Definition of Youth

The national youth policy refers to youth as between 15 - 30 years of age.

CZE

Marriageable Age

  • Opposite Sex
  • Same Sex
  • Without parental consent
  • with parental consent
  • Male
  • 18
  • 16
  • ++
  • Female
  • 18
  • 16
  • ++



    • Civil unions/partnerships legal. Source: UNSD, ILGA

Candidacy Age

Criminal Responsibility

15
Minimum Age
Source:  Zdene?k Karabec, Jir?i? Vlach et al.
(2011)

Majority Age

18

Source: Act of the Czech Republic No. 94/1963 Sb. on Family

Voting Age

18


Source:  Inter-Parliamentary Union

Situation of Young People

Youth Development Index

0.73
31 out of 170 countries.

Literacy Rates

--
Both sexes (15-24) %
  • -- Male (15-24) %
  • -- Female (15-24) %
  • Year: No data.
  • Source: UNESCO

Net Enrolment Rate

Secondary School
--
Both sexes %
  • --Male %
  • -- Female %
  • Year: No data.
  • Source: UNESCO

Situation of Young People

Prevalence of HIV

0.1%
Male (15-24) %
0.1%
Female (15-24) %

Tobacco Use

Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.
35.00%
Both sexes (13-15) %
  • 35.80% Male (13-15) %
  • 34.10% Female (13-15) %
  • Year: 2010
  • Source: WHO

Policy & Legislation

Is there a national youth policy?
Yes
The national youth policy was adopted in 2007. Briefings from 2012 and 2010 are available.

The national youth policy identifies key youth issues including: leisure, education, alcoholism and drug use, the media, politics and public life. The document then outlines actions for each government ministry in response. According to the National report: First cooperation cycle of the EU Youth Strategy 2010-2012, the national youth policy is implemented through two-year Action Plans that are evaluated and incorporated into the next Action Plan. The 2012-2013 Action Plan was linked to the European Youth Strategy and was formulated through a new Youth Chamber, consisting of “representatives of NGOs, school leisure facilities, some ministries and regions and experts in children and youth issues.” As an advisory body it is responsible for “drafting, implementing and evaluating current and future youth policies of the Czech Republic.”

Public Institutions

Is there a governmental authority
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Yes
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) oversees education, social programs, sports and youth, research & development and EU and international affairs. According to the National report: First cooperation cycle of the EU Youth Strategy 2010-2012, an inter-ministerial working group was established to coordinate implementation across government departments. Additionally, the National Institute for Children and Youth, which is fully financed and accountable to the MoEYS, is responsible for conducting research on youth, and employs professional researchers.

Youth and Representation

Does the country have a national youth organisation / association (council, platform, body)?
Yes
The Czech Council of Children and Youth (CRDM) is the national youth council of the Czech Republic with 99 member organisations, representing 200,000 individual members. Its mission is to, “promote a quality life and development of children and young people.” Since 2012, CRDM has been a member of the European Youth Forum, which describes it as, “the only youth council in the country and has proven itself inclusive towards all main democratic youth movements.”

Budget & Spending

What is the budget allocated to the governmental authority (ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth and/or youth programming?
Unclear
According to State Budget 2014-2016, of Education, Youth and Sports was CZK 140 billion. In 2014 and 2015, it will be CZK 122 billion and in 2016 CZK 123 billion. According to the World Bank, the Czech Republic spent 9.67% of its government expenditure and 4.24% of its GDP on education provision in 2010. However, it is unclear how much is allocated specifically for youth.
Total Expenditure on Education as a Percentage of Government Spending and GDP

  • % of GDP
  • % of gov. expenditure

Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed August 2013).

Additional Background

According to the Youth Employment in the Czech Republic (2012), report, issues are arising in the education and employment sector. Youth employment:

Today, the level of unemployment among people in younger age groups is hovering at around 20 per cent and the prospects are uncertain. The economic crisis has contributed to an overall drop in new job creation and the decline in overall demand has led to massive layoffs, dramatically affecting younger age groups.

Education

As concerns young people specifically, another significant obstacle to improving their situation is the absolutely chaotic approach to the development of the education system, resulting in a marked skills mismatch. This is due to an underestimation of the need to develop technical and vocational training. On top of this, the current government is even trying to commercialise education and charge for it, which would have a negative impact on the ability of socially weaker families to access education.