Ahmed Al-Ibrihimi
I can almost certify that most Yemeni youth of both genders do not know at all about the existence of international and national laws and frameworks that guarantee them the right to participate in decision-making and the opportunity to be present in the pillars of the state as an essential factor in building peace and civilizational development in societies. This unintentional ignorance on the part of youth about these international and national laws and regulations that guarantee their right to participate in decision-making has led to the almost complete absence of the role of youth in political life; despite the great importance and the great need for the youth role, especially in this critical stage that Yemen is going through, which requires the energies and visions of the youth because they are the largest segment in the population pyramid.
The dear reader may ask me - metaphorically - where and what are these decisions?!
Dear reader, in 2015, the United Nations Security Council issued its historic Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, which for the first time recognizes "the important and positive contribution that young people can make to the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and as a key aspect of the sustainability, inclusiveness and success of peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts." Security Council Resolution 2250 defined a framework based on five pillars: prevention of youth, partnering with them, engaging them, protecting and disarming them, and reintegrating them. It highlighted the role played by young men and women in promoting international peace and security. This did not end there, as in 2018, the Security Council issued Resolution 2419, an addendum to Resolution 2250, which called for the meaningful and full integration of youth in peace negotiations and their implementation, as well as further youth participation at various levels of decision-making.
So, dear reader, you should not think that this is just a storm in a teacup. In 2020, the Security Council issued Resolution 2535, which for the first time refers to the implementation of specific steps in the Youth, Peace and Security agenda for the context of UN peace operations.
The local Yemeni scene was not far from nor oblivious to these international decisions regarding youth and the efforts to activate the role of youth and ensure their involvement. The youth were present in a historic way at the National Dialogue Conference in 2013, not to mention the serious presentation of the issue of youth involvement on the tables of the National Dialogue Conference, through which the national laws related to youth took a historic leap in the way of activating the role of youth and involving them in decision-making positions.
Based on the outputs of the National Dialogue, in January 2015, the draft of the new Yemeni constitution was issued, which contained 6 constitutional articles that fully guarantee and ensure the right of youth participation in decision-making positions at all national and local levels. The most prominent of these constitutional articles are Article 304, which stipulates the "establishment of a Supreme Council for Youth", and Article 58, which states "empowering youth scientifically, professionally, politically and economically, and employing their energies in development, and ensuring their political participation of no less than 20% in various authorities and bodies", and Article 13, paragraph 4, which obliges political parties to "take into account the representation of women and youth in their leadership bodies".
Now, you young men and women, after you have learned about the international and national laws and legislations that guarantee your right to participate in decision-making at all levels and levels, the role comes to you in understanding the reality and changes and exploiting the available capabilities in various fields so that you become part of the Yemeni decision-making and the peace-building process.
#Engaging_Youth_in_Decision_Making_in_Yemen
