The Scottish Youth Parliament

We are the youth, 40% of the world’s population and those who carry the future of our countries on our shoulders. Even though we hold great significance to the future, we are not heard. Our voices concerning issues which directly affect us are not fully acknowledged nor understood, yet still we are expected to develop society when we ourselves are finding difficulty in developing ourselves.

Understand our issues, hear our voice.

The Right to an Opinion is a right stated by the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Child and is a right which has been recognized by many countries. Yet the question is, do we fully understand the significance of this right not only towards the youth themselves but also towards society as a whole? 

Bahrain has always been aiding the youth’s development through various programs, however there are countless issues faced by the Bahraini youth which eventually lead to the restraint of this development. In order for the youth to develop through these programs, mustn’t we first acknowledge the issues the youth are facing in their day-to-day lives? Mustn’t we understand their perspectives and hear their opinions to find feasible solutions? Bullying, discrimination, education, and countless other topics must be tackled through the involvement of youth in order to reach a solution suitable for the youth.

A one week trip with Bahrain’s Youth Pioneer Society to the United Kingdom, and a three day trip to Scotland helped me understand that society can listen to the youth’s voice and that this step does significantly aid in the development of society as a whole. This very concept is embodied within the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP). 

The Scottish Youth Parliament is a youth-led politically-independent organization which utilizes the support from both the Government and the Parliament, yet is fully accountable only to the youth. The Scottish Youth Parliament envisions a nation that listens actively to the youth’s concerns, no matter their age or background, and strive to ensure that the participation of the youth in society is given the value it deserves. 

The SYP conducts meetings with the actual Members of the Scottish Parliament to ensure the voice of the youth is heard by the decision makers. Youth elections are held, committees are created and discussions are conducted, all of which ensure that issues concerning the youth are tackled by the youth. The topics discussed in committees and with the Members of the Scottish Parliament are decided by the youth. 72,744 Scottish youth had voted on their opinions of issues faced in Scotland which have become part of the SYP 2016-2021 Manifesto. One of the most impactful campaigns held by the SYP is ‘Votes at 16’. It became their priority national campaign in 2012, which resulted in legislations which have given 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all Scottish Parliamentary elections and in the 2014 Scottish Referendum.

Since 1999, the SYP has been striving to ensure the youth attain their right to be heard, and it is clear that today the Scottish youth themselves haven’t been sitting idle but are eagerly participating in developing their society through the various means granted to them. And although there are many varying factors between societies, the SYP can be taken as a model that highlights the significant impact through youth which can be achieved once their voices are heard. 

I had personally met with Ross Greer, a Member of Scottish Parliament, during the trip in Scotland through the Youth Pioneer Society. The significance of that meeting was not in the occupational title he held but rather that Ross Greer is the youngest Member of Parliament and had won the elections when he was 21 years old. During the meeting, it became clear that the significance of the journey Greer had gone through isn’t only within the aspirations of a young boy, but rather it is in the fact that he had utilized the means granted by society to achieve his aspirations and sharpen his skills. 

He was heard. He knew the significance of his voice as a youth because society gave him and many others the chance to be heard. The Scottish youth believe in themselves because society has granted them the responsibility to help, and now the ripple effect is only expanding. The doors were open to Ross Greer at a young age to voice his opinion in places that made a difference. He became a member of the Scottish Green Party, is a former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, is currently a Member of the Scottish Parliament and is positively impacting his society, all of which had been done before the age of 22. It is clear that once societies open doors for their youth and grant them the means to influence, their impact would echo and development will follow.

Understand our perspectives; hear our opinions; empower us to find feasible solutions.

Develop Bahrain through the youth of Bahrain; we are its future.