Bookpresentation Voices of Gen Z

• Date: 02 October
• Time: 15:30 - 16:30
• Location: De Haagse Hogeschool

Shaping Transitions in the City of Peace and Justice

Do young people really have no interest in politics and decision-making, or are we simply not listening closely enough? Voices of Gen Z by Rosa Groen and Tahir Abbas takes a closer look at this question and puts the perspectives of students at the center. Join this book presentation, which explores how Generation Z in The Hague views themes such as peace, justice, climate action, and living together in a just society. Guest speaker Sehzad Mehr from Mehr Welzijn will share his experiences with young people in The Hague.

"This book provides empirical evidence on youth engagement with peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16). It takes a bottom-up approach to exploring the meaning and value of global citizenship and social cohesion. It showcases three studies about how the younger generation interprets SDG 16, EU Climate policies (such as the European Green Deal), and the goals of The Hague as the International City of Peace and Justice. The city of The Hague is dedicated to the promotion of peace, justice, inclusivity, and security, and yet it is one of the most segregated cities in the Netherlands.

This book challenges the assumptions that young people are uninterested in local decision-making or lack the competence to contribute to improving their neighborhoods. It gives voice to young people, Generation Z (13–25 years old), in both disadvantaged and advantaged areas of The Hague, examining their experiences, their perspectives in contrast to those of educators and policymakers in The Hague, and their views compared across different neighborhoods and age groups.

This book brings together multiple funded projects to discuss how we can engage young people in democratic processes, including policymaking and tackling societal challenges. It helps to bridge the gap between young people and policymakers and therefore speaks to policymakers, academics, students, and lecturers working on social cohesion, criminology, and social policies."

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