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.

Show on Home Page

Yes

Image

Icon

This one’s for the boys: how gendered political socialization limits girls’ political ambition and interest

Back

January 27, 2022

This one’s for the boys: how gendered political socialization limits girls’ political ambition and interest

By Angela L. Bos, Jill S. Greenlee, Mirya R. Holman, Zoe M. Oxley and J. Celeste Lay

We need girls in school to become women in politics

Back

January 14, 2022

We need girls in school to become women in politics

Very little of the security and stability we strive for can be achieved without women’s equal and unapologetic participation. That’s why we need to help make sure girls in school can become women in politics. It’s 2022 – time to start making it happen.

World News

Gen Z and millennial conservatives seek to recruit and mentor young, diverse candidates

Submitted by Editor on Tue, 12/28/2021 - 05:14

Back

Gen Z and millennial conservatives seek to recruit and mentor young, diverse candidates

Source:

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 would say, makeup is very unique," Ndebumadu told CNN.

Run GenZ members, from left to right, Ebo Entsuah, Roxy Ndebumadu, Caleb Hanna and Braxton Mitchell - CNN

World News

In Australia, one of NSW's youngest female politicians calls for diversity as she enters local government

Submitted by Editor on Mon, 12/27/2021 - 05:03

Back

In Australia, one of NSW's youngest female politicians calls for diversity as she enters local government

Source:

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 herself reflected in the local council running her home city of Kiama, in the Illawarra.

"My ideas and [I] were not represented by the people that were purporting to represent me," Cr Draisma said.

Podcast: muslim women in politics

Back

December 22, 2021

Podcast: muslim women in politics

In this continuation of a conversation from the last episode, host Yasmin Bendaas explores the challenges of being a Muslim woman in today's political landscape with Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam and grassroots organizer Leila Ali of Muslim Women For.

World News

IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/17/2021 - 04:20

Back

IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global

Source:

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 made some limited progress in its implementation. However, the level of youth representation in parliament, as measured regularly by the IPU, remains low. Half the world’s population is under 30 and yet only 2.6% of MPs globally represent this age group.

IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global - Copyright: IPU

World News

In Autralia, launch of an alliance of young, diverse people to run in 2022 federal election

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 12/16/2021 - 05:32

Back

In Autralia, launch of an alliance of young, diverse people to run in 2022 federal election

Source:

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 she's inexperienced.

"Even just running [for a seat] is enough, it's showing other women and younger girls that this is possible," she said. "You don't really see a lot of women of color in parliament, let alone a lot of Muslim women in parliament."