Internal Youth Day 2020: Youth Engagement For Global Action
Happy International Youth Day Everyone!
The theme of International Youth Day 2020, “Youth Engagement for Global Action” seeks to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has actively promoted the participation of young people aged 18 years or over in the electoral process for many years. We have consistently organised campaigns to encourage and support young people to register to vote and to vote in all elections and referenda. We welcome the fact that voter turnout among young people aged 18-25 years has increased in recent years. The 2011 CSO report on voter participation found that 62% of young people aged 18-25 years voted in the 2011 General Election compared to 50% in the 2002 General Election.
This increase is fantastic news and shows a growing interest and participation in young people for local, national and international change and engagement. Young people’s voices and opinions are the future and are invaluable in the voting process in Ireland and beyond.
Please follow these links for further info:
NYCI Democracy and Participation (policy proposals): https://www.youth.ie/articles/democracy-and-participation/
United Nations Link to IYD 2020: https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/iyd2020.html
Citizens Info; How to register to vote: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/…/registering_to_vote.ht…
Spunout.ie; Guidance on voting registration: https://spunout.ie/life/article/register-to-vote…
