As Scotland's youth head for the ballot, UN calls for their voice to be heard worldwide

As Scotland's youth get ready to vote in the upcoming independence referendum, the United Nations Youth Envoy, in a press release, stressed to the world's youth the importance of getting involved in democracy, and urged world leaders to listen carefully what the next generation has to say.

Ahmad  Alhendawi, the United Nations Secretary-General's Youth Envoy, said in a press release on the occasion of International Day of Democracy on September 15, “Democracy today is being challenged and needs involvement of young people. In recent years, young people all over the world have raised their voices demanding to be heard — youth exclusion has proven to be costly and creates instability.”

“Young people are not strangers to sharing and discussing the issues that are important to them; we know that they are eager to participate and share their opinions in various traditional and non-traditional outlets,” Alhendawi said in the press release.

Nowhere are his words being echoed more than in Scotland, where history is in the making as the country prepares to vote in its independence referendum on September 18.

Read: From JK Rowling to Sir Alex Ferguson's views, 9 things you need to know about Scotland's independence referendum

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) a politically-independent organisation, aims to represent young citizens of Scotland. As stated on their website, they believe 16 and 17-year-olds have the knowledge and capability to vote and the best way to prove it is by allowing them to vote on important matters that could potentially change the course of their future. According to SYP's website, their main aim is to educate and involve the youth of Scotland in important decisions that will affect them and ensure that politicians listen to what they have to say as valid citizens of the country.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated in the same press release that the youth must “lead a major push for inclusive democracy around the world”.

'Votes At 16', a campaign initiated by the SYP to lower the voting age, believes the youth's right to vote has never been more important in their country than now. The decision as to whether or not Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom will have a huge impact on the nation, including on the younger generation of today whose voices need to be heard and be taken into account.

“Youth are active advocates on the issues that determine their present and their future. We must work together to further empower and make politics more accessible to them,” urged Alhendawi.

On June 23, 2013 the Scottish Parliament approved a bill lowering the voting age for the Scottish independence referendum to 16 years. The youth of Scotland now have the opportunity to make their mark on history and be able to choose for themselves what is best for their future. This is the first time anywhere in the UK that those aged below 18 years will participate in a major matter of state, whose vote will influence the future of Scotland, which is extremely significant.

In 2007, Austria became the first member of the European Union (EU) to lower the voting age from 19 to 16 years. Switzerland is another country that allows 16-year-olds to vote.

Whatever happens with the votes, one thing is certain, progress is being made as the youth are now able to make their mark on the political process and that is history in the making in itself. This event will hopefully inspire and empower youth around the world to make their own mark and change for the benefit of their country.

Alfie Kohn, an American author in education and human behaviour, once said, "Students should not only be trained to live in a democracy when they grow up; they should have the chance to live in one today."

Scotland is setting the stage for the youth to even shape the kind of democracy they want to inhabit. 

Also Read: Is Scotland just a step away from ending 307-year union with the UK?