Demonstrators pay tribute on September 16 to those who died during the Gen-Z protest in Kathmandu, Nepal. The protest, which began September 8 and was led by youths identifying as Generation Z against corruption and a government-imposed social media ban, turned violent and left at least 72 people dead, including police officers. Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA
Thousands of Generation Z youths mobilized in recent days in Peru and Paraguay, organized through social media and without traditional hierarchies, to demand transparency, justice and an end to corruption.
The movement, which began in Nepal with the resignation of the prime minister after a wave of protests in September in which 72 people died, has spread from Asia to Latin America.
Gen Z — people born between the late 1990s and 2010 — is the first generation to grow up with the Internet.
Their organizing is decentralized and viral, often marked by the use of global cultural symbols such as the skull-and-crossbones flag from the 1997 Japanese animated series One Piece, which has become a worldwide emblem of the fight for dreams, the liberation of the oppressed and resistance to autocratic governments.
In Lima and Asunción, protest calls spread on digital platforms with a shared message: young people do not trust political parties or traditional institutions to channel their demands.
In Peru, demonstrations began over a pension reform and grew into broader criticism of President Dina Boluarte and Congress. Clashes with police led to dozens of arrests and accusations of excessive force. In the city of Huánuco, a peaceful march echoed the slogans from Lima and called for Boluarte’s resignation.
Boluarte responded to the demands by insisting she will not step down.
“I am a democratic woman and we will strengthen our democracy, and that is why I am not going to resign because some voices are used to living in anarchy, disorder, violence and that culture of hate that not all Peruvians embrace,” she said.
In Paraguay, the first demonstration rallied under the slogan “We are the 99.9%. We don’t want corruption.” Hundreds of young people marched toward Congress denouncing nepotism, poor public services and a lack of jobs for youth.
The demonstration ended with more than 30 arrests after a police operation that involved 3,000 officers.
The Senate announced it will question Interior Minister Enrique Riera and Police Commander Carlos Benítez over allegations of repression and arbitrary detentions.
“In a country where corruption has deeply undermined institutions and the social fabric, a new generation of young people has begun to raise its voice,” said the Rev. Máximo Mendoza, provincial of the Jesuits in Paraguay.
Gen Z protests continue to spread across continents, with demonstrations in Madagascar sparked by daily water reduction and power cuts, but quickly escalating into a political crisis.
After a week of unrest that left 22 people dead, President Andry Rajoelina announced the dissolution of the government. The protests have continued despite the president’s action.
On social media, Malagasy citizen Lalaina Minah Ranaivomanana wrote: “I am part of this Gen Z of Madagascar. We have struggled to find work and pay taxes … but we only have 3 hours of electricity a day and must wait until dawn to get water.
“We didn’t want to provoke the security forces; we just want water and electricity. We are only defending our rights.”
The movement is not limited to these countries. Similar protests have taken place in Morocco, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Kenya. The example of Nepal, where young people set fire to Parliament and forced the prime minister’s resignation after a social media ban, continues to inspire other movements.
Despite facing unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness worsened by the pandemic, this generation has shown resilience by turning its discontent into political action.
Experts say Gen Z shares progressive social values with millennials, but is more likely to support radical policies and call for a stronger role for the state in reducing inequality and protecting the most vulnerable.
The outcome of these mobilizations remains uncertain. Some analysts warn that their decentralized nature could limit concrete results, while others argue Gen Z is already reshaping global political culture by linking local causes through a digital and symbolic language that crosses borders.
“These are internet-driven phenomena that resonate with urban youth. It is an important development, but we still need to see whether it will help address the problems fueling discontent,” political scientist Luisana Sánchez told CNN.
She added that the lack of opposition leadership makes it difficult to predict how long the movement can last.
