Youth Policy revamped, based on human rights

GOVERNMENT has reviewed its outdated National Youth Policy and on Wednesday launched a new version of the document based on human rights and social justice while emphasising employment creation, financial support for young entrepreneurs and access to agricultural land.

“This policy illustrates Namibia’s readiness to approach youth-related matters from a human rights perspective and, therefore, commit office bearers to satisfy youth needs,” Youth Minister John Mutorwa said at the launch. “Empowering young people means creating and supporting the enabling condition in which they can act on their own terms rather than at the direction of others.These include an economic and social base, political will, adequate resource allocation, a stable environment of equality, peace and democracy,” Mutorwa added.The new policy document defines youths as those between the ages 16 and 30 and recognises “fundamental human rights” such as freedom of political, cultural and religious expression, as stipulated in the Constitution and international conventions to which Namibia is a signatory, and no discrimination on the basis of colour, race, creed or social status.Young Namibians are supposed to “promote and defend democracy through active participation in the democratic process at all levels”, the new policy states.Young people are to be empowered to become responsible citizens.Disabled youth are to be treated equally and gender equality is emphasised.Young Namibians should promote the policy of national reconciliation, promote peace, security and development and display “tolerance and great respect for ethics in all aspects of life”.The private sector should get involved in the development of young people in education, training, entrepreneurship, job creation and skills transfer.Further, Government intends to make micro-loans available to young entrepreneurs already involved in a business.On the topic of agriculture, environment and land, the new policy recognises that the majority of young Namibians live in rural areas.Agriculture is recognised as “employment, livelihood and food security”.”Land is important as a means of production as well as the basis for undertaking all social and economic activities,” the policy states, and it “recognises the need for effective natural resource management”.Among the policy objectives is “to facilitate access to agricultural land and facilities for cultivation and farming”.With regard to reproductive health, the revised youth policy seeks to ensure that young Namibians have access to anti-retroviral drugs, as well as pre- and post-test counselling with regard to HIV-AIDS.Namibia formulated its first Youth Policy in 1993, which was followed by the establishment of the National Youth Council (NYC) and its regional offices.However, the NYC has been dominated by party politics and the youth leagues of opposition parties like the DTA and Nudo had difficulty obtaining membership in the past.”Empowering young people means creating and supporting the enabling condition in which they can act on their own terms rather than at the direction of others.These include an economic and social base, political will, adequate resource allocation, a stable environment of equality, peace and democracy,” Mutorwa added.The new policy document defines youths as those between the ages 16 and 30 and recognises “fundamental human rights” such as freedom of political, cultural and religious expression, as stipulated in the Constitution and international conventions to which Namibia is a signatory, and no discrimination on the basis of colour, race, creed or social status.Young Namibians are supposed to “promote and defend democracy through active participation in the democratic process at all levels”, the new policy states.Young people are to be empowered to become responsible citizens.Disabled youth are to be treated equally and gender equality is emphasised.Young Namibians should promote the policy of national reconciliation, promote peace, security and development and display “tolerance and great respect for ethics in all aspects of life”.The private sector should get involved in the development of young people in education, training, entrepreneurship, job creation and skills transfer.Further, Government intends to make micro-loans available to young entrepreneurs already involved in a business.On the topic of agriculture, environment and land, the new policy recognises that the majority of young Namibians live in rural areas.Agriculture is recognised as “employment, livelihood and food security”.”Land is important as a means of production as well as the basis for undertaking all social and economic activities,” the policy states, and it “recognises the need for effective natural resource management”.Among the policy objectives is “to facilitate access to agricultural land and facilities for cultivation and farming”.With regard to reproductive health, the revised youth policy seeks to ensure that young Namibians have access to anti-retroviral drugs, as well as pre- and post-test counselling with regard to HIV-AIDS.Namibia formulated its first Youth Policy in 1993, which was followed by the establishment of the National Youth Council (NYC) and its regional offices.However, the NYC has been dominated by party politics and the youth leagues of opposition parties like the DTA and Nudo had difficulty obtaining membership in the past.