Citizenship and youth participation

Young people are increasingly recognized as significant agents in community and national development. Throughout the world, hundreds of thousands of young people are spearheading positive social change – leading community initiatives, operating small businesses, and re-shaping political processes. Participation of young people in democratic life can be done in the most effective way through their representatives in formal bodies. Youths have a better perspective of the problems that affect them as such they need to be integrated in policy planning, implementation and evaluation for the policy to be a success. Youth representation enables youths to become active members of the democratic society.

At the same time, full participation of young people is often problematic, due to external and internal factors. Sometimes adult policy makers do not recognize the value of youths and the contribution they can make as democratic agents. Often, internal divisions and diverging opinions among young people make it difficult to find a common denominator and there is no united voice of youth heard on the local, national and international level.