Shakhzoda Mirakova: “Civic engagement is not an option, it is a necessity for Central Asian communities and the whole world"

December 19, 2023

Shakhzoda Mirakova, a JMC student, has been chosen as one of 25 members to join the Youth Sounding Board, a group of young people who advise the Commissioner and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) on youth participation and empowerment in EU external action.

From November 27 until December 3,  she attended the plenary meetings of the Youth Sounding Board in Brussels, Belgium. Shakhzoda had a chance to address environmental and gender issues concerning Uzbekistan and Central Asia in the meeting with the members from EU Parliament. She also met with the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, in order to share her expectations of YSB and experiences connected with her civic engagement journey. 

Shakhzoda is the first and only representative from the Central Asian region taking part in this program. She believes that by being a part of YSB she will strengthen connections between the youth of CA and EU and ensure that their voices are heard. 

“Civic engagement is not an option, it is a necessity for Central Asian communities and the whole world. We all have to use our voices and experiences to reclaim the narrative and be the change that we wish to see”, says Shakhzoda.

The Youth Sounding Board (YSB) for International Partnerships aims to create a space for meaningful participation of young people in the European Union’s (EU) external action. The YSB facilitates active engagement and exchanges between young people, the EU

Commissioner for International Partnerships and DG INTPA on EU external action and

international partnerships, thereby contributing to making it more participatory, relevant and effective for young people.

The YSB will advise the Commissioner for International Partnerships and DG INTPA on youth participation and empowerment in the field of EU international partnerships.

The YSB will also advise and bring a youth perspective to EU external action on topics such as employment, education, training and entrepreneurship, environment and climate change,human rights and democracy, peace and security, digitalisation and technology, gender, equality, social inclusion and health, peace and security, as well as culture, arts, media and journalism.

<< go to news list