Youth Violence Prevention: A Seat at the Table: Youth Representation in Policy
At a city council meeting on urban development, a 60-year-old official discusses plans for a new park. In the audience sits 17-year-old Luis, who organized neighbourhood teens to petition for a skate park in that very plan. Luis and his friends spent weeks gathering input from local youth – the primary users of parks – yet none of them has a vote in the final decision. This scenario plays out globally: policies affecting young people are often made with minimal youth input. While half the world’s population is under 30, only 2.8% of the world’s parliamentarians are 30 or youngeripu.org. This generation gap in governance isn’t just unfair – it can lead to shortsighted policies that overlook youth needs and innovative ideas.
Why Youth Voices Matter: Young people bring fresh perspectives to long-standing problems. They’re digital natives, more attuned to technological and environmental changes, and often more idealistic about social justice. They are also the ones who will live longest with the outcomes of today’s laws – whether it’s climate regulations, education reform, or national debt. Excluding them means missing insight from those with the biggest stake in the futureipu.org. On issues like climate change, youth activists worldwide have pushed leaders to act more boldly, reminding policymakers of the moral urgency. History shows movements led by youth (from civil rights to anti-apartheid) have been catalysts for profound change. Yet in formal politics, youth remain underrepresented, sometimes due to age restrictions or political structures that favor seasoned candidates.
Bridging the Gap: Policymakers can take concrete steps to involve young voices. Firstly, consider establishing youth advisory councils at local and national levels. These councils – composed of diverse young people – can review proposed policies and provide feedback. Some cities have experimented with youth observers in council meetings or even youth co-chairs on committees dealing with youth-centric issues like education or housing. Secondly, lowering the voting age for local elections (as some jurisdictions have done to 16) can empower youth to influence decisions early and develop lifelong civic engagement habits. When Scotland included 16- and 17-year-olds in its independence referendum, it saw remarkably high turnout among those first-time voters, dispelling myths about youth apathy.
Reducing Barriers to Entry: Encouraging youth representation also means grooming the next generation of leaders. Political parties can recruit and mentor young candidates, and perhaps consider quota systems for youth similar to those used for improving gender representation. Civic education is crucial too – schools should teach not just history but practical civics: how to campaign, how to engage representatives, how to craft policy proposals. For many young people, politics feels inaccessible or corrupt; we need to show positive examples of youth leading effectively. Around the world, a growing number of youth parliaments and model UN conferences are training teenagers in governance. These are not just extracurriculars; they are pipelines for future lawmakers.
The case for youth inclusion isn’t about tokenism – it’s about better governance. Take the example of a city that planned a new bus route but overlooked that it bypassed a high school; a 16-year-old student on a youth council pointed out the oversight, leading to a route change that boosted student attendance. When we integrate perspectives like Luis’s into formal decision-making, policies become more responsive and equitable. Ultimately, democracy is healthiest when all segments of society have a voice, including the young. As policymakers, we must ensure that we’re not crafting a world for youth but rather with youth. Their energy, creativity, and firsthand experience of contemporary challenges are invaluable assets in policymaking – and our institutions must evolve to give youth a rightful seat at the table.
