Regional conference highlights importance of youth's political participation

AMMAN — A two-day workshop titled “Youth’s Political Empowerment and Engagement Types, Forms and Challenges”, was launched on Saturday to discuss youth’s political life in the region. 

Al Quds Centre for Political Studies organised the workshop for youth, in cooperation with the Norwegian embassy in Jordan. Participants from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Algeria came together to discuss political cohesion and inclusion of youth in the region, according to organisers.

“The Ministry of Youth ensures youth’s participation in political life through ‘Youth parliament training and governmental youth training’ — political institution’s programmes,” Minister of Youth Mohammad Nabulsi said during his opening remarks.

The Royal directives to form a committee to modernise the political system in Jordan stated its motive to review all policies and laws to realise youth political empowerment and expand the participation of the youth in partisan and parliamentary life, the minister said. 

The National Strategy for Youth 2019-2025 included youth empowerment, lawful citizenship for youth, in addition to effective leadership participation for youth in Jordan, Nabulsi added. 

Through the National Strategy, different training programmes and projects emerged to foster youth’s political inclusion, he noted.

“During the workshop we will discuss obstacles and challenges preventing youth from participating in parliamentary life or joining political parties,” Oraib Al Rantawi, head of the Al Quds Centre, said during his speech. 

Rantawi noted that participants from different countries will share their experiences in joining political life, as well as discuss the reasons behind youth’s unwillingness to join political parties in the Arab region.

Giving youth the opportunity to share their political experiences and understand more about the challenges they face will help contribute to a “sustainable democratic structure to both their countries and societies”, Rantawi said. 

“I think we all agree on the great sustainable outcomes from investing in youth and providing them with real opportunities to be a part of the social development,” Rita Sandberg, president of the Norwegian delegation to Jordan, said during her speech. 

Sandberg highlighted that investing in political partnerships with youth reinforces social justice and multi-democracy principles.