Washington, D.C.—Generation Democracy, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) global youth initiative, convened young leaders from more than 35 countries at a Global Summit on “Uniting Youth,” in Vienna, Austria from September 8-10, 2017. Elected officials and leaders from across Europe and the United States shared their experiences with the next generation of political and civic leaders.
“This Global Summit underscored the value of connecting youth from around the world and provided them with the opportunity to share challenges and opportunities,” said IRI Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Kimber Shearer. “It was truly inspiring to see such motivated young leaders from so many countries unite around their shared commitment to democracy and reinforce their dedication to making a positive difference in the world.”
During the conference, the delegates drafted the Vienna Declaration, a statement of principles which will be released in the coming weeks. This document builds upon previous declarations drafted in Johannesburg (the Johannesburg Declaration), Bangkok, (the Asia Declaration), Dar es Salaam (the Dar Declaration) and the founding Dakar Declaration. These declarations provide a platform for youth to unite around shared values, providing a blueprint for youth empowerment. The Summit also launched Generation Democracy’s #NoVoteNoVoice campaign— a global call to action for youth to encourage their peers to participate in the democratic process.
About Generation Democracy
Generation Democracy is IRI’s global youth network, engaging more than 400 young leaders and youth organizations in over 75 countries around the world. Generation Democracy empowers, equips and connects the next generation of democratic political and civic leaders by facilitating the exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices. The network also provides a platform and customized tools to help youth effect positive change in their communities and countries.
Notable members include Kenya’s National Youth Bunge Association, the Guyana National Youth Council, the Youth Council of Cambodia, SAWTY (My Voice) in Tunisia and the Youth of the European People’s Party and its 57 member parties. Generation Democracy is made possible with support from the National Endowment for Democracy.
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