The National Youth Council of Latvia (LJP) was founded in 1992 by 15 organizations, representing Youth Organizations, after the former Komsomol structures, such as the Committee of Youth Organizations (JOK). In accordance with Latvian law, LJP was registered in the Public Register (of non-governmental organizations) at the Ministry of Justice in 1996.

Today LJP is the umbrella organization of 49 youth organizations in Latvia. Its mission is to improve the living conditions of young people and to represent the interests of youth organizations on national and international level. LJP is also involved in the socio-political processes in order to ensure respect for youth. LJP’s member organizations join around 30,000 young people across Latvia.

LJP regular members identify and try to solve a variety of youth-related questions, and enable the participating organizations to intervene on young people's needs and growth, ensuring the flow of information and their support.

LJP is one of the main youth policy leaders in the country. It provides information to the public and promotes civic participation of young people, encouraging them to engage themselves in youth organizations, non-formal education activities and shelters the youth organizations. LJP is a member organization of the European Youth Forum and organizations in Latvia such as the Civil Alliance Latvia and the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation.

LJP functions provide seven Board members (elected from the member organizations), small secretariat and volunteers. Congress of member organizations is the highest decision making body; congress meets on annual basis, decides on admission of new members, working plan for the next year, as well elects the Board. There are also several work groups and committees active in LJP, helping Board to cover fields of media, international relations, youth events and others.

Youth Council has five areas of operation:

• advocacy,
• foreign affairs and development cooperation,
• information and recognition of youth organizations,
• LJP development and cooperation,
• formation of new organizations.

Thus LJP offers the following benefits for its member organizations:

• LJP defends their interests in various member institutions and their workgroups, committees, consultative councils.
• LJP also operates in the European Youth Forum which is similar at the youth advocacy functions in a European dimension.
• LJP and its members have priority for participation in LJP’s organized training and international training, conferences, etc.
• LJP members have the opportunity to be advised by LJP's office people on draft writing, public-benefit status and other issues.
• LJP promotes its member organizations and provides support to the publicity issues.