YOUTH STRIKE COALITION PRESS RELEASE
20 NOVEMBER: INTERNATIONAL YOUTH AND STUDENT STRIKE
IN OVER 25 COUNTRIES ACROSS EUROPE

An international online press conference about the Youth Strike will take place on Monday 16 November
at 10:00 CET, in English. Registration via this link.

From the struggle for education and housing to the fight against militarisation, climate crises and the rising cost of living, young people across Europe are joining forces to claim a better future. More than 50 youth-and student-led organisations are calling for a united day of action in over 25 countries under the slogan: “Fight for Our Future, Not Their Wars”.


On 20 November, hundreds of thousands of students and young people across Europe are expected to take to the streets in a coordinated international day of protest under the slogan “Fight for Our Future, Not Their Wars”. With mobilisations planned in over 25 countries and hundreds of cities, the initiative is set to become one of the largest coordinated international youth and student mobilisations in recent years. The call for action has been launched by a coalition of more than 50 youth- and student-led organisations, bringing together movements from across Europe around a common struggle: the fight for a dignified present and future for our generation and those to come.

Despite the different realities and struggles faced by young people in each country, the demands are deeply connected. From the right to education to the right to housing, from the struggle against the rising cost of living and the climate crises to the fight against militarisation and rearmament, young people are increasingly confronted with political and economic choices that put profits, military spending and the interests of the ruling classes before people’s needs.

“Across Europe, we are witnessing young people standing up and organising against the conditions that are threatening our future. Our struggles may take different forms in different countries, but we are united by the same demand: a dignified life, with access to education, housing, welfare and a future worth fighting for” explains Alessandro Di Miceli from Rete della Conoscenza, Italy: “The 20 November mobilisation will be the day when all these movements will protest together, from France to Italy, from Germany to Spain, alongside organisations and young people from many other countries.In several countries, we are preparing large-scale student strikes, often supported by trade unions and wider social movements. Many schools and universities are already being
blocked or occupied in preparation ”

As outlined in the Youth Strike’s International Manifesto, the mobilisation is built around five common demands:

●​ An end to militarisation and rearmament policies, with structural investment in education and welfare instead.
●​ The abolition of all forms of military conscription.
●​ Solidarity with the struggles of oppressed peoples around the world, starting with the Palestinian people.
●​ Climate justice and social justice.
●​ Radical transformation of the system we live in, standing against authoritarianism, repression and the far right.

The coalition argues that the growing prioritisation of military spending over social needs is one of the clearest examples of the political choices young people are challenging.

“As young people, we know that we must organise and fight for our future, because no one else will do it for us” declares Leonor Chicò from Estudantes pelo Fim ao Fosìl, Portugal: “The ruling classes across our countries show us every day that the needs of our generation are not their priority. Instead, they put profits and power first. The EU’s ReArm Europe plan, now known as Readiness 2030, is a clear example: it aims to mobilise up to €800 billion for rearmament, while these resources are desperately needed to be invested in education, youth policies, housing and social welfare.”

For the coalition, however, 20 November is not an isolated day of protest, but the beginning of a broader international process of mobilisation. “We know that a single day of strike action, no matter how large, will not be enough to achieve the changes we need.” adds Alice Cohen from Union Étudiante, France: “November 20th will be a crucial step towards building a lasting international movement capable of bringing together young people, students and workers around common demands.

We are determined to continue organising and mobilising in the months ahead, until these demands become reality. 20 November is only the beginning. We stand together to fight for our future, not their wars.”

The coalition also emphasises the importance of building stronger connections between youth movements and wider social and workers’ struggles. “Young people have historically been a driving force for social change, and this mobilisation aims to strengthen that role through collective action and international solidarity.

As part of this effort, protests and mobilisations are also being coordinated for Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, bringing together different movements for a wider weekend of action across Europe” concludes Shabbir Lakha from the Stop The War Coalition, UK.

The movement calls on all young people, students, youth organisations, trade unions and social movements across Europe and beyond to join the mobilisation and take part in this common struggle. In preparation for the mobilisation, the Youth Strike Coalition will hold an online international press conference on Monday 16 November at 10:00 CET, in English, to present the initiative, explain its political demands and answer questions from journalists.

International Youth Strike Against War
– 11 November 2026 –