Why should we put young people in the driving seat of our campaigns?

There are more young people today than ever before in human history – about 1.8 billion. Despite being disproportionately affected by human rights abuses, young people are at the forefront of social change. All over the world, young people are campaigning, mobilizing and organizing for a more just world – and using digital technology to great effect and impact.

We shouldn’t invest in young people because they are the ‘leaders of tomorrow’. They are the pioneering leaders of today. It is essential that we not only engage with young people, but that we equip them with the skills, resources and power to lead and effectively create change.

Adopting a youth-led methodology is not always easy for organizations which are not youth-led, such as Amnesty International. It takes time, resources and a willingness of staff to ‘let go’ and work differently. But by trusting and believing in young people, listening to them closely and allowing them to think critically and to campaign authentically, we are building a movement that puts young people firmly at the centre of our campaigns and activism.