"YOUNG people are the future" – the eternal cliché. Every single generation has been in receipt of this statement, and then passed it on to the next. It’s a patronising and empty sentiment that can tokenise the views of young people while showing little regard for our thoughts, opinions and participation in civic life today.
As a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP), I’m constantly fighting against being relegated to the undefined future. Young people don’t want to inherit tomorrow’s problems; we want to be part of creating the solutions now.
Despite the fact that this statement continues to get passed around, Scotland is steadily carving out a progressive international reputation when it comes to young peoples’ involvement in politics, a reputation due in large part to the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP). The SYP was formed one day before the re-established Scottish Parliament, and has been challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers for the young people of Scotland over the past 17 years. It’s no coincidence that Scotland has recently produced the youngest MP, Mhairi Black, and has lowered the voting age to 16 for all Scottish elections. Our youngest-ever MSP, Ross Greer of the Green, is also a former MSYP. Having a strong youth parliament, and a strong advocate for the rights and voices of young people, has created the environment for this progress to take place.
Last year the SYP hosted Amal Aldoseri, vice-chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. During the committee’s review of the UK, Ms Aldoseri pointed to SYP as a model for other youth parliaments to follow. It is also a blueprint for a better and more inclusive kind of politics for everyone in Scotland. MSYPs are constantly consulting with those they represent, and bringing these views together.
Our membership gets together three times a year to debate and vote on key policy issues of importance to young people. It is a frequent and welcome occurrence when a member stands up and says that while they may personally feel one way about an issue, their constituents feel the opposite, so they will vote the way their constituents want them to vote.
Throughout its history, the SYP has effectively campaigned for major improvements in the lives of young people, from extending votes at 16 in Scottish elections to raising the age of criminal responsibility. Our national campaigns have addressed everything from equal marriage to the rights of young carers and currently we are advocating for improvements for young people’s mental health care. Despite these tangible successes, the full extent of SYP’s success is immeasurable by conventional indicators – it can be measured only by the success of Scotland’s young people.
At the end of the day, young people have the right to be listened to on all issues that affect their lives, and this right lies at the heart of my work and that of my fellow MSYPs. Young people aren’t the future, we are here now and we have a voice.
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More than 70,000 cast votes in Scottish Youth Parliament elections
MORE than 70,000 young people voted in the recent Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) elections, and increase on the last vote in 2015.
More than 300 candidates campaigned to become Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs), with many of those standing participating in hustings, speaking at schools, and taking part in other engagement events in their local communities.
Young people from all of the country voted during the election fortnight of March 3-17.
The successful candidates will officially become MSYPs at the SYP’s next sitting in June.
Terri Smith MSYP, chair of SYP, said: “This has been a great election, and it’s been brilliant to see the level of engagement young people in Scotland continue to have with SYP on all levels.
"I’d like to offer my thanks to all the local authorities and voluntary organisations which helped to facilitate the elections, and enabled them to run so smoothly."
“I’d also like to congratulate those who have successfully been elected – a very exciting two-year term awaits."
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