Northern Ireland's young must be heard if they are to stay here

These are the disheartening statistics from young people's views in Northern Ireland, covered in the highest circulated daily newspaper, the Belfast Telegraph. The week-long series of articles were called "The Young: Who they are and what they want".

The poll, carried out for the newspaper, surveyed a cross-section of 550 16- to 24-year-olds from across Northern Ireland.

These weren't their only messages. For example, 83 per cent said drugs are a big fear. Over half of 16- to 18-year-olds believe they should be given the vote and more than 80 per cent feel that non-segregated education is important for the future.

Surely it's time for politicians and all of us to listen so that we can change things for young people now and in the future.

While the statistics might seem depressing, they are not at all surprising when we consider the reported disconnect between many politicians and young people.

Young people are living in a society where, in their words, they feel their "voice isn't heard" and politicians are "talking about which flag is flown over Belfast City Hall" rather than "voting on things young people really want them to look at".

The young reporters for the Belfast Telegraph said they are living in a society that "votes green and orange", while the rest of the world is moving ahead on issues such as poverty, global warming and equal marriage. They are living with a government that has so far failed to agree on ways forward in areas such as including children and young people in age discrimination law, which would protect them when they try to access appropriate health care or other services.

Equality for all

There is no question about including over-18s in this age discrimination law, but there remains uncertainty about the inclusion of children and young people. I have been working with the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland to ensure this is not the case. If young people are excluded, it will send a very stark message about how much they are valued. It will become one in a long list of reasons why young people feel disconnected from their politicians and society here.

Young people don't need to change as some adults would suggest - they are already leading the way on community relations with more than 70 per cent meeting someone from the "other tradition" relatively often, frequently or very frequently. It's no longer an issue for most of them and this is a sign that young people are at the heart of changing hearts and minds.

Politics needs to change to make messages more relevant to young people and to reflect their interests and needs. Politicians must see the importance of putting young people at the heart of all policies and decisions that affect them. One of the ways this can be achieved is by enshrining the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into law. This change could result in Northern Ireland becoming a place where children and young people want to grow up, a place where they want to settle and work, and a place where they want their children to grow up.

Finally, it was interesting to note that for more than half of the 550 young people, happiness trumped a high-powered job, or wealth, when they picked what was most important to them. With this in mind, our political leaders need to listen, understand and act on what is important to young people, so that they don't feel the need to leave Northern Ireland to have the future they want and deserve.

Patricia Lewsley-Mooney is the children's commissioner for Northern Ireland