Intergenerational Dialogue on Advancing Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision Making in Sri Lanka

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is organizing a one-day Intergenerational Dialogue on Advancing Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision–Making in Sri-Lanka. The national Intergenerational Dialogue is held under the framework of the European Union (EU) funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative which is implemented in partnership with UN Women, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the overall coordination and leadership of UN Women.

The WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative is anchored in the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III which identifies advancing equal participation, representation and leadership as a key area of engagement for the EU in its external action. The first-ever EU Youth Action Plan in EU external action also includes increasing the voice and leadership of young people in policy and decision-making, especially young women, as a priority in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2024. Within this framework, the EU launched the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) which seeks to strengthen the rights, empowerment, and participation in public and political life of youth and women as key actors of democratic development. 

The dialogue will bring together local participants from different generations to share experiences, build mutual understanding, and co-create solutions for inclusive leadership. It will emphasize on enhancing youth political agency, strengthening their capacity to engage meaningfully in decision-making, and promoting sustainable, intergenerational strategies to support their leadership at all levels.

Specific Objectives of the Intergenerational Dialogue:  

• Promote intergenerational exchanges and dialogue to bridge generational divides. 

• Enhance youth capacities to exercise political agency (participation) and access political leadership and decision making at all levels (representation/representative voice). 

• Strengthen practices that promote meaningful youth participation and representation in leadership and decision making. 

This is a closed event and attendance is strictly by formal invitation only.