Youth in the Government by Cat Velazquez

Reduced Inequalities

s1872578 — 2025-08-19 15:33:01 UTC

I think it's important to bring light to those who are treated differently on things they can't control and how we should be focused on including them in society.

Youth Population

s1872578 — 2025-08-20 15:40:22 UTC

According to the United Nations youth under 30 make up almost half of the world population, yet they only hold about 2% of seats in national parliaments. This shows the injustice of the youth to representation ratio.

Youth in politics

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 00:34:54 UTC

This website explains why active youth engagement in today's world politics is important to the future of politics.

FLY

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 00:39:45 UTC

Youth-led initiatives, such as FLY, are reshaping the role of young people in nation-building

Why youth voice important?

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 00:43:28 UTC

The participation of young people in political processes is crucial for building stable and peaceful societies.

Can youth even run for office?

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 00:53:49 UTC

"In the area of political participation, in a third of countries, eligibility for national parliament starts at 25 years old or older". With this statistic being true in many countries it makes it extremely difficult for youth representation. This also highlights what policies could be implemented in society for the possibility of youth being in the government.

Global Youth Participation Index

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 00:59:15 UTC

This index is a great tool that shows lots of statistics relating to Youth Participation. An example would be how in places like the UK they have a score of 78% which would be considered good, however in Egypt they only have about 44% on the index.

Singapore Youth Council

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:03:51 UTC

In Singapore (where only 1/3 of youth voted in recent elections) they have a youth council in which participants take active participation in country politics and work with the government directly to resolve issues.

Where do young people stand?

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:08:44 UTC

"Covering over 130 countries, the average youth participation score sits at 60/100, underlining a global participation gap. Norway tops the list with a score of 84/100, followed by New Zealand (83). "

African Youth Envoy

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:18:45 UTC

The African Youth Envoy strives to increase youth participation in efforts to promote development in Africa.

The UK and youth participation

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:21:59 UTC

The UK government is launching a national listening exercise called "Deliver You" to gather input from young people aged 10-21 to inform the development of a new National Youth Strategy. The consultation will involve an online survey, in-person focus groups called "Democracy Cafes", and youth-led "Hackathon" events. The government has appointed a Youth Advisory Group of 13 young people and an Expert Advisory Group of 14 experts from various sectors to guide the process and ensure young people's voices are at the heart of policymaking. The goal is to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and give young people a genuine opportunity to shape the policies and services that affect their lives.

Mexico?

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:28:17 UTC

In the latest election voter registration in Mexico increase significantly in people under 30. So much so that the youth in Mexico are now the largest group of voters with about 26.5% of the voting total.

Latin American Youth

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:30:48 UTC

In Latin America they are proposing global action for youth and have a plan for the next 15 years. This could be an important step globally for inspiration in other parts of the world. With Latin America having a set plan to follow some other countries might try to follow in their footsteps.

Why does the majority in India have the minority in parliament?

s1872578 — 2025-08-22 01:37:54 UTC

Even though those under 35 make up around 65% of India's total population, they barely have any representation in Parliament. India is one of the most populated countries in the world, and with the ratio of youth representation being so low it sets the stage for the importance of bigger parliaments including the youth. If India were to increase engagement with young people it would be a huge deal.

Topic Proposal

s1872578 — 2025-08-28 15:34:18 UTC

I think I want to research youth representation in the government which must be addressed to reach SDG goal 10. I will focus on the UK and their approach to making to government more youth friendly. I want to research this because I think that it's very important for the youth to have a voice in the decisions made everyday about our future and our present.

Voting age being lowered?

s1872578 — 2025-08-28 15:45:03 UTC

With the UK lowering the voting age this shows the improvements that they are making with youth voice. They are arguing that 16 year old's should be able to vote because they already have many rights at this age, and the government is saying that this ensures a "Future Proof democracy". People for this movement also argue that this would help improve youth voter turnout, because the amount of people voting who are under 30 in the UK has been declining.

Research Question 1 (final research question)

s1872578 — 2025-09-04 01:50:58 UTC

How does the UK's inclusion of youth voice within their government improve the life of citizens, and how does this make them a leader for youth voice around the world?

Research Question 2

s1872578 — 2025-09-04 01:52:48 UTC

In what ways does the UK's government engagement with youth voice contribute to better policy making, social outcomes, and improvements to the future of democracy in the UK?

Connection to Youth Communities

s1872578 — 2025-09-04 01:59:28 UTC

The UK government has announced a £88 million investment to support youth clubs and schools in offering more after-school activities, aiming to provide young people with opportunities to build essential skills for life and work. This is important for youth engagement because it shows how the government is actively trying to improve the lives of young people, which makes them more inclined to engage with the government.

Engaging young people in UK foreign policy

s1872578 — 2025-09-04 02:21:34 UTC

The UK lacks structured mechanisms for young people to engage with foreign policy, unlike other countries, and this needs to be addressed to build a more sustainable and future-focused foreign policy. Young people are willing to act on issues that matter to them, but significant gaps remain between interest and engagement, and that the UK doesn't seem to be developing ways for young people to engage with foreign policy.

Half of the UK's youth is unhappy with the state of democracy

s1872578 — 2025-09-04 02:31:56 UTC

A survey conducted by researchers from Royal Holloway University of London found that nearly 49% of young people aged 16-21 in the UK are not satisfied with how democracy works in the country. The dissatisfaction is even higher among the younger age group of 16-18 years old 52%. The researchers believe this could pose a concern for the future of democracy in the UK, the survey also revealed that those who are less interested in politics are more likely to be dissatisfied. The main concerns of young people are the cost of living crisis, inflation, and the overall economic situation, which makes them worried about their future. The researchers suggest that politicians and policymakers need to work together with young people to address their concerns and find ways to increase their participation in the democratic process.

Does the government even care?

s1872578 — 2025-09-04 15:37:42 UTC

A new study shows that only 1 in 10 young people ages 8-17 in the UK think that the government prioritize their needs when making decisions. 57% of young people feel as though the government doesn't listen to them, and 88% say that it is important for them to have a say in important political decisions.