Lunar | Give girls and young women more pathways to politics
- A new global survey shows girls and women are politically engaged, but risk being ignored or not taken seriously by those in power
- The world desperately needs more women in politics if systems of government are to truly represent the communities they serve
“I imagine a world where girls sit together around the table with decision-makers. We’d talk about our challenges and concerns, and we’d have a discussion focused on solutions, with empathy and patience,” says 23-year-old Tien from Vietnam.
Some 97 per cent of the girls and young women surveyed agreed that participating in politics is important, though 94 per cent said they face challenges when trying to do this. Only half believe that people in their community view it as acceptable for girls and young women to engage in political activities. One in five has personally been discouraged from doing so.
Just one in three think politicians take action on the issues that matter to them and only one in 10 of those surveyed are happy with their leaders’ decisions on the issues they care about. Fewer than half think politicians are representative of the communities they serve.
The report shows that many girls have already participated in or engaged with politics in some form. From grassroots initiatives providing safe spaces for victims of gender-based violence, to social media campaigns to raise awareness about online violence, girls have actively promoted civic engagement on gender and women’s issues.