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.

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The economics of representation: Why women in power matter

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April 27, 2026

The economics of representation: Why women in power matter

India’s democracy has grown in scale, but not quite in balance. Women today are active participants in elections, influencing outcomes in ways that were not as visible earlier. Yet their presence in legislative institutions continues to lag behind.

Verónica Franco: “Media and language are tools for transformation. Women and gender-divers individuals’ experiences need to be named to be recognized and heard.”

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April 27, 2026

Verónica Franco: “Media and language are tools for transformation. Women and gender-divers individuals’ experiences need to be named to be recognized and heard.”

Working in feminist communications and advocacy, Verónica sees media not simply as a profession, but as a powerful political tool.

https://www.unfpa.org/updates/creating-safer-digital-future-free-gender-based-violence

April 27, 2026

Creating a safer digital future free from gender-based violence

UNITED NATIONS, New York – As technology reshapes our world, a staggering 85 per cent of women have witnessed online violence against other women, and 38 per cent have been personally affected.&nbsp

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April 27, 2026

Bangladesh: Rising deep fake abuse triggers social ruin for women

Dhaka: Bangladesh is witnessing a quiet yet devastating rise in the misuse of technology with rising incidents of women being targetted by superimposing their faces onto pornographic content.

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April 27, 2026

Designing safer digital spaces where every girl can thrive

Today, on International Women’s Day, UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to advancing the rights of every girl – and ensuring that girls can thrive in an increasingly digital world.

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April 27, 2026

Digital violence hinders women’s participation

Gender-based civil society organisations (CSOs) have described the use of Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) to silence and discourage women from seeking or holding positions of influence as a threat to equal and meaningful participation.

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April 27, 2026

Urgent action needed to prevent surge in digital violence in Africa, experts say

Activists and lawyers in Africa are calling for urgent action to protect women, girls and boys as digital violence surges across the continent.

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April 27, 2026

EU Moves to Regulate AI Nudification, But Key Challenges Remain

The recent Grok scandal saw an avalanche of non-consensual sexualized deepfakes of women and girls created and shared directly on X, fo

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https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/%E2%80%9Cher-vision-our-future%E2%80%9D-eu-delegation-china-highlights-women%E2%80%99s-leadership-climate-action-and_en

March 23, 2026

“Her Vision, Our Future”: EU Delegation to China Highlights Women’s Leadership in Climate Action and Politics

On 16 March, the Delegation of the European Union to China hosted the event “Her Vision, Our Future: Women Pioneering Change” in Beijing, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, academics, civil society representatives and members of the international community to reflect on w

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