Voices of Gen Z: Jongeren als partners in vrede en recht  

The new book ‘Voices of Gen Z’ seeks the answer through the stories and experiences of young people in The Hague. During the book launch on October 2nd at the Speaker’s Corner, authors Rosa Groen and Tahir Abbas (Leiden University), along with students and experts, shared their insights. It became a conversation about engagement, misunderstandings, and the power of a new generation. 

According to Rosa, we talk too often about young people instead of with them. “Our research shows that young people are indeed interested in the city and international issues. They often even have creative solutions to societal problems, but rarely get the opportunity to share them.” 

Plenty of interest 

Student Thijs Jacobs (Public Administration) conducted field research with other students at a secondary school in The Hague, where he spoke with young people about their ideas and concerns. “At first, I thought they weren’t very engaged, but I was positively surprised by their interest. Especially current global conflicts resonated strongly with them. The misconception that Gen Z isn’t interested is simply not true.” 

Building bridges to policy 

For policymakers and professionals, this presents a clear task, emphasized youth worker Sehzad Mehr (Mehr Welfare). “The world of young people has changed, partly due to COVID and social media. This requires policymakers to engage in dialogue and give young people a real platform. Only then can trust be built and solutions developed together that actually work.” 

The Hague as a symbol of peace and justice 

Paul van den IJssel, ambassador for international organizations, highlighted the importance of connection. “Don’t underestimate The Hague as a global symbol of peace and justice. All residents should have a sense of what that means, and that’s why we must actively involve young people and citizens. Only then will the city truly belong to everyone.” That call aligns with Rosa’s message: ‘’We must not only listen to young people but also give them a role in shaping solutions for their own environment. If we take their insights seriously, their engagement can grow into lasting change.”