Focusing on youth

15 Sep 2023

15th September is International Day of Democracy. This year, Sweden focuses on the benefits of democracy and the importance of young people’s inclusion in democratic decision-making.

Together with the Community of Democracies (COD), an initiative of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Polish Foreign Minister Bronisław Geremek, Sweden supports the guidelines presented in the report Youth Recommendations to Increase Engagement in Democracy.  

The recommendations provided are built upon best practices youth representatives have experienced in their own countries and communities and aspirational policy targets. This report aims to provide concrete policy recommendations to increase youth engagement and participation in democracies worldwide.

Crafted by the bright minds of the CoD YouthLeads and other youth leaders, it provides the reader with 20 policy recommendations to further bring young people front and center in public life. 

Four arguments for why young people need to be included in democratic decision-making:

  • Young people are the current and future custodians of democracy – young people’s inclusion safeguards democracy today and for the future
  • Young people are at the vanguard of global movements – they are drivers of change
  • Including young people can increase voter turnout.
  • Young people’s voices are essential for creating inclusive democracy.

Link to the report Youth Recommendations to Increase Engagement in Democracy

Link to the Community of Democracies website

Last updated 15 Sep 2023, 2.16 PM