The youth of Sudurpaschim Province were educated about the parliamentary system through the ‘Informed Youth: Increased Accountability’ seminar organized by AYON with UNDP support

Dhangadhi, September 11: “The definition of the word ‘youth’ covers only males and females, which I find disheartening,” said Karuna Nepal. “I believe the term LGBTIQ should be included not just in the description of the word but in related policies as well.”

Karuna Nepal was one of 30 youth participants from six districts of Sudurpaschim Province, who had gathered in Dhangadhi to enhance their knowledge on various issues, including parliamentary discourse and procedures. The three-day training seminar held from September 9 to 11, titled ‘Informed Youth: Increased Accountability’, was organized by the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON) and supported by UNDP’s Parliament Support Project. The idea of the event was to increase youth engagement in parliamentary affairs by orienting them on the parliamentary system and procedures, offering them valuable insight into the workings of the parliament.

AYON's Program Coordinator, Kewal Shrestha, addressing the inaugural session, stated that it was the first out of three-province-level trainings that the organization has planned. The participants included young people with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ community and youth from the disadvantaged populace. 

One of the participants, Karishma Chand, said she was eager to learn about the rights of the youth and the initiatives taken by the state to create opportunities for young people. She also looked forward to learning about the ways in which youth participation could be increased in local level activities.

Although dissatisfied about the lack of inclusiveness in the definition of youth, Karuna Nepal was keen to learn about the different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), along with the national youth policy and provisions for gender inclusion.

The seminar was led by Bishnu Khatri, a youth leadership expert, and SDG specialist, Pawan Roy. The issues that were covered during the three days encompassed youth participation; SDGs and youth; fundamental rights; role of youth and citizens’ rights; advocacy skills; social accountability tools, application of the Right to Information and other areas such as gender equality and social inclusion, human rights, climate and good governance.

According to Shrestha, AYON has plans to conduct a series of youth engagement activities that will include training and information sessions on the parliamentary system, policy dialogue engagements with parliaments, mobilization on public issues of accountability, law and policy reviews and mock youth assemblies at provincial levels.