Objectif 6 2020
Autonomisation des jeunes
2020 a marqué le dixième anniversaire de la résolution de l’UIP de 2010 sur la participation des jeunes au processus démocratique. Pour qu’il y ait démocratie il faut que les parlements soient représentatifs de l’ensemble des citoyens et les jeunes constituent le groupe de population le plus concerné par les enjeux de l’avenir des pays. Avec la pandémie de COVID-19, la vulnérabilité des jeunes a encore été exacerbée, en particulier dans les domaines de l’emploi, de l’éducation et de la santé. Malgré cet état de fait, la plupart des parlements comptent un trop petit nombre de jeunes parlementaires. Depuis 2010, l’UIP recueille des données sur la représentation des jeunes, en particulier des jeunes femmes, et s’efforce de susciter une prise de conscience de cette question et de promouvoir une plus large participation des jeunes.
Young women’s political participation and leadership
As the world celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Bei
jing Declaration for gender equality, the IPU injected new energy into efforts to increase young women’s participation in politics. Together with the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, we connected politicians with young women, including from youth and women’s movements, international organizations, UN agencies and academics. The meeting discussed barriers to young women’s political participation, as well as potential solutions.
The ensuing call to action noted that sexism, harassment, intimidation and violence, as well as funding challenges and the lack of intergenerational solidarity, prevent young women from entering public office. Solutions include more funds for young women to engage in politics, the recruitment of more young women into public service leadership, and quotas. Parliaments and political parties must be gender-sensitive and free of violence, sexual harassment and bullying.
Empowering young MPs
An increasing number of young MPs took part in IPU international 
meetings to promote youth-related outcomes in 2020. Some 25 young speakers of parliament participated in the Speakers’ Conference, and 121 young MPs participated in the virtual Governing Council. Meanwhile, young MPs on the Board of the IPU’s Forum of Young Parliamentarians promoted the need for more young people in politics and to build back better from COVID-19. They did so at multiple international conferences, including those hosted by the UN, the Community of Democracies, Laureates and Leaders for Children (founded by Nobel prize winner Kailash Satyarthi) and more.
In Djibouti, the IPU supported young parliamentarians who had been elected to office in the 2018 elections. A two-day workshop was attended by 70 per cent of the National Assembly’s young MPs, developing their leadership and communications skills and helping them integrate youth perspectives into their parliamentary work. Besides building skills, the young MPs produced a roadmap to continue building capacity and to connect more effectively with the country’s youth. The plan includes strengthening the parliament’s network of young parliamentarians and raising awareness on youth issues too.
Étude de cas
Nigerian youth advances slowly but surely
With IPU support, Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, is opening its politics up to youth. In 2020, we organized a high-level online conference on strengthening women’s and youth participation. Participants committed to adopt constitutional amendments and new legislation that enhances youth representation in both the National Assembly and at local level. Constitutional revisions are due in 2021.
In 2018, Nigeria had already reduced the age of eligibility to stand for election. The 2020 conference was part of ongoing IPU support in Nigeria, including similar conferences in 2017 and 2018.
L’impact de l’UIP
Our impact: 10 years of youth empowerment in and through parliament
The tenth anniversary of the youth resolution was a good opportunity to look back at what has been achieved and to recommit to continued action. From youth quotas to lowering the age of eligibility to run for office and creating new parliamentary structures empowering youth, IPU Members have made significant progress. As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, parliaments reported on their implementation of the 2010 Youth Resolution.
Highlights include:
• In Norway, the Speaker of Parliament regularly meets with youth and, in collaboration with non-profit organizations, has produced a guide for youth to participate in social debates.
• The parliaments in Malta, Malaysia and The Gambia lowered their voting ages for parliamentary elections, to 16 in Malta and to 18 in Malaysia and The Gambia.
• Congress in Micronesia supported youth representation on national delegations to international meetings. Its programme has also prioritised and increased employment among socially and economically disadvantaged youth.
• In El Salvador, the first Parliamentary Youth Group, made up of parliamentarians between 25 and 35 years of age, was established.
• In Mexico, the Chamber of Deputies introduced measures to enhance youth representation in parliament, establishing a committee on youth and holding regular parliamentary hearings and youth consultations.
At the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, the speakers renewed their commitments to youth empowerment and agreed a set of recommendations for increased youth participation in politics and parliaments. The IPU is anticipating another decade of action.