Youth

Youth

Youth

While young people play central and catalyzing roles in movements for democracy around the world, they are less engaged than older generations in voting and party activism. As of 2016 people between the ages of 20 and 44 make up 57% of the world’s voting age population but only 26% of the world’s Members of Parliament (MPs). Young people under 30 only represent 1.9% of the world’s MP’s and more than 80% of the world’s upper houses of Parliament have no MPs aged under 30. While male MPs outnumber female MPs in every age category, gender imbalance is less pronounced among younger MPs around the world. This suggests that young men and women may be more likely to make way for new faces and voices to be represented in decision-making (Inter-parliamentary Union Youth Participation in National Parliaments, 2016). Strategies that may promote the engagement of youth in political processes include: youth quotas; legal reforms to align the voting age with the minimum age for elected officials; proportional representation electoral systems; inclusive parliaments and local governance; removal of barriers for youth electoral participation; outreach and recruitment of students by political parties; and targeted outreach to youth political candidates.

News

Participants of the academy during registration. Khartoum, Sudan by International IDEA.
13.04.2022
International IDEA launches the "Young Women’s Democracy Academy" in S...
The Young Women’s Democracy Academy (YWDA) is a three-month capacity-building programme dedicated to empowering young women between the ages of 18 and 24 with the knowledge and skills necessary...
Dr Hannah Bissiw - Ghana Business
31.03.2022
Ghana: Encourage women to partake in active politics – Hannah Bissiw
The National Women Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Louisa Hannah Bissiw, has called on the women leadership of political parties to mentor young ladies in and out of tertiary...
Run GenZ members, from left to right, Ebo Entsuah, Roxy Ndebumadu, Caleb Hanna and Braxton Mitchell - CNN
28.12.2021
Gen Z and millennial conservatives seek to recruit and mentor young, diverse can...
When Roxy Ndebumadu, a Black conservative woman, ran for city council in Bowie, Maryland, at age 26, it was hard to find mentorship from elected officials of similar backgrounds. "My, I guess you...
Labor councillor for Kiama, Imogen Draisma, 22, wants the council to better reflect the community it represents.(ABC Illawarra: Ainslie Drewitt-Smith)
27.12.2021
In Australia, one of NSW's youngest female politicians calls for diversity...
A sea of change is washing across New South Wales local government as more women and young people take up seats as councillors. Until recently, 22-year-old Imogen Draisma could not see...
IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global - Copyright: IPU
17.12.2021
IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global
Just over ten years ago, IPU Member Parliaments adopted a landmark resolution on youth participation to encourage the rejuvenation of parliaments. Since then, parliaments from around the world have...
Adila Yarmuhammad hopes to bring change to federal parliament, which she says is dominated by white men.(Supplied) - ABC News
16.12.2021
In Autralia, launch of an alliance of young, diverse people to run in 2022 feder...
At just 21 years old, Adila Yarmuhammad believes she will be the youngest Muslim woman running in the 2022 federal election. She aims to secure a seat in Australia's parliament, but she knows...
The Bundestag on October, 25, 2021. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP - Inter-Parliamentary Union)
12.11.2021
New German Parliament is younger and more female
As the new German Bundestag sits for the first time on 26 October, IPU data shows that it has more women MPs and that the number of young MPs has significantly increased compared with the...
The Star
03.08.2021
Youth group to hold women-only mock parliament to promote female participation i...
PETALING JAYA: A Young Women’s Parliament will be held next month, with 222 young delegates debating policies on women’s issues, gender equality, social issues and more in a bid to encourage more...
New members of government are sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (3rd l) and King Felipe VI (c).BALLESTEROS / EFE
21.07.2021
In sweeping reshuffle, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez names younger Cabinet with more wom...
The Socialist leader hopes the changes will help focus on the economic recovery and smooth thorny issues such as Catalan independence before Spaniards vote in the next election.Spain’s Prime Minister...

iKNOW Politics Partners Resources

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)
Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces
Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces (International IDEA)
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)
Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces
Snapshot from the 15 November online peer-to-peer dialogue, Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces (International IDEA
UNDP
In Peru, technology brings young people into politics
In Peru, technology brings young people into politics (Picture: UNDP)
UNDP
Youth4Climate: Powering action flagship global event will convene 150 young leaders to bring forth concrete climate actions
Youth4Climate: Powering action flagship global event will convene 150 young leaders to bring forth concrete climate actions - Photo: Youth4climate