Debating the best way to engage youth in politics

There is no question Switzerland’s youth have opinions that they want to share, so why do so few of them vote? A recent meeting of 40 Geneva students with Swiss and foreign politicians discussed ways of improving youth participation in decision-making. Organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the debate of 17- and 18-year olds with politicians came to the broad conclusion that young people must learn to use the tools of democracy so they are less intimidated by the prospect of overt participation. The meeting took place as part of the Geneva Democracy Week in mid-September. A sense of intimidation was immediately evident when the moderator’s first questions met dead silence from the room. Taking the situation in hand, a parliamentarian from the United Arab Emirates, Faisal Al Tenaiji, encouraged participants to speak up. “I don’t want you to be passive. The policy door is open to you, but it’s up to you to take the first step. I was like you once but when ...