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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 13:59:20
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As NYP Clocks Six
Young People Raise Concern
By Annia Gaye
The speaker of the youth parliament, Hon. Lamin F. Bojang, has urged the government to consider ratifying the African Youth Charter. He made the call in an inter-generational dialogue with the National Assembly Members at the National Assembly Chambers as part of the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the National Youth Parliament.
He said that The African Youth Charter, commonly known as the Youth Charter, which was adopted in Banjul, in July 2006, during the AU Summit, is the only legal instrument in honour of millions of African youths that will promote their course. He reiterated that the charter is yet to be signed by The Gambia Government and went on to say, “We the young people want The Gambia to be among the first countries to adopt it before it will enter into force.” He also mentioned certain issues such as illegal migration, which he said is a big concern for the youth leaders of the country and that they would be grateful if the trouble of migration can be addressed at the grassroots level.
He said teenage pregnancy, early marriages, and forced marriage remain the biggest challenges facing young girls of the present generation. He stated that many girls do not complete their secondary education due to these issues which hinder their development. “Yet sufficient laws are not available to protect these young and promising group of our society,” he said. Mr. Bojang urged the government to put all concerned parties together to help young people and young girls in the country.
He also expressed worries about the challenging issue of drug or substance abuse by young people and called on stakeholders to support youth institutions to strengthen the campaign against drugs and substance abuse.
Speaker Bojang concluded by noting that their concerns are not limited to the few issues mentioned above, but would be glad if those highlighted issues can be given urgent attention.
In her response, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, said that youth parliamentarians should hold their interaction session at the National Assembly chambers for NAMs to know about the problems of youths in this country and tackle them. She said that youth parliamentarians should always try to bring all youth organisations under one umbrella for them to express their problems within themselves and in the country. The Speaker asked the Youth Parliamentarians to promote and encourage skills centres so that youths can benefit from them.
Other speakers include Hon Seedy Njie, who is the nominated youth representative at the National Assembly, Hon. Mariama Sarr, Deputy Speaker NYP, and Ousman Conteh-Programme Office NYP. The Vote of thanks was delivered by Satang Naban, Banjul Youth Parliament.
The commemoration is marked by the theme “Youth-Adult Partnership for Sustainable Development”.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 29/2008, 10 – 11 March 2008
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