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

27.07.2023
Young Women into Leadership summit aims to inspire future female leaders
This year’s cohort of 75 girls are taking part in the online programme for 14 to 16-year-olds this week (24-31 July 2023).There’s a truly global flavour this year with Birmingham girls joined by...
24.07.2023
Liberia: Naymote launches women campaign fellows program for elections
Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has launched a new program called Women Campaign Fellows in Monrovia.The initiative, which took place on Friday, July 14, is intended to contribute to the...
17.07.2023
The Alliance of Her holds first youth summer retreat
On 6-9 July, the Alliance of Her held its first summer retreat, gathering passionate young women in politics from across Europe.The retreat brought together 20 young female liberal leaders under 30,...
11.07.2023
Ministerial appointments: women, youths deserves better representation – group t...
A group under the auspices of Progressive Ambassador for APC project, has calls on President Bola Tinubu to consider women and youths in his cabinet.Addressing a press conference in Abuja on on...
Source: OSCE
26.05.2023
Women’s meaningful participation in political and public life in Afghanistan foc...
The Special OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group met today to discuss key aspects for ensuring women’s participation in political and public life. The meeting was convened by the Polish Chair...
Snapshot from the 15 November online peer-to-peer dialogue, Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces (International IDEA
08.12.2022
Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces
International IDEA, in collaboration with the European Commission (EC) and the Youth Political and Civic Engagement Cohort of the Summit for Democracy (S4D), held on 15 November 2022, an online peer-...
Youth4Climate: Powering action flagship global event will convene 150 young leaders to bring forth concrete climate actions - Photo: Youth4climate
20.09.2022
Youth4Climate: Powering action flagship global event will convene 150 young lead...
Committed, inspiring and bold climate leaders from all over the world will meet during the UN High-Level General Assembly week to discuss youth-led engagement and solutions in climate actions.New...
Sudanese women discussing alliance building during the seminar, June 2022. Photo:  UN Women Sudan
24.08.2022
UN Women Sudan supports young women’s participation in the political process
Through roundtable discussions, capacity-building workshops, and seminars targeting women from across Sudan, UN Women Sudan empowers young women to learn skills in alliance-building and participation...
Musical act during the graduation of YWDA, Khartoum, Sudan-09-08-2022. Image credit: International IDEA
23.08.2022
Graduation of Sudan's young women democracy academy (YWDA)
International IDEA Sudan’s programme celebrated the graduation of the first batch from the Young Women Democracy Academy (YWDA) on 9 August 2022. The event took place in the International IDEA...

iKNOW Politics Partners Resources

Inter-Parliamentary Union
Youth participation in national parliaments: 2023
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Lawmakers are getting younger but not everywhere
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