We The People Advocates For Increased Youths Participation In Decision-Making Process

By Patrick Obia

We The People (WTP) – Center for Social Studies and Development has called for access to youth engagement as the world marks the 2022 International youth day.

In a statement, signed by WTP’s Cross River State Coordinator, Okang Tatu, sued for collective efforts of all stakeholders to create platforms for intergenerational solidarity in all sectors by ensuring effective youth participation in leadership spheres as it affects the society in which they live.

WTP noted that youths have always been the vanguard of every generation but are always disadvantaged, ignored, and marginalized much more than the women in society.

The NGO admonish modern society to stop the discrimination against the youths by doing away with the oppressive and archaic ideology that youths are just infantile and have nothing to offer to society; they should be made equal partners in decision-making spaces not only in the local communities but also at the state and national levels.

The statement reads in full: “In May this year, the UN Youth envoy launched a successful campaign – Be Seen, Be Heard, heralding the awareness of the power of youth inclusivity in public governance.

“Youths have always been the vanguard of every generation but always disadvantaged, ignored, and marginalized much more than the women in the society. The launch of that campaign was a sensitization effort to ensure that the community youths are not completely sidelined when it comes to governance. It is against this backdrop that we are calling for collective efforts of all stakeholders to create platforms for intergenerational solidarity in all sectors by ensuring effective youth participation in leadership spheres as it affects the society in which they live.

“WTP admonishes that it is about time our modern society stopped the discrimination against the youths by doing away with the oppressive and archaic ideology that youths are just infantile, and have nothing to offer to society. Youths are innovative, passionate, and skilled. These attributes can be leveraged for the development of society. Rechanneling the energy of youths from negative engagements to positive participation is a proactive measure to ensure lasting peace and stability in the communities.

“WTP upholds that youths should be made equal partners in decision-making processes not only in the local communities but also at the State and National levels. Youths deserve access to cultural, political, social, civil, economic, and environmental rights. WTP affirms that it is the right of the youths to participate in public decision-making along the line of international best practices. Anything short of that will be an infringement of their rights. This said it will give them a greater sense of belonging and responsibility to foster the achievement of sustainable development in the society.”