By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia Christine Umutoni has called on national government to inact more legislation and provide effective implementation mechanisms to support youth participation in governance and decision-making processes.
She believes that the grassroots activism demonstrates the commitment of young people to promote peace and contribute positively to their communities and country at large.
Speaking Friday, June 7, 2024 at the launch of the National Coalition and the project on Enhancing National Youth Peace and Security Capacities in West Africa”, with a special focus on Benin and Liberia, the UN Resident Coordinator Umutoni asserted that despite the positive actions of the young people significant challenges persist.
She asserted that there are no specific laws focused on youth and the implementation of existing policies. therefore, pustulated that there is a need for more targeted legislation and effective implementation mechanisms to support youth participation in decision-making processes.
“Despite these positive actions, significant challenges persist. There are no specific laws focused on youth, and the implementation of existing policies like the National Youth Policy and the Agenda for Transformation is lagging.
I would like to address a crucial issue and the crux of our gathering here today: the need for more targeted legislation and effective implementation mechanisms to support youth participation in governance and decision-making processes.”
In furtherance, the UN diplomat intimated that with over 60 percent of West Africa’s population under the age of 25, and approximately 63 percent of Liberia’s population being youth, it is evident that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, at the heart of innovation and the construction of peaceful and resilient societies but the dynamic change-makers of today.
in her opinion, young people are often economically vulnerable and marginalized, sometimes seen as a potential source of violence rather than a constructive force in their communities.
Meanwhile, the UN Resident Cordinaror acknowledged that the legislature made a significant stride in 2015 by adopting a positive action bill, which allocated 21 new seats—15 for women, 3 for young people (including at least one seat for a young woman), and 3 for people with disabilities. However, she believes there are lt more to be done, and she wants government to recognize that this is just the beginning.
The UN Resident Coordinator added that true empowerment requires policy makers to go beyond legislative provisions and ensure that these mechanisms are effectively implemented by enabling young people to have a meaningful impact on governance.
Additionally, she revealed that the UN Security Council resolutions 2250 (2015) and the subsequent ones call upon Member States to invest in young people as a driving force for development and to encourage youth participation in all decision-making processes, including peacebuilding. Unfortunately, she said the implementation of these resolutions in the region remains at a primary level, limiting the impact of young people in conflict prevention and resolution.
Meanwhile, she asserted that to address these issues, there is a need for a stronger legal framework and more effective policy implementation to fully harness the potential of Liberia’s youth.
She noted that primary objective of the launch of the National Coalition and the project on Enhancing National Youth Peace and Security Capacities in West Africa is to pave the way for a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future for our young women and men.
Therefore, she wants stakeholders to ensure the active participation of young people in all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, politics, development, peace, and security processes in Liberia.
“To address these issues, we need stronger legal frameworks and more effective policy implementation to fully harness the potential of Liberia’s youth. Our primary objective today is to pave the way for a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future for our young women and men. We must ensure their active participation in all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, politics, development, peace, and security processes in Liberia.”
Moreover, the UN Resident Cordinator said with togetherness the objectives will pave the way for a more inclusive and peaceful future, where the voices of young people are integral to the processes that shape Liberia’s stability and prosperity.
“The UNFPA project advances youth, peace and security agenda in Liberia Monrovia, 07 June 2024 -Liberian youth groups, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, have organized themselves into a national coalition to drive Liberia’s youth peace and security agenda,” she stated.
The coalition’s formation follows a two-day workshop on youth, peace, and security in Monrovia. The workshop, conducted from 6-7 June, is part of the “Enhancing National
Youth, Peace and Security Capacities in West Africa” project, which UNFPA is implementing the ministries in charge of youth affairs and youth network in Liberia and Benin with the support of the United Nations Department of Political and Peace-building Affairs (DPPA). The project aims to raise awareness of the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) agenda and establish a multi-stakeholder platform.
