Youth

Over the past decade we have had countless opinion pieces, documentaries and dramas about dangerously disenfranchised young men, with much discussion about why they’re moving to the populist right. Frustrated and overly online young men are widely seen to be the drivers of a quiet revolution that has been taking place in youth politics: the widening gender gap. Yet not enough thought has been given to young women’s much greater movement in the opposite direction. It might not be too surprising that women’s political preferences get less attention than men’s, but that does not mean they are any less significant.

Many have noted that at the last general election young (18- to 24-year-old) men were twice as likely as young women to vote Reform, while young women were twice as likely to vote Green as young men. There was also extensive coverage given to the signs of Gen Z men backing Nigel Farage. What these observations fail to take into account is that, in fact, a smaller percentage of young men voted for Reform (12 per cent) than the general population (14.3 per cent). Actually, 18- to 24-year-old men were far less likely to have voted for Farage than every other age cohort of men, and young men were still overwhelmingly more likely to vote for left-wing or liberal parties (68 per cent voted Labour, Lib Dem or Green) than they were for a right-wing party (22 per cent voted Conservative or Reform). If voting for a populist right party is indicative of a more radical mindset, then by this metric young men were some of the least radical demographic groups of the whole country. 

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International IDEA convened the Central Africa Dialogue on Advancing the Transformation of Gender Social Norms to Enhance Women and Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision-Making. The Dialogue was convened within the framework of the European Union (EU)-funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative, implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), under the overall coordination and leadership of UN Women. The Dialogue was held in in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and focused on nine countries in the Central Africa region: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Representatives from the WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative partners included John Villiers, Programme Officer at the European Union Delegation to the African Union, Michael Steffens, the EU Delegation in Ethiopia, Schadrack Dusabe, Deputy Representative for UN Women in Ethiopia, Desset Abebe, Program Specialist on Leadership and Governance, UN Women in Ethiopia  and Jainaba Faye, International IDEA Programme Manger in The Gambia.

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“Let us turn these experiences into guidance, transforming barriers into bridges,” urged Ms. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka, IPU Vice-President, in her opening address at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, held on 19–23 October 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. She highlighted how women, youth, and other marginalized groups continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and structural obstacles, and emphasized that their lived experiences can inform the creation of more inclusive and effective political systems.

These themes resonated throughout the Assembly, shaping discussions across the Standing Committees on Peace and International Security, Sustainable Development, Democracy and Human Rights, and United Nations Affairs. The Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law also engaged with these issues, particularly during its open session on safeguarding humanitarian action in times of armed conflict.

The Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians advanced these conversations further through focused sessions on transforming social norms to promote and ensure the meaningful participation and representation of women in politics. The outcomes of these sessions were incorporated into the Assembly’s broader work on leadership transformation and the parity debate, featuring men and women MPs advocating for gender equality.

Together, the Vice-President’s remarks and the deliberations across these bodies set the tone for five days of dialogue centred on women’s empowerment, youth inclusion, intersectional equality[1], and the broader goal of building political systems that leave no one behind.

Ms. Morawska-Stanecka also reaffirmed the IPU’s commitment to inclusive representation and participation, recalling General Recommendation #4 on the Equity and Inclusive Representation of Women in Decision-Making and referencing the Plan of Action for Parity in Parliament, adopted earlier this year at the Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians in Mexico. She expressed hope that the IPU Governing Council would soon adopt this plan to ensure that gender equality remains central to political participation worldwide. She also introduced the new IPU campaign, “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action,” designed to translate high-level commitments into meaningful, measurable progress for women and girls.

As part of the Assembly’s commitment to inclusive representation, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians focused on empowerment and advocacy initiatives to strengthen the meaningful participation and representation of women in politics. The session provided an opportunity to review progress, identify persistent gaps, and share good practices from across regions. Delegates heard testimonies highlighting ongoing harassment, institutional sexism, and the rise of online gender-based violence targeting women in politics. Speakers noted that such attacks, including trolling, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and threats of physical harm, are increasingly used to silence women leaders and discourage their active participation in public life.

Special emphasis was placed on GBV in the Asia-Pacific region, where many women parliamentarians report facing higher levels of digital hate, culturally driven stigma, and limited institutional protection. Delegates also explored collaborative initiatives with UN Women and the Government of Australia on e-safety training, self-protection protocols, secure communication practices, and digital defense strategies that help women legislators respond to online abuse while maintaining their public roles.

The Assembly underscored that these tools and trainings must be tailored to the real, lived needs of women lawmakers particularly those from marginalized communities or working in polarized political environments who are often the most frequent targets of online attacks. Participants were encouraged to consult the IPU’s report on sexism and violence against women in parliaments in Asia, which documents patterns of abuse and provides concrete recommendations for institutional reform, with similar studies planned for the Americas and the Caribbean to strengthen evidence-based responses globally.

2025 marks significant milestones for the global women’s movement: the 15th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, 25 years of the UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and the 40th anniversary of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians. Yet discussions revealed worrying trends: global progress in women’s parliamentary representation is stagnating, and in some cases, rolling back. The Plan of Action for Parity in Parliament seeks to address these trends through concrete measures, monitoring, and regional collaboration, with the next Women Parliamentarians’ Conference scheduled in Serbia.

The Assembly also featured two side-event consultations on social norms under the EU-funded WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative. These discussions centred on transforming harmful gender norms, including the pervasive belief that “men must dominate and women must serve.” Participants examined the role of technology facilitated gender-based violence and discrimination, stressing that genuine transformation requires not only legal reforms but also shifts in societal narratives and cultural practices.

A second consultation focused on women’s leadership, youth engagement, and intersectional inclusion. Discussants from Turkey and Switzerland highlighted the need to address intersectional discrimination, including barriers faced by women with disabilities, women of colour, and women navigating multiple forms of marginalization. Researchers present emphasized that inclusive parliaments are more stable, more legitimate, and better equipped to address issues that might otherwise be overlooked.

Across the sessions, several key recommendations emerged: adopting and implementing the IPU Plan of Action for Parity, institutionalizing intersectional equality including disability representation, combating online harassment with policy and training, mobilizing resources for women’s political participation, using parliamentary diplomacy to tackle gender injustices, and challenging harmful social norms through education, mentorship, and inclusion.

The 151st IPU Assembly was more than a meeting of policymakers, it was a renewed declaration of commitment. From Vice President Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka’s call to turn obstacles into bridges, to the lived experiences shared by MPs from every region, one message resounded clearly: gender equality is not merely a goal; it is the very foundation of democracy. The Assembly’s deliberations offered both inspiration and direction, charting a path toward a future in which women and youth are not only included in democratic life but shape and strengthen it as essential leaders.

INTRODUCTION

The Beijing Declaration in 1995 recognized that gender equality, inclusion and representation is essential to democracy. However, 30 years later, progress remains uneven and at risk, with a backlash against gender equality and democratic values threatening hard-won gains. The Report on Beijing30+ review meeting recognizes that the empowerment of women as leaders and decision-makers remains crucial to sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Furthermore, it affirms that Gender-balanced decision-making is integral to justice, effective governance, peace and human rights. Therefore, increasing women’s participation in leadership roles within political, public, and economic sectors is essential for inclusive societies, strengthening economies, and enriching the decision-making processes. Yet this recognition must be embedded in systems of change, legislations, social norms, and backed by a strong political will to enhance the role of women in politics. 

Building on the above context, this webinar series explored the challenges, opportunities, and future for women in politics, highlighting global trends in women's political participation over the past 30 years. The discussion was conducted in three languages (Arabic, English, and French) and was structured around the following key questions:

• History of the Beijing Platform for Action – Significance of the platform as a key moment in history that guided women’s equal representation and participation.

• How have indicators on gender equality changed over the last 30 years?

• How do we as development sector practitioners improve women’s political participation in the next decade? What steps must be taken today?

• Transforming Social Norms for sustainable change. Given the backsliding of democracy, the next decade demands a concerted effort by activists and advocates of gender equality – what steps are needed?

• Looking inwards, how can women-led movements organize better to have concrete impact in the next decade?

Speakers:

• Amanda Luz, Program Director, People Powered (Brazil)

• Anna Sande, Young Politician, Citizens Coalition for Change (Zimbabwe)

• Emma Meche, Youth Activist, Beijing+30 Youth Steering Committee (Albania)

The talk was moderated by Amna Syed, Project Coordinator, iKNOW Politics

Full report.

Full video.

When Emily Gardiner first started paying attention to politics, she was 15, just beginning high school in 2016. It was the start of the first Trump administration, a moment that politicized a lot of young Americans.

Now 23, Emily works as a library assistant in eastern Connecticut and is rewriting the second draft of her adult fantasy novel. She describes herself as “definitely leftist, not liberal”.

“I was raised by parents who were politically active,” Emily said, “but I think a lot of my views also come from being Indigenous. My community puts a lot of value in sovereignty.”

She adds: “I think for a lot of us who identify as leftist versus liberal, we feel that both the Democrats and the Republicans have kind of capitulated in a way to authoritarianism.” She believes billionaires have too much influence over the Democrats and that “liberals are a little bit less socially active, more prone toward centrism, willing to compromise their values”.

Full article here.