Youth Voices for Democracy

In December 2021, President Biden and the United States Department of State will host the Summit for Democracy - a virtual summit for international leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector. The summit will address the challenges and opportunities democracies around the world are facing and provide world leaders with the opportunity to make individual and collective commitments to defend democracies in their own communities and abroad. The inclusion of young people's voices in this important convening is key to sustaining global initiatives and commitments among current and future generations.

The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) invites you to attend Youth Voices for Democracy, a roundtable on youth-led efforts to defend against authoritarianism, fight corruption and advance human rights. The event will take place on Thursday, November 18, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM EST.

CEPPS is a nonprofit organization that pools the expertise of three premier international organizations – the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems – to support elections and political transitions across the globe. The mission of CEPPS is to work together with local, regional and global partners to build resilient, inclusive, and accountable democracies.

Youth Voices for Democracy Overview

During the event, young leaders from around the world will lead small group discussions, providing peers and practitioners with an opportunity to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas for action related to the Summit’s pillars. Following small group discussions, a youth-led panel will showcase changemakers and their efforts to defend against authoritarianism, fight corruption, and advance human rights.

Recommendations from the discussions will inform a Youth Declaration on Global Democratic Renewal to be shared with leaders and organizers of the Summit for Democracy. This will ensure that young people's perspectives and solutions are incorporated into the summit and inform initiatives following the summit.

ASL and live captioning will be available.

This event is primarily for young people under age 35. If you are 35 or older, we will review your registration and follow-up with you based on availability.