{I have been looking around and found that everything that surrounds me exists because of politics, thus no need to go deeper without affirming first that youth must join politics rather than seeing elders exercising politics on them although these elders are the ones who are there to assist in guidance so to become mature politicians. }
We all agree that any society needs fresh ideas to move ahead as well as develop it.
Rwanda is an example of a society where youth are starting to be represented in political arena and optimistically that will bring changes in that arena for example by building a society which is corruption free as the country also targets zero corruption cases.
By definition as Wikipedia tells us Politics is the practice and theory of influencing other people on a civic or individual level. More narrowly, it refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance — organized control over a human community, particularly a state
From Greek: politikos, meaning “of, for, or relating to citizens”) is the practice and theory of influencing other people on a civic or individual level.
The United Nations Development Programme through its ENHANCING YOUTH
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION throughout the ELECTORAL CYCLE reveals that Young people between the ages of 15 and 25 constitute a fifth of the world’s population. While they are often involved in informal, politically relevant processes, such as activism or civic engagement, they are not formally represented in national political institutions such as parliaments and many of them do not participate in elections. This can impact on the quality of democratic governance.
The inclusion of youth in formal politics is important, as the 2011/2012 Arab States popular
Uprisings and various Occupy movements have demonstrated. In countries in transition, fresh ideas and new leadership can help to overcome authoritarian practices. Where youth-led protests have forced authoritarian regimes from power, significant frustration is likely to arise if youth are not included in new formal decision-making. This can destabilize democratization and accelerate conflict dynamics.
The international community has recognized the importance of youth participating in political systems, including through several international conventions and UN resolutions.
In line with these commitments, UNDP views youth as a positive force for transformative social change, and aims to help enhance youth political participation.
A basic principle is that support for the political participation of young people should extend across the electoral cycle. Capacity development for young candidates, for example, has proven to be more effective as a continuous effort than as a one-off event three months before an election.
Young people who participate actively in their community from early on are more likely to become engaged citizens and voters.
Another core principle is that youth political participation needs to be meaningful and effective, going beyond token gestures. Capacity development is an integral measure, and while building
No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth.
“A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death.”
— Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations
Quoting the New United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, “Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making at local, national and global levels.”
A youth-friendly legal framework is crucial in enabling youth political participation. In one-third of countries, laws stipulate an eligibility age to run for parliament at 25 years or higher, creating a gap between the legal age of majority and/or voting age, on the one hand, and the age at which an individual can serve in elected office.
Since national governments and parliaments can review the legal framework, they can consider:
1. Aligning the minimum voting age and the minimum age of eligibility to run for office;
2. Introducing youth and women’s quotas in electoral laws; and
3. Identifying and addressing context-specific legal barriers to youth participation, such as to facilitate the registration of youth-led organizations.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) and political parties could:
1. Review and discuss the legal framework for youth participation;
2. Consider proposals for a youth-friendly legal framework; and
3. Campaign for changes.
Example 1: In Turkey, several youth organizations and local youth councils have successfully campaigned for lowering the eligibility age for Parliament from 30 to 25 years.
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