Netting
Them Young
By Ferial Haffajee
YOUNG PEOPLE want representation
at the Commonwealth Heads of Government, the youth forum
which has met in Abuja since November 25 has resolved.
Presenting its final statement to the peoples’
forum yesterday, the forum also said “we strongly
believe that links with young people’s civil society
organisations from suspended Commonwealth nations should
be maintained”. It added that “Mechanisms
should be created to ensure the appropriate selection
and safety of any representatives at Commonwealth for
a.”
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Young people constitute over 50 percent of
the Commonwealth population. “A large percentage of
them are adversely affected by unemployment, poverty, HIV/Aids
and illiteracy,” said the report of the Commonwealth
expert group on development and democracy.
The youth forum also wants member governments to substantially
increase funding available for HIV/Aids programmes targeted
at young people. Methods include: “….youth friendly
information centres and introducing HIV/Aids education into
the school curriculum in all countries”.
Across the world, young people are being alienated from politics,
government and policies – a trend the Commonwealth needed
to turn around in its sphere of influence, said the forum.
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