2023-09-15 09:53:09
Empowering the Next Generation
September 15, 2023
This year’s theme, “Empowering the Next Generation,” emphasizes the essential role played by young people in promoting democracy and ensuring that their voices are heard in decisions that have an impact. profound impact on the world.
This theme also refers us to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security. Resolution which recommends that state parties involve young people in decision-making.
A look at Democracy and Youth.
In the current context of reform in our country Gabon, focused on the restoration of institutions, is this not the ideal time to effectively involve and participate in youth as positive actors of change?
This will involve inclusion in decision-making bodies, citizenship education, the development of critical thinking among children and young people, the promotion of youth leadership, attachment to the nation, commitment policy…
Youth in recent years have taken center stage, but for different reasons. Often described as “ sacrificed and instrumentalized “, this generation of young people has suffered the setbacks of the employment crisis, struggling to find work despite remarkable quality education.
Today, it is doing rather well in the field of entrepreneurship with a little more than (60% source Gabon media time) businesses created by young people, although Access to Financing still remains a difficulty. major just like unemployment which still remains on the rise (36.9% according to the World Bank), the road is long.
The International Day of Democracy is an opportunity to re-examine the state of democracy around the world. Democracy is a process as much as an objective, and only the full participation and support of all actors in national governance bodies, civil society and individuals will make the democratic ideal a universal reality.
In recent months we have seen a youth fully engaged in politics and strongly interested in the management of public affairs. This laudable enthusiasm requires supervision and support to have young people filled with democratic values. “ The cornerstone of democracy rests on the foundation of an educated electorate. » Thomas Jefferson.
The coming years promise to be rich in terms of effective participation of young people in decision-making bodies but also in terms of inclusive democracy.
Today is an opportunity to experiment, to act, to reflect on the achievements that we want to pass on to future generations and on the health of our democracies. Although governments and civil society may not always have the same specific goals in mind, their overall objective remains the same: to get young people to get involved in the public square, to take the place that is right for them. theirs and which they must occupy if they want society and institutions to resemble them.
Joanna MAHINOU L.
Youth, Peace and Security Consultant.
Member of the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace
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