A/HRC/40/31 development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and should strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Moreover, education should enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society; promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups; and further the maintenance of peace. 45. The enjoyment of the right to education is therefore an important precondition for the meaningful exercise of most of the freedoms protected by human rights, as it supports the possibility of making informed choices in all areas of civil, political, economic, social and cultural life. Education enhances freedom of expression, assembly and manifestation, the right to vote, the right to participate in public affairs, the right to form a family and freely decide the number and spacing of their children, the right to participate in cultural life, the right to benefit from scientific progress and obviously the right to work. 46. For these reasons, States should invest in youth’s education, making it available, relevant, appropriate and affordable. In the words of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the importance of education is not just practical: a well-educated, enlightened and active mind, able to wander freely and widely, is one of the joys and rewards of human existence. 47. The empowerment of youth does not come only from achieving their full employment but comes from States’ concerted actions, even in the area of education, that allow youth to learn, discover and nurture their talent and skills in this crucial phase of life. C. The right to participation 48. To enjoy their right to work, youth must be able to influence policymaking in key areas, such as education, social protection and job creation. While young people are often involved in social movements, activism or civic engagement, thanks in particular to the growing availability of online and social media outlets and other web-based tools, they are not adequately represented in national political institutions, such as parliaments. In one third of countries, laws stipulate a minimum age to run for parliament of 25 years or higher, creating a gap between the legal age of majority and voting age, on the one hand, and the age at which an individual can serve in elected office.37 The lack of political representation of young people is also evident from the fact that individuals under the age of 35 are rarely found in formal political leadership positions. 49. Moreover, the lingering impacts of the global financial and economic crises, in particular high unemployment and cuts to social services such as education, have intensified the discontent and frustration among many young people. 38 When traditional institutions of governance and electoral processes fail to adequately address their concerns and provide them with opportunities for meaningful political participation, more young people are disengaging themselves from formal institutionalized processes. This has led many young people to turn to alternative methods of political participation, such as online mobilization to street demonstrations and flash mobs, which in some cases have become a catalyst for change. 50. Participation is a key human rights principle and a blueprint of democracy. It entails timely and meaningful consultation to legitimize the exercise of State power. As articulated in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right to participation encompasses the rights of the individual to vote and to be elected, to take part in the conduct of public affairs and to have access to public service. Other international human rights treaties contain similar provisions that complement the Covenant.39 37 38 39 United Nations Development Programme, Enhancing Youth Political Participation throughout the Electoral Cycle (New York, 2013), p. 13. See E/2013/82 on austerity measures and their disproportionate impact on women. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 21); the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art. 8); the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (art. 5 (c)); the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination 9