As Mr. Ravinet explained, the OIJ has built up close links with the national governments of the Ibero-American countries in which it operates, through Ministries of Youth or equivalent public departments, concerning the youth policies that OIJ has been promoting for a number of years now. The organization is now addressing new challenges, aiming to strengthen the network of non-governmental institutions generated by organized youth movements, with a view to the full implementation of the Convention of Youth Rights, which was signed by 18 countries in October 2005 in the Spanish city of Badajoz.
One of the OIJ’s first steps is to conduct a study on the situation of young people in the Southern Cone and Central America, for which it is keen to work with the national Scout organizations as representatives of large sectors of youth in each country. The OIJ is supported in this task by the National University of Rosario (Argentina), where a team of professionals and experts are working on the different phases of the study.
The World Scout Bureau – Interamerican Region will be reporting to the national Scout associations on progress in this area and on any opportunities for specific support that the OIJ programmes open up for Scouting.