Adolescent participation and civic engagement

Today’s generation of adolescents and young people is larger than ever before, and they face unprecedented challenges in their day-to-day lives. However, they are largely excluded from the decision-making processes that affect their health, education, work, social networks and futures.

It is not because they are not interested. Young people are passionate and engaged in finding answers to the issues that matter to them – the climate crisis, political polarization, democracy, accountability from public institutions, personal identity and reproductive health.

UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti envisions a world in which adolescents and young people are fully engaged in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and futures. Our research, foresight and engagement with adolescents and young people provides platforms for them to challenge the status quo and point the way to a more just and sustainable future. Through evidence-based and ethical practices, UNICEF Innocenti seeks and promotes young people’s expertise, experiences and perspectives, and incorporates them in our research, foresight and convening events.

This approach leads to high-quality and relevant research and analysis about the issues that impact adolescents and young people’s lives. It opens platforms for them to lead global discourse and create positive change.