ZAGREB, Aug 12, 2020 - The Croatian Youth Network (MMH) on Wednesday presented its three main demands to the government, calling for better education, employment and housing for young people to provide them with better living conditions in the context of growing insecurity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The MMH, which has 58 member-associations, presented its demands outside the government and parliament buildings in Zagreb in order to draw public attention to burning issues that burden young people in Croatia.

Its representatives warned that in terms of labour and similar rights, young people in Croatia are at the bottom of EU rankings.

Addressing the public on the occasion of International Youth Day, they called on the government to adopt concrete decisions to ensure a better life for young people.

Speaking of the main problems young people were encountering, they cited problems in finding and keeping a job, poor housing conditions, lack of access to the education system, lack of social measures, etc.

Speaking of young workers, they called for ensuring normal working conditions, permanent employment contracts as well as allowances for the unemployed and for taking into account student work when calculating one's years of service.

As for housing issues, they called for supporting a long-term, subsidised lease scheme.

Speaking of education, MMH leader Josip Milicevic said that one should work more on civic education and education in general.

"It is necessary to encourage vocational education as well as invest in dual education and in making educational processes correspond better with real market needs," he said.

ZAGREB, Aug 12 (Hina) - On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Central State Office for Demography and Youth on Wednesday called on young people to be an example with their conduct and forerunners in a global initiative raising awareness of the "new normal" and in strengthening intergenerational solidarity and dialogue.

On the occasion of International Youth Day, observed on August 12, and this year's theme -  Engaging Youth for Global Action - the Office wishes to point out ways in which young people can participate in enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes at the local, national and global levels.

The goal is to learn lessons on how to significantly increase the representation of young people and their activities in informal institutional policies.

"On the occasion of International Youth Day 2020, we wish to emphasise the importance of active participation of youth. Local, national, and global institutions need to become inclusive and strengthen youth to implement global actions and to achieve their objectives," a press release from the Central State Office for Demography and Youth said.

The Office called on young people, "in these challenging times in which we are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, to behave responsibly and set an example and lead global initiatives to raise awareness of the 'new normal' and to strengthen inter-generational solidarity and dialogue in an effort to protect one's loved ones and secure a better future," the press release said.

The government will continue implementing activities that will provide opportunities and better conditions for young people to realise their rights and needs and it calls on youth to actively participate in society at the local, state, and European levels.

In 1999, the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.

As the last day of this year's International Youth Day in Split celebration kicks off, spend your Saturday at Zvončac with a picnic full of sporting events and vinyl and vintage sales.