10th UNESCO Youth Forum

“According to the OECD, 90% of people in my country are not interested in politics. That is the worst ranking of all OECD countries! As a result, young people have lost trust and interest in democracy. It is vital that our politicians are accountable and that our policies meet the needs of young people. The only way to ensure this is to be actively involved.”
 
“I believe that in order to encourage youth to become active participants in civic and democratic life we need to be trusted as equally capable participants with the ability to be responsible and active members of a democracy, whatever our age. We must also be given the power and the tools to get actively involved, not just during election time but throughout all policy making and policy implementation stages.”
 
“If youth have greater trust in democracy, they will also take responsibility for ensuring that it continues to work better. It is essential that our unique perspectives and ideas are taken on board if we are to truly ensure a political system that works well for everyone.”