In democracies around the world, we are witnessing an alarming surge in disengagement and discontent in democratic institutions – paving the way for dangerous authoritarian factions. As a consequence, citizens are feeling excluded from democratic policymaking with their needs not being met, voices not being heard and impact not being felt.
The IYTT’s 5th International Youth Conference, titled “From Engagement to Impact: Voicing Needs for Trust in Democracy”, aims at bridging the gap between theory and practice through discussions with one another, as well as on the streets of Barcelona. Crucially, we aim to empower communities, influence policymakers and nurture democratic governance at a local, national and global level.
Through this report, we want the reader to embark on a journey. We have created a path for democracy encompassing Democratic Foundations, Youth, Technology, Community Engagement and Workplace. Proposal by proposal, we offer the opportunity for every societal actor to be a leading advocate for change.
Democratic Foundations include ground proposals that point to the core of democratic processes. Frequently, anti-democratic forces exploit the weaknesses of the system to seize or maintain power and suppress potential opposition. For improvement to be effective, we first need to establish a strong democratic basis for human rights to be respected.
Youth is the foundation of a sustainable democratic community. Through an emphasis on theoretical as well as practical democratic education, we want to ensure that young people are included and want to engage in democratic processes. Youth quotas and junior positions help guarantee that their voices are heard and valued.
Technology tackles the increasing importance of social media regulation and the role algorithms play in forming public opinion. Through incorporating Artificial Intelligence and fostering digital platforms, we want to facilitate dialogue as well as critical thinking regarding democracy.
Community Engagement addresses the transition between a responsible use of technological platforms and democratic civic participation. In order to strengthen an active civic society, we aim to channel the potential of technology within the proposals.
Workplace encourages public and private employees to engage in politics. In light of time constraints and the lack of specific spaces to foster political dialogue, our proposals aim to use non-formal methodologies to overcome these barriers.
