Organization for Youth Education & Development (OYED)

Laws Concerning Youth in Denmark

Laws Concerning Youth in Denmark

The Danish Government has not instituted any specific youth policy with a certain defined purpose. Every sector has its own field of responsibility regarding measures and policy for young people. However, the individual sectors dealing with young people all support initiatives that empower young people in order to become active and democratic citizens. A Inter-ministerial working group on youth is not planned but the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Children and Integration as well as the Ministry of Employment endeavour to promote national programs and projects to create full employment, securing welfare, education and job opportunities. Therefore, the responsibility for the Danish youth policy lies within the relevant national, regional and local authorities, as well as within the many voluntary organisations that receive substantial founding from the Government. Furthermore, Denmark participates in a number of international organisations dealing with youth policy and, at a regional level, it is very much involved in the implementation of the four European objectives to improve active citizenship for young people in the EU, with a particular focus on the Youth in Action Programme which came into force in 2010.

Even though there is not a consistent legislation on youth, some Acts passed by the Danish Parliament contain parts and articles concerning young people, with particular attention to the working environment and social housing.
 

2010

  • The Danish (Consolidation) Act on Universities, (Act No. 754 of 17 June 2010)
    This Act establishes role and competences of Danish Universities by underlining that they are sell-governing institutions under public sector administration overseen by the Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education. Universities are supposed to offer students guidance on the degree programme in which they are enrolled and on post-graduation job opportunities.

2009

  • Consolidation Act on Social Housing (Act No. 870 of 11 September 2009)
    This Act regulates the social housing sector by providing appropriate housing for those in need thereby at a reasonable rent rate, and to allow tenants to have influence over their own living conditions. In particular, it provides for further subsidies to ensure that residents who are young people pay loans with low interests.
  • Agreement on future regulation and financing of Erasmus Mundus programs offered as Master programmes in Denmark, 26 June 2009
    This Agreement states that Denmark is committed to ensure an international educational cooperation in Europe and, therefore, that Danish universities shall be able to enter into partnerships with other European universities to develop and offer Erasmus programs. Furthermore, this Agreement establishes to help all qualified Danish citizens complete an Erasmus Mundus program by providing scholarships or other forms of contribution to finance any tuition fees required for study periods abroad.

2006

  • Consolidation Act on Individual Housing Benefits, (Consolidation Act No. 552 of 2 June 2006)
    This Act regulates benefits granted for housing in Denmark. Specifically, Article 56a(1) establishes that loans shall be granted to three or more young people living in shared housing.

2005

  • Consolidated Danish Working Environment Act, (Act No. 268 of 18 March 2005 )
    This Act is aimed at creating safe and healthy work environments, and has been concluded among the former Danish Government, the Social Democratic Party, the Danish People ’s Party and the Social Liberal Party. In the tenth Part, from Article 59 to Article 62a, the Act establishes some limitations to the employment of young people under the age of 18, with particular attention to working hours.

2003

  • Act on Guidance in Relation to Choice of Education, Training and Career, 30 April 2003
    The 2003 Act, amended in 2006, 2007 and in 2010, is primarily targeted at young people until the age of 25. In this Act, it is pointed out that  it aims to contribute to the improvement of the individual’s ability to seek and use information to help in relation to choice of youth education, training and future career paths.