Youths play vital role in politics

YOUTH today are playing a role in voter turnout.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) gives children and youth the right to participate in decision-making matters that affect them, including in political and community contexts.
You’ll witness widespread benefits from youth’s civic engagement and advocacy.
Young people gain new skills when they become engaged politically, and they learn to take on greater responsibility.
They also learn more about who they are and what they value in life.
They gain a sense of their unique abilities to make a difference.
Youth make up a substantial proportion of the voting populations and can influence and have the potential to significantly impact the outcome of elections.
Youth have the right, the skills and the numbers to make a difference in the government and society.
Decision-makers would be wise to meaningfully engage with young people and acknowledge the importance of their voices, energy and vision to a healthy democracy.
For so long, youths in Papua New Guinea have been faced with unemployment, one of the biggest development challenges in Papua New Guinea.
Young people account for almost half the population of PNG, and comprise a large part of the urban poor.
In the capital Port Moresby, youth unemployment is a major issue and many have missed out on completing their education due to their life circumstances and do not have the necessary skills for entry-level jobs.
PNG is a deeply impoverished country.
Many of the population live in rural areas that are poorly serviced and difficult to access.
The state’s capacity to deliver health, education and infrastructure is weak, largely due to poor governance and decentralisation.
Even though PNG is a vibrant and active democracy, the already-weak government is plagued by corruption and patronage politics.
Youth are marginalised across PNG.
Youths are often excluded from and denied roles in decision making.
Youth unemployment is high in PNG, with young people in urban areas living “day-to-day”, often committing opportunistic crime to survive and leading lives without direction.
Youths cannot be ignored.
PNG’s young people are a development opportunity for their country.
Today’s youth are the most comprehensively educated in PNG’s history and have the passion and dedication not only to work hard in the formal sector, but also to build a strong civil society and confront their country’s complex challenges.
Investing in our future leaders is more than just scholarships and awards ceremonies.
It is about creating a space at the table for young people to shape their future.
And it is with best interest of this country if the next government pay more attention to youths in PNG by providing training and employment opportunities to give them a leg up in life, so they can contribute to their communities and shape their own future.

Ian Aima
Joycebay