Sale of green spaces in Schwerin: Where is youth participation?

Sale of green spaces in Schwerin: Where is youth participation?

In Schwerin, political decision-makers are currently being heavily criticized. In a non-public meeting, the city council decided to sell the Lankow district park, including the playground on Kieler Straße. Despite expressed concerns and ignoring the legally required participation of the young generation, the sale of 5,000 square meters of green space is initiated without any compensation. This decision is in clear contradiction to the recently adopted “property policy guidelines”, which are intended to emphasize the preservation of city property and avoid sales Schwerin.news reported.

The decision-makers in Schwerin do not seem to be aware of their double standards. Although the importance of children and young people's participation is repeatedly emphasized, the handling of the planned park sale shows that words are often not worth much. The country's legal watchdog has warned of the illegality of the sale and highlighted the need to include young perspectives. However, objections to the sale were ignored and requests to stay the proceedings were rejected.

Political responsibility and ignorance

In the last ten years, Schwerin has sold properties worth over 17 million euros. This suggests a systematic neglect of public interests. The questions arise: Where is the space for the opinions and wishes of the young citizens who will ultimately shape the cityscape of tomorrow? The current events are in clear contrast to the obligations of municipalities as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children and young people must be included in decision-making processes. According to information from jugendrechte.de The promotion of children and young people's participation is not only legally but also socially necessary.

Many municipalities are making progress in this area, but in Schwerin it is clear that there are still significant deficits. There is still a lot to do, especially with regard to the perception of young people and their participation. Young people not only have a right to participate, but their involvement also contributes to improving social cohesion and promoting integration. It is all the more shocking that these aspects were completely ignored here.

The importance of youth participation

Everyone can benefit from a well-functioning youth participation system. Studies show that involving young people in local politics at an early stage strengthens their ties to their community. This is also emphasized by the “Democracy in Children’s Hands” program, which gives children and young people the opportunity to actively participate in local issues. For this purpose, specific tools and methods have been developed that can be used by municipalities to enable real participation, such as das-zukunftspaket.de highlights.

The decisions made by the city council shed significant light on the relationship between politics and young citizens. In order to bring about change here, we not only need more transparency in the decision-making processes, but also a more active role for mayors as partners for youth. This is the only way to restore trust in politics.

The announcement of legal action against the sale of the district park is an important step. The citizens of Schwerin have a right to be heard, and the voices of children and young people in particular should finally be taken seriously.