Washington, D.C.—On its one-year anniversary, Generation Democracy, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) global youth initiative, has released a youth-developed document pledging to pursue democratic solutions to global challenges. In recent months, Generation Democracy has added hundreds of individual members to its growing network, which includes 416 youth organizations.

“As we mark Generation Democracy’s first anniversary, it’s great to see so many young people dedicated to forging a democratic future at every level and on every shore,” said IRI President Mark Green. “In too many parts of the world, the voice of young people is not being heard in the democratic process. This newly-released document shows how young people are confronting the problems of today to build a better tomorrow through peaceful, democratic action.” 

At a recent Generation Democracy forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Generation Democracy members expanded on the initiative’s foundational manifesto, the Dakar Declaration, by outlining the global principles of Generation Democracy in the context of the challenges faced by young people. The resulting Dar Declaration builds on the resounding support shown for this initiative and commits Generation Democracy members to taking action to address these pressing issues.

For more information about Generation Democracy, follow us on Twitter @IRIGenDem, or contact us directly at jsibley@iri.org.

About Generation Democracy

Generation Democracy is a global coalition of more than 400 youth organizations and members from 81 countries dedicated to empowering citizens to participate in political, economic and governing processes. Notable members include Kenya’s National Youth Bunge Association, the Guyana National Youth Council, the Youth Council of Cambodia, SAWTY in Tunisia and the Youth of the European People’s Party and its 51 member parties.

Generation Democracy enables youth across borders and political systems to share ideas, experiences and best practices to ensure youth have a stronger voice in, and are better served by, local and national institutions. Through Generation Democracy, young people are building the leadership and campaign skills needed to become the next generation of democratic actors in their communities and countries, leading to more robust and youth-friendly policies. Generation Democracy is made possible through the support of the National Endowment for Democracy.

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