MIFTAH holds session to discuss political youth document
By MIFTAH
August 15, 2017

MIFTAH recently held a meeting to continue discussions on the political youth paper and to set priorities for working with the youth sector in order to promote their participation in leadership roles in political factions and in PLO institutions.

In their presentations, the participants pointed out that the reason behind the absented role for youth was a lack of programs that reflect the vision of Palestinian youth and their aspirations for real partnership in building an independent state. This, they maintain, has made it easier to exclude them from decision-making positions. In this regard, the youth document represents a general socio-political framework for setting broad guidelines that serve as a common foundation contributing to: raising political awareness among youth, supporting youth representation in various dialogue circles and gaining the most benefit from it. Still, such a comprehensive document requires efforts from all parties to push for supporting youth access to decision-making positions.

The meeting brought together a number of youth institutions operating out of the West Bank including Jerusalem, the Higher Council for Youth and Sports and representatives of PLO departments.

The participants recommended that the document be distributed to grassroots youth groups for discussion and to ensure the most extensive youth participation as possible. Some participants said other sectors should also be focused on, namely educational curricula and leadership bodies in political factions in addition to reviving the role of the media in showcasing youth issues.

MIFTAH, meanwhile, stressed on the need to restore political representation to the General Union of Palestinian Students in its capacity as the youth sector’s representative body in the PLO. It also proposed that the policies of the Higher Council for Youth and Sports’ should be reconsidered so as to guarantee fair representation of youth in administrative hierarchies and at decision-making levels.

MIFTAH project coordinator Hassan Mahareeq pointed out that the document intersects with the national strategy plan for youth, which necessitates exerted efforts by all parties to push for reflecting this strategy in an executive framework that includes all youth organizations and civil society institutions. He added that there will be other sessions for representatives from youth groups in the Gaza Strip.

The document is a product of several discussions recently held with youth institutions, representatives from factions and several members of the MIFTAH-endorsed Political and Social Active Youth Network. It expresses the vision of youth towards assuming a political and resistance role and promoting real partnership for this sector in the ruling system and in policy-making positions.

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