‘No Say Day’: the Last Day Youth Voices are Represented in Parliaments Around the World
Business Wire Media Release
50% of the world’s population is under 30, compared to just 2.6% of parliamentarians globally*. If this ratio were reflected in a year, the views of those under 30 would stop being represented in parliaments around the world after the 9th of January.
Today is No Say Day – the last day in 2023 when young people’s voices are represented in parliaments around the world. This falls a week before world leaders and businesses gather in Davos for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. Often criticised for being out of touch, Davos is a prime example of the need for more youth voices in decision making spaces.
Half of the world’s population is under 30, compared to just 2.6% of parliamentarians globally*. If this ratio were reflected in a year, youth voices would effectively go unheard after today. Just nine days into 2023, No Say Day is a stark demonstration of the fact that millions of young voices are excluded from decision-making spaces at a time when the world is facing extreme systemic challenges.
No Say Day is being marked as part of the Be Seen Be Heard campaign, led by The Body Shop in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth to raise the voices of millions of young people in over 75 countries across six continents.
Public opinion is widely in favour of fairer political representation for young people. According to The Body Shop’s largest-ever global survey**, two thirds of people agree that the age balance in politics is wrong.
People across all age groups agree that political systems would be improved by giving young people a say in policy development. Young people are optimistic and determined to increase their involvement in public life. A third of those under age 30 surveyed would consider running for office, versus only a fifth of those over age 30.
Chris Davis, Global Sustainability and Activism Director at The Body Shop, said: “From climate change to economic instability and conflict, the world’s problems are too great to fall back on business-as-usual. Young people are energetic, thoughtful, and positive about the future – so it’s important their voices are seen and heard in parliaments around the world every day. This is clearly the preference of the public, who support a fairer approach to youth representation and trust young people’s views on the major issues of today.
“As world leaders and captains of industry gather in Davos next week, I urge them to work with young people to develop solutions to the problems we all face. Let’s make today the last No Say Day in our history.”
Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, said: “Young people are the experts of their own realities, and young people all over the world are making a difference every day by tackling issues that matter most to them. The idea that young people are change makers is not just a marketing campaign, it is a fact. We must dispel the myths surrounding young people, that they are irresponsible, disengaged, troublemakers, or do not have the experience to create real impact. Even in the most adverse of circumstances we have seen young people rising to the challenge and leading the way — from humanitarian crises to COVID-19 response. There is no doubt that we need young people’s innovation, drive, creativity and – more than anything – unwavering optimism that a better world is possible for everyone.”
*https://www.ipu.org/our-impact/youth-empowerment/data-youth-participation
Photo: Antonia Tony-Fadipe, Inclusive Hiring Lead and The Body Shop Youth Collective member; Urvasi De Biasi, Activism Policy and Partnerships, The Body Shop; Lily Cannon, Activism Communications Manager, The Body Shop; Lucila San Martin, Global Activism Manager, The Body Shop.
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6 comments
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New England Cocky -
Stephengb -
New England Cocky -
leefe -
Stephengb -
Clakka
Return to home pageSo what is the difference for persons living in regional Australia where the pollies are representatives of the Nazional$?
Regional voters represent 30% of the Australian electorate and receive less than 30% of government expenditure, especially in NSW where the current Perrottet Opus dei COALition misgovernment is busy divesting NSW of control of the public cemeteries worth about $5 BILLION. Then there is the tunnelling under Inner western suburbs at enormous expense, the sale of tollways to a bank syndicate for enormous public cost, and on-going destruction of both state hospitals and state school education.
To quote this article
50% of the world’s population is under 30, compared to just 2.6% of parliamentarians globally*. If this ratio were reflected in a year, the views of those under 30 would stop being represented in parliaments around the world after the 9th of January.
In other words
50% of the world’s population is ‘OVER’ 30, compared to just 2.6% of parliamentarians globally*. If this ratio were reflected in a year, the views of those OVER 30 would stop being represented in parliaments around the world after the 9th of January.
MEANWHILE
This article is created by ‘The Body Shop’ a business heavily dependent on the youth to consume its products, of course The Body Shop is a proud activist, it is good for their business.
Further to above comment re NSW COALition disadvantaging regional communities.
SMH 100123 reports a total of $45.5 BILLION to send 100 suburban trains an our under Martin Place, while locals in Northern Tablelands want a mere $45 MILLION to renovate, rebuild and re-open the Great Northern Railway between Armidale and Wallangarra at least to provide public transport facilities for the tourist industry where presently NONE EXIST.
So much for having a representative of the Nazional$ in both the NSW and Federal Parliaments.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-super-train-hub-emerging-deep-under-the-heart-of-central-sydney-20221220-p5c7og.html
Stephengb: There is something a trifle wrong about your arithmatic. 2.6% of parliamentarians, globally, are under 30. That means that 97.4% are 30 or over. 2.6 + 2.6 does not equal 100. Not even to the LNP, although Pete Dutton might not necessarily agree.
Leefe
Probably correct, my response was from the hip as I admit to thinking that the article was just a little bit ho-hum !
Very confusing irresolvable mathematics.
Detracts from the article and conversations that may be had.