Young people as global shapers

To improve youth participation in the governance of human rights, conceptual and structural barriers need to be removed and groundwork that facilitates meaningful participation must be introduced.

A key barrier is conceptual: we need to change the way we think about young people. Far from seeing youth as a potential problem (or a bulge or threat) that needs solutions, youth must be reconceptualised as potential solutions to existing problems. This requires empowering them as human rights defenders rather than mere recipients. The second barrier is overcoming the shrinking democratic spaces open to young people.

The purpose of this panel, therefore, is twofold; reconteptualising young people as solutions to existing problems; and creating spaces and opportunities to facilitate young peoples participation in the democractic processes involving human rights and social justice.