The ISSU supports the Youth Democracy Movement

The Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) serves as the main representative body for secondary school students in the Republic of Ireland. Our goal is to uphold the organisation's integrity and democracy, while promoting fair access to education, the elimination of discrimination and the establishment of student councils as powerful representatives in their local communities.

In order to ensure that everyone has access to a modern and fair learning environment, the ISSU works to create an educational system that values and develops each individual's potential, which resolves socioeconomic inequities in student services, and actively handles student challenges at all levels, from local to global.

Background

On International Youth Day 2022, the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Youth

Constituency called on all humanitarian funds to democratically include young people in decision-making structures. 

This is composed of more than 100 youth-led NGOs from 40 crisis-affected countries, and hosted by the 100 Million Campaign at Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation. 

The Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), All-Africa Students Union (AASU), European Students Union (ESU), Commonwealth Students Association (CSA), NSoA (National Society of Apprentices), MNL (Mouvement National Lycéen), USI (Union of Students in Ireland) and many more have endorsed this call aiming to establish democratic youth movements across the humanitarian-youth sector. 

ISSU’s Endorsement of the YDM

ISSU strongly supports the Youth Democracy Movement, advocating for the creation of youth and student-led groups within humanitarian-development organisations. 

Embracing our motto “Representing, Uplifting and Defending Student Voice”, ISSU believes that empowering youth groups can strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders to tackle common challenges at all angles. 

The ISSU believes youth-led constituencies should be afforded equal status and resources as other stakeholders, enabling their full participation in decision-making processes at all levels. Integrating youth perspectives into global decision-making is crucial for decisions that will impact future generations. 

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union

Representing, Uplifting & Defending Student Voice.