Lithuania’s Youth Affairs Agency backs including 11-year-olds as youth

Lithuania’s Youth Affairs Agency, together with a working group, has proposed lowering the legal youth age threshold from 14 to 11, LRT reported.

All members of the working group unanimously supported the proposal, which would amend the Law on the Framework for Youth Policy. The change would provide a clear legal basis for extending youth policy measures and services to 11- to 13-year-olds.

The agency said the age of 11 was chosen because it corresponds with World Health Organization recommendations and the transition to basic education in the fifth grade. The WHO defines adolescence as the period from ages 10 to 19, the agency said, adding that early adolescence brings rapid changes in social and emotional life, stronger peer influence, and the development of identity and independence.

Regular meetings of the working group began in February last year to discuss possible amendments to the law.

In May, however, the Seimas rejected a proposal to classify 11-year-olds as youth. The amendments had been submitted by Edita Rudelienė, deputy chair of the opposition Liberal Movement parliamentary group.

The Ministry of Social Security and Labour also submitted a draft amendment to relevant institutions for coordination in May. It proposes lowering the youth age threshold to 11 while strengthening young people’s involvement in decision-making. Under the proposal, a young person would be defined as someone aged 11 to 29 inclusive, instead of the current 14-to-29 range.