There are international cross-party
networks to ensure that young people have the skills, knowledge and appropriate
networks to meaningfully participate in electoral processes. Generation
Democracy is a global network of young people that is designed to empower young
people to be leaders in electoral processes. Set up and funded through the International
Republic Institute, Generation Democracy is made up of more than 400 young
elected officials, civil society leaders, activists and journalists across 70
countries.[i]
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),
another global democratic advocacy organization, has set up the Forum of Young
Parliamentarians (whose delegates must be under 45 years old).[ii]
It aims to increase the representation of young people in parliaments across
the globe, and ensure young MPs play a full part in the work of parliament. The
IPU collects a significant amount of data through the forum to measure the
experiences and involvement in electoral processes of young members of
parliaments.
In Uganda, where over 70 per cent of
the population are below the age of 35, seven major political party youth wings
in Uganda established the Interparty Youth Platform (IYOP). While participating
in a leadership training program organized by the German political party
foundation, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in 2011, the young party leaders observed
the need to have in place a forum for them to dialogue, network and undertake
joint leadership development initiatives. They requested the
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung to facilitate the platform development process.
Following several inter-party consultative meetings, a Memorandum of
Understanding that establishes the framework for cooperation among the
participating youth wings was agreed upon and signed. IYOP serves as a forum
through which young people are able to network and engage on critical topics of
youth-related development processes, including democracy and governance, youth
participation, trade, climate change, energy, and peace and security.[iii]
