Global
ABSTRACT
Millions of young people are missing from public life. With the climate crisis, global conflict and generational inequalities running rampant, the inputs, perspectives and representation of youth are needed more than ever.
Almost half the world’s population is under 30. Yet, they make up only 2.8% of parliamentarians around the world. The average age of a world leader is currently 62. Of all the parliaments in the world, 37% do not have a single Member of Parliament (MP) under age 30 and less than 1% of the MPs are young women.
Young people have the right to be included in political decisions that affect them, however, numerous barriers prevent their participation. The UN Youth Office and The Body Shop are collaborating to change this through the global Be Seen Be Heard campaign to amplify youth voices in public life.
CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION
The campaign seeks to create long-term structural changes to decision-making to be more inclusive of young people. The campaign was launched in May 2022 with the release of a joint report, ‘Be Seen Be Heard: Understanding young people’s political participation’.
The report is a snapshot at a critical moment to understand preconceptions and structural barriers preventing young people from participating in public life, along with recommendations to address these challenges for the benefit of societies around the world. The report includes findings from the largest- ever survey carried out by The Body Shop in December 2021, covering 26 countries with 27,043 respondents in total, over half of which were under age 30.
The research found that 82% of people surveyed agree that political systems need drastic reform to be fit for the future. The majority, two in three people, also agree that the age balance in politics is wrong, with 8 in 10 people of all ages believing the ideal voting age (the age when someone can first vote) is 16 to 18, despite that in most countries around the world the voting age is 18 or over. People across all age groups agree that more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy development and/or change would make political systems better.
ENABLING FACTORS
The campaigns are being localised and support different advocacy streams aiming at policy change, including:
- Lowering voting ages
- Increasing formal youth representation through youth councils, parliaments, or committees
- Removing barriers for young people to participate in public decision-making
- Simplifying registration for first-time voters
- Improving young people’s leadership skills
For further information: www.beseenbeheardcampaign.com
