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Pillar of Democracy: Youth Political Engagement for Inclusive Governance
More than 1.1 billion young people aged 15 to 29 live in the Asia-Pacific region, making up over 25% of the population. While youth have always been active in protests and community movements, their role in shaping policy and political decisions remains limited. Only 2.87% of the world’s parliamentarians are under 30; this figure is even lower at 1.84% in Asia. The Youth Development Index also show that political and civic participation is one of the weakest areas for youth.
In celebration of International Democracy Day 2024, UNDP Asia Pacific held a webinar to explore ways to boost youth political participation for inclusive and representative governance in the Asia-Pacific region. The webinar featured resources such as Youth Political Participation Programming Assessment and Review, a Youth Parliament Toolkit - Effective Platforms for Future Leaders, and a Guide on ‘Youth, Peace and Security: Fostering Youth-Inclusive Political Processes', and explored strategies and real-life stories to advance youth political participation for responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative governance in the Asia-Pacific region.
The speakers were Diana Torres - Regional Governance Advisor, UNDP in Asia and the Pacific; Sobita Gautam - Member of Parliament in Nepal; James Pinnell - Deputy Head of Programmes – Multilateral Engagements, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; and Marte Hellema -Lead Co-Author of the ‘Youth, Peace and Security: Fostering Youth-Inclusive Political Processes’ Guide. The session was moderated by Mridul Upadhyay - Youth Political Participation and Youth, Peace and Security Coordinator, UNDP in Asia and the Pacific.
Young people are crucial for protecting democracy against threats like misinformation, populism, and the climate crisis. It’s essential that they feel their voices matter, as their participation is key to shaping policies that affect their future. An engaged and informed youth is vital for strong, healthy societies.
Explore how you can contribute to Youth Political Participation in the Asia-Pacific region.
WATCH THE WEBINAR