ECOFEPA STRATEGISES ON YOUTH MENTORING IN POLITICS AND DECISION MAKING

The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) has put together the fifth Edition of its Town hall meeting at the sideline of the ongoing First 2022 Extra Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Monrovia the capital of Liberia.

In her welcome address the President of the ECOFEPA, Hon. WorayeSarr expressed her profound appreciation and gratitude to the Government and people of Liberia for the opportunity to host this 5th edition of ECOFEPA Town Hall to rejuvenate democracy by giving voice to the young people. She said that the global appeal for action to mobilize the women and youth to take active part in politics, policy and decision making has triggered the ECOFEPA to come up with the theme; BREAK THE BIAS IN GOVERNANCE WITH THE SLOGAN THINK POLITICS.

Hon. Sarr said that young women and youths in the sub-region are systematically marginalized because of their age, limited opportunities, and projected lack of political experience. She explained that in the last five years ECOWAS Member States have recorded unprecedented high rate of political and social instability as a result of youth exclusion from politics and this has given rise to high level of unemployment, insurgences, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrimes.

This according to her has led to disruptions of democracies in Mali and Guinea as well as in Burkina Faso. The convention of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nation General Assembly. This is an international bill of rights for women. It was instituted on the 3rd of September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 States of which ECOWAS Member States are signatories.

In her word,’ It is in line with this Convention that the leadership of ECOFEPA has put this programme together because of the need to institutionalize a platform that will mentor,give voice and avail the young people with practical illustration on how to nurture and play active role in politics and decision making. She said further that ECOFEPA felt the need to bridge the gap by collaborating with experts in various fields to embark on extensive advocacy,sensitization, networking, capacity building for the young people through sharing of political experience to mentor them as well as encourage and unlock potentials of the young girls and inspire them to join politics and participate in mid- level decision making.

While also presenting his goodwill message, the Chairman ECOWAS Youth Assembly Amb. Emmanuel Cheathanked the leadership of ECOFEPA for this great initiative of giving a voice through their platform for the youths to be heard. He said for any society or nation to move towards the path of greatness women and youths must be included as an integral part of politics and the decision making process. This according to him is because there is a nexus between the youth and governance.

‘In his words ‘Youths constitute over fifty- five percent of the population of every country and the only way to encourage youth development is to do the right investments in education, health, and other infrastructure that will help improve the lots of the youth so they can be properly trained to take over positions of responsibilities.

He said further that to break the bias in government the youths of the sub- region must be given more opportunities because they are the fabric and engine of growth and development that can propel the greatness and future of the region.’

As the strong fabric of the society youths are the major determinant of peace and security of any nation and when you discriminate against the youths you create opportunities for them to go into crime and all sort of anti- social vices because they will feel rejected and struggle on their own to carve out an identity for themselves whether rightly or wrongly’

A panel made up of experienced politicians from the sub region discussed on the sub Theme; The SDG Decade of Action in stimulating a national dynamic to break the bias in Governance with the slogan think politicsand were given opportunity to speak of their experiences in politics and how the average young man and woman can participate in politics. Many of them were given opportunity to ask questions and speak their minds on issues and challenges confronting them as young and aspiring politicians.

The One- day Town Hall meeting was attended by all members of ECOFEPA, ECOWAS Parliamentarians, members of the civil societies, youths and women Organizations from Liberia, Government officials and functionaries as well as members of the diplomatic community in Liberia and the Media.