By: Haruna Kuyateh
National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) with support from UN Peacebuilding Fund, on Thursday, organised a daylong dialogue with political party regional structures on the increased inclusion of young people in politics in party leadership positions ahead of the biennial congress of political parties and the council election.
The Theme for the dialogue is – Promoting meaningful involvement and participation of youths in politics and party structures and the event was held in Kerewan North Bank Region.
Ansumana Ceesay Senior Program Officer for NCCE elaborated on the importance of the Dialogues with Political Party Regional and District Executive Committees on the increased inclusion of young people in political party leadership positions at National and Regional levels, ahead of the biennial Congress of Political Parties and the 2023 Local Government Election.
He thanked UN Peace-Building Fund (PBF) through UNFPA and National Youths Council (NYC) for the collaboration and support to conduct the which termed to be important.
He said it will create a platform for dialogue, identify challenges and make a commitment to enhancing the inclusion of youths – including those with disabilities – in leadership positions and decision-making structures of political parties.
Also, he noted that the dialogue will help to build capacities of stakeholders on the Concepts and Principles of Democracy, Democratic Governance, Fundamental Rights, Political Tolerance, and respect for the Rule of Law.
The program targeted 270 participants across the country from the Regional Parties representatives, Institutions/Organisations, young people, and Persons with Disabilities, across the selected regions who had to take part, he noted.
It is worth noting that, over the years there has been major progress in terms of having young people in critical political positions. But the progress is slow due to numerous hurdles.
Despite the recent spark of interest in governance and political discourse, young people continue to be largely underrepresented in politics, especially in the Political Party leadership structure. The only position reserved for them in most Political Parties, he said, is Campaign and Mobilization Roles but no critical decision-making role despite forming over 60% of the country’s population and the critical mass of almost all political parties.
“So, as you all prepare for your respective biennial congresses and the upcoming Council Elections, I wish to encourage you all, to seriously looking youth representatives as there is no future for any political party and by extension country, if more than half of the population are reduced to mere onlookers.
“Inclusivity and fair representation is a human right and much in line with our legal instruments and policies and hence an obligation on all and sundry,” he added.
Ansumana Camara, a Regional Electoral Officer for North Bank Region said promoting meaningful involvement and participation of youths in politics and party structures are important in democratisation and all-inclusiveness. He said when young people are disenfranchised or disengaged from political representation; a significant portion of the population has been left behind without a voice or influence in a decision affecting them, which is a consequence of undermining political systems.
Youths must be engaged in formal political participation and have a say in formulating today’s politics as tomorrow never come even though we try to cater to its reality but in reality, he noted.
Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also is crucial to building a stable and peaceful society and developing policies that respond to the needs of youths. Women and youths to be adequately represented in political institutions, and decision-making, particularly in elections, as they must know their rights and be given the necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels.
He went on to say that in most countries, political parties are the primary and most effective structures through which women and youths become political engaged and get elected. Indeed it is the political parties that nominate candidates during elections, provide campaign funding, set policy and governance priorities, and form the local or national government.
Studies have shown that the unequal representation of women in decision-making bodies is an obstacle to achieving gender equality in societies and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, “there is a need for political parties to ensure their constitutions, structures, processes, and financing are responsive and inclusive. 74% of registered voters in NBR are young people and therefore more opportunities should be given to them in leadership positions.”
Hon. Fatou Jammeh of the National Youths Parliament from Illiasa Constituency thanked National Council for Civic Education and donor partners for their foresight in enlightening youths to take up leadership positions at the political party executives level. She called on political party representatives to be proactive and encourage more participation of youths in leadership positions, citing the upcoming Local Government Election in 2023.
Modou Marr Inter Party Committee member NBR said their mandate is to promote political tolerance and respect the rule of law in promoting democracy and fair play. He said the awareness raising on inclusive participation of youths and women is crucial. He said that young people are not willing to take up political positions at the executive level.
