Global Youth Summit (IFLRY x IUSY)

Standing Together for Democracy

Around the world, young people are on the front lines of defending democratic space. From mass protest movements to digital organising and grassroots accountability work, this generation is finding new ways to push back against corruption, repression and the erosion of civic freedoms.

This year's Global Youth Summit brings together young activists, organisers and civil society leaders from across the globe to share experiences, build solidarity and strengthen the tools needed to defend democracy in an era of rising authoritarianism.

Recent months have shown what youth-led mobilisation can achieve, and what it still faces. In Kenya, the 2024 "Reject Finance Bill" protests saw hundreds of thousands of young people organise, largely without centralised leadership, to oppose tax hikes and demand government accountability, ultimately forcing the withdrawal of the bill. Continued organising through 2025 pointed to a new generation of activists building power through decentralised structures and online-to-offline mobilisation, even as they navigated corruption, inequality and heavy-handed state responses.

Kenya is one example among many. This summit is not about a single country, it is about the shared patterns, risks and strategies that connect youth movements defending democratic space everywhere.

Why This Matters

Youth movements across the world are demonstrating that protest can shift policy, that decentralised organising can outmanoeuvre traditional political structures, and that accountability does not end when the headlines fade. This summit is a space to learn from these experiences, connect movements across borders and equip young leaders with the tools to keep defending democratic space, wherever they are working.

Participation

Member Organisations that fall within the scope of this summit will receive a direct invitation. There is no open registration link for this event.