A forum held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Resort Denarau in Nadi heard reports that Pacific youth remain underrepresented in politics.
Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal stated during the event that young people make up a significant share of the Pacific population but many are excluded from political and governance structures due to cultural, economic, and social barriers.
Nilesh Lal was seated far left among delegates at the Youth and Democracy Forum on June 22, 2026. The forum aimed to deepen participants' understanding of democratic governance and political systems over two days.
According to Nilesh Lal, research across the region showed that many young people feel excluded from decision-making because of cultural hierarchies, age-based barriers, economic constraints, gender inequality, and limited leadership opportunities.
Nilesh Lal stated that youth participation remains one of the Pacific's greatest democratic challenges. He noted that despite this demographic reality, young people remain significantly underrepresented in formal political and governance structures.