12 Aug 2020

Botswana is part of the global village in recognising and giving space for youth engagement and inclusion in decision making processes, says Mr Tumiso Rakgare. 

“The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development plays a key role of being the lead facilitator in generating greater awareness of the role young people play as essential partners in change,”  he said in a 21st World Youth Day commemorative message on August 12.

  Mr Rakgare, who is Minister of Youth empowerment, Sports and Culture Development said “the realisation of the 2030 agenda in the next decade will have to prioritise youth engagement and inclusion; especially during the pressing challenges and threats to youth development such as HIV/AIDS, conflicts and humanitarian emergencies and currently COVID-19 pandemic”.

He said lack of commitment by nations for inclusive partnership in the development agenda would always be a threat to youth empowerment and development at all levels. 

Speaking to the day’s theme , “Youth Engagement for Global Action”,  he said it sought to highlight ways in which  engagement of young people at local, national and global levels was enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes.

 Further, Mr Rakgare said it provided hope on how youth representation and engagement in formal institutional politics could be significantly enhanced.

“The theme resonates well with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) as summarised by SDG 17 which advocates for strong global partnership and cooperation,” he said.

He noted that Botswana National Youth Council had organised virtual youth dialogues in Francistown to commemorate the day with discussions seeking to provide engagement space for young people and key stakeholders.

Mr Rakgare said the annual celebrations also served as an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth. 

He said the United Nations General Assembly had recommended that “public information activities be organised to support the day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth”.

Mr Rakgare appealed to all, especially the youth, to take advantage of the arranged activities to fully engage each other. 

“Young people should be able to actively participate and engage in shaping the responses that will bring positive change to their lives,” he said.

He further encouraged all relevant stakeholders in youth development and empowerment, to introspect on how much space was given to the youth for their engagement and inclusion. 

“Youth challenges require concerted global action and meaningful engagement and participation of our young people to bring sustainable and relevant solutions,” said Mr Rakgare.

On COVID-19, Mr Rakgare said there were notable indicators that the pandemic would have long lasting negative impacts on the socio-economic, cultural political and other domains of society including young people at local, national and global levels.

He said the UN predicted a sharp contraction of the global economy by three per cent this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“This will be the worst recession since the Great Depression,” he said.BOPA