Simply days after celebrating Commonwealth Day, sixty younger leaders from throughout the Commonwealth had an opportunity to talk straight with a bunch of International Affairs Ministers and Excessive Commissioners from Commonwealth member states at an occasion in London.

The occasion, Democracy At present within the Commonwealth: Enhancing Youth Political Participation in Governance, led to an enticing debate about the way forward for democracy and what initiatives could assist to extend youth involvement in politics.

Held on the Commonwealth Secretariat headquarters, Marlborough Home in London, the occasion introduced the youth along with the Commonwealth International Ministers and Excessive Commissioners who had been attending the Commonwealth International Affairs Ministers Assembly in London on Wednesday 15 March.

Through the occasion, the youth leaders and the Authorities representatives mirrored on the Commonwealth’s work in selling democracy and good governance in member states and explored the younger leaders’ views on democracy, governance and political participation within the Commonwealth. 

Additionally they mentioned sensible suggestions to encourage younger folks’s participation within the civil and political lifetime of member states. A few of the suggestions included an enlargement of youth parliaments, the event of youth advisory councils, younger folks forming their very own political events and harnessing their political energy to combat for better gender inclusion. Additionally mentioned was elevated inclusion of individuals with disabilities and the difficulty of voting rights for the diaspora.

The youth leaders had a chance to interact with the Commonwealth Secretary-Basic, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, who commented on how heartening it was to spend time with the younger folks of the Commonwealth and he or she strengthened their significance to the way forward for the political panorama.

The Secretary-Basic mentioned:

“Younger persons are the most important demographic group in lots of international locations, and in our Commonwealth as a complete.  So it is important that we work collectively to assist equip younger folks with the abilities and information to take part successfully within the democratic processes, and to make sure their views are embraced.”

She added: “It isn’t sufficient to easily present alternatives for younger folks to take part within the democratic course of. We should additionally be certain that their voices are heard and their contributions are valued. This requires a real and significant dedication from governments, civil society, and different stakeholders to essentially interact with younger folks and take their considerations significantly.”

This occasion is only one of quite a lot of initiatives to mark the 12 months of the Youth, which was agreed to on the  Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly in 2022. 

Head of Social Coverage Improvement on the Commonwealth Secretariat, Layne Robinson, who coordinated the occasion, was happy with the occasion’s consequence. He mentioned: “Lots of the younger folks listed below are already concerned within the democracies of their international locations. As one of many drivers of fine governance and electoral in our member international locations, it’s crucial that the Secretariat play a task within the subsequent technology of change-makers and defenders of fine practices.”

The dialogue was a part of a two-week Commonwealth Youth Management Summit, which aimed to upskill these younger leaders, give them an opportunity to collaborate and construct their networks. The management summit is among the landmark actions to mark the 12 months of the Youth. The 12 months of the Youth celebrated the ten^th anniversary of the Commonwealth Constitution  and the 50^th anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. 

In London, Commonwealth Day was marked on 13 March with a sequence of occasions, together with a wreath-laying ceremony in reminiscence of fallen Commonwealth servicemen and girls, adopted by a particular service at Westminster Abbey and a reception for visiting dignitaries hosted at Buckingham Palace. Commonwealth Day was additionally celebrated in member international locations with actions together with flag-raisings, spiritual providers and different commemorative actions.