Young Women and Political Rights

Youth across the world have been marginalised in issues of political and decision-making processes, with young women encountering more and sever forms of discrimination when compared to their male counterparts. Due to social norms in many countries, young women's voices have been silenced to prevent them from standing up for their rights. Young women face poverty, numerous types of discrimination, inadequate and limited education, unemployment and few job opportunities.

Traditionally, young women have joined and been active in political movements in their respected universities but however, they are usually overlooked whenever a formal political leadership position becomes available – political party leaders will rather choose to fill the position with incapable older male colleague than let a young woman take the reins therefore, denying the young woman her political rights.
Young women join these movements in hope of participating in formal political institutions such as parliaments and/or included in policy development but instead their leaders choose to use them as vehicles of driving motives and recruiting more supporters. The young women activists’ disillusions to engage in governance are planted and nurtured then dashed by some leaders who have no regards to the young women’s political rights.

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In most countries, a person is eligible for national parliament seat only once they are 25 years of age and above which makes it hard for youth to partake and hold high political leadership position. There is high need of countries across the globe to enhance young women political participation during elections, institutional political processes and even public administrations.

Women in politics face violence, intimidations and sexual exploitation from their male counterparts and they are expected to be silent about these issues and if one stands up against the maltreatment of women she is usually singled out and bullied by both her male and female colleagues.

Since the beginning of the 20^th century, many international and intercontinental political institutions have been preaching about young women involvement in the political systems but unfortunately, the same institutions have failed to implement procedures to enhance their international conventions and declarations.

Throughout the continent of Africa, there has been civil unrest caused by dissatisfied youth who are particularly refusing to accept the status quo of their nations; and young women have been seen partaking in these political movements and protests. The Arab Awakening in the Middle East and North Africa has seen many disgruntled youths taking matters into their hands by starting political movements which rose against their countries’ regime without the involvement of political parties.

To put an end to disenfranchisement of young women in politics, their political rights need to be recognised and supported and also, they should be viewed as key stakeholders in the national and global development agenda, and part of resilient democracy.

Way forward

·       Nations across the globe need to put in place initiatives that will invest in young women’s political rights and engaging them in democratic governance activities. Young women should be involved from the initial creation of these initiatives.

·       Voters across the platform need to stop sexualising the voting process and instead give capable women a chance to showcase their abilities.

·       Meaningful and efficient methods of young women political participation should be viewed as essential and vital to democratic right and support programmes should be instigated. These methods could be young women-led.

·      Through related programmes, policymakers need to develop and foster youth participation in politics, not only in the voting phase but throughout the electoral cycle in order to remove or minimise existing barriers that make it hard for youths, especially young women to partake in politics. This programmes should be engaging to the youth either through:

§  Collaboration with the youth;

§  Consultation between the policymakers and the youth;

§  and even letting the youth to lead them.  

·    Training courses that aim to promote and foster social inclusion, political participation for young women should be implemented and during these training, they should be given hands-on experience by placing them in formal political institutions to work or volunteer for them.