Dossier

Gen Z: Voices of a Global Generation

A new, unprecedented wave of young people claiming democratic spaces, both in the streets and online, has swept across the globe since the early 2020s. The Gen Z-led protests achieved not only temporary disruptions - in some cases they sparked revolutions. These movements challenge the idea that democracy itself is in decline. Instead, they point to widespread, grassroots demands for political systems that are more responsive, inclusive and effective.

This dossier examines youth-led movements and collectives, their strategies and their visions for a just future. It also explores the roots of their discontent, and its expression in digital spaces and the arts by bringing together young voices and perspectives from across the globe, the publication presents the diversity of youth-led movements in various formats.

Illustration: A large green wave breaks in the center of the image. Symbols such as a megaphone, a smartphone, a fist, a skull banner, and a speech bubble with '#justice' swirl in the spray. The background consists of colorful vertical stripes; decorative banners with icons such as a heart, flame, and globe are located at the top and bottom.

Sharing the Gen Z Struggle

Introduction

Gen Z movements around the world have captured global attention, and many movements share similar characteristics in terms of tactics and forms of participation. Yet the driving forces behind these movements cannot be treated as a monolith. The protests in, for example, Bangladesh, Nepal, or Morocco, emerge from complex local contexts. At the same time, structurally similar forces exert pressures on youth and society more broadly, and the Gen Z protests represent an unfinished struggle against injustice, inequality, and inadequate governance.

Dr. Dina Wahba, Teresa Jopson

Contributions from Africa

Illustration with symbols relating to social and political issues such as the #EndSARS movement, the COVID-19 pandemic and social media.

The Bloodied Green-White-Green

Report

Nurse interns at a Lagos hospital struggle to provide adequate care in the bloody aftermath of the Lekki Toll Gate massacre during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

C.I. Atumah

Illustration of two hands holding a golden crown. The motif is flanked by a quill pen and a burning candle on a striped background.

Heavy is the crown

Calvin-Ron Ouko

#JusticeForOchanya

Report

The death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje in 2018 sparked Nigeria’s #JusticeForOchanya movement seeking greater protections for women and girls against sexual and gender-based violence and greater accountability for perpetrators. The movement resurfaced in 2025 following concerted efforts at mobilisation, with renewed demands for justice and concrete procedural improvements. Interviews with movement organisers from different generations draw lessons on how such movements can be managed to ensure the attention and support needed to lead to long-term, structural change.

Emitomo Tobi Nimisire

Gen Z Against the State: Democracy in Crisis in Madagascar

Report

The 2025 Gen Z protests in Madagascar were catalysed by several key political events. Madagascar’s position as a Small Island Developing State, uniquely vulnerable to climate change and economic precarity, poses specific challenges, and the country’s government has failed to address these in a manner that protects the futures of its young people. The 2025 protests rallied against political corruption and government inadequacy, demanding a stronger and more just political system as well as greater accountability for systemic shortcomings. While President Rajoelina was ousted, more work is needed to ensure stronger foundations for the nation’s development and future.

Lakshita Kanhiya

Contributions from Asia

From Screens to Streets: Decoding Bangladesh’s Gen Z July Uprising

Report

The 2024 July Uprising in Bangladesh integrated the characteristics of Gen Z revolutions around the world while also building upon the nation’s unique history of protests and resistance. Over the course of several weeks in the summer of 2024, the July Uprising operationalised tools such as street art, music, and memes and combined digital networks with in-person protests. By early August, the movement ousted Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime, but whether the vision of the protesters can be sustained remains to be seen.

Anas Ansar

Contributions from Latin America