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A Seat Is Not the Same as a Say

Writer: Katie Kim
Katie Kim
Oct 18
1 min read

Youth participation is becoming more common in global institutions, but participation does not automatically mean power. The UN’s 2026 Youth2030 report shows that the share of UN entities strengthening systems for meaningful youth participation rose from 14% in 2021 to 42% in 2025. Yet youth leaders make an important distinction: being invited into a room is different from shaping what happens there.

     

This made me think about advocacy differently. Success should not be measured by how many young people attend a meeting, but by whether their ideas affect priorities, funding, and decisions. Representation matters most when it comes with influence.



 
 
 

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