Imagine young people growing up in such circumstances, seeking to establish their own youth organisations and assert their voice; after all, their country has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (the only countries in the world that have not are Somalia and the US). Imagine finding yourself trying to stand on principle and, as a result, being excluded from any participation or debate, while those who are willing to make concessions and compromises are ushered into the inner circles of decision-making and influence.
We tend to think that democracies follow particular patterns and practices. There may be different rules governing voting and elections but the inalienable ground rule is that of one person, one vote. We then like to think that it is our elected representatives who form governments, either as a majority party or in coalition with others. And then, from that government a set of ministers emerge, at least one of whom has some kind of lead or co-ordinating responsibility for policies directed towards young people.
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