Empowering youth and enabling them to play an active role within their country’s political process is Bareedo’s key priorities. Within efforts and activities to promote youth’s active participation in country’s political process, policy discussions and decision making which took place in different townships across Puntland, Bareedo Platform conducted a workshop for the key youth led organizations and groups in Qardho between December 20 – December 22, 2019.
Women’s and men’s equal participation in governance processes and the decisions that affect their lives are vital for achieving inclusive and effective governance system in Somalia. Puntland, an autonomous state under Federal Republic of Somalia has 53 districts which all are required to have local councils to represent the community as the legislative body of their respective district.
The past ten years have seen a revolution in the ways in which people access, consume and share information. The Internet is now within the reach of more than 1 million in Puntland and an increasing number of them are now turning to social media platforms as a key source for the latest news and information, sharing and exchanging vital issues regarding the country’s political process, the social services and the demand of greater accountability and transparency from the government.
Bareedo Platform appreciates the wider consultation process already employed by the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) which was recently re-established by the president and the parliament in a way instructed by an annex to the constitution.
Meaningful democracy requires the meaningful participation of youth. Young people have much to offer societies – from innovation to creativity to new thinking. Their participation in democracy promotes active citizenship, strengthens social responsibility and can enhance democratic processes and institutions. Yet young people’s engagement with democracy faces significant challenges – threatening the ongoing political transformation in Somalia.
