust young people with meaningful responsibilities in the process.