South Sudan youth establish first regional parliament
By James Gatdet Dak
December 5, 2008 (JUBA) – Youth from all the ten states of Southern Sudan, irrespective of their political parties or associations, have established a Juba-based parliament as a forum to promote their role in decisions-making in the region.
The 78-member Southern Sudan Youth Parliament, which drew its membership from different political parties in the South, on Wednesday passed its Constitution, which comprised 11 Chapters and 28 Articles and elected Speaker and Deputy.
The members of Parliament democratically elected as their Speaker, Honorable Buay Keaka Turoal, from Unity state, with Honorable George King, from Eastern Equatoria state, as the Deputy Speaker.
Youth members in the streets of Juba expressed their welcome to the establishment of the youth parliament.
“The event is a very big achievement towards uniting the voice of youth in Southern Sudan through this national forum,” said Elizabeth Laku, a youth member from Central Equatoria state.
The objective of the newly established Youth Parliament is to promote role of youth in politics and other social and economic issues without violence and intimidation.
It also tends to harmonize diverse views of youth from various political parties as well as civil society organizations, and direct their focus and energy towards rebuilding the war-torn region.
“Youth were fragmented into different groups associated to different political parties, but with this Youth Parliament, we can now forge a common ground in addressing political, social and economic issues affecting the youth in Southern Sudan,” remarked James Gatluak, from Jonglei state.
The Parliament for the first time brings together youth from several different political parties and associations in the region that has just come out of decades of turmoil of which the youth borne the brunt.
It will also serve as a linkage through which the Youth shall be voicing their concerns to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA).
“Now that we have parliament, why not demand for an executive post in the government to represent the youth?” asked Paul Mawien, from Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
Youth members in each of the ten states of Southern Sudan are also expected to establish all-inclusive state parliaments for the same purpose in their respective states.
The Youth Parliament Speaker, Turoal, said he would strive to unite the youth of Southern Sudan towards common goal.
(ST)
J.James
South Sudan youth establish first regional parliament
Hi guys
My heartly salutations for south Sudan youth regarding their healthy and briliant steps they have taken. Youth across the region constituted the bigger portion of the chaos which yields instability within the states or among societies as a whole.For this there will be positivity later.
Because, youth will also introduce fresh and pro-unity minds to medicate our old devisive ideologies presence in within our system in South Sudan.
Therefore, youth must try to utilize their vaious acquired foreign democratic principles with an attempt to bring genuine peace and tranquility among our different communities at large.
Thanks again, we as a youth anywhere of the world are very please with your actions.
I hope that will take us somewhere good.
God bless.
The writer is north south war veteran who freed Logic from arab’s slavery. Now he can cross Juba bridge at night.
Deng Ayok Deng
South Sudan youth establish first regional parliament
South Sudan Youth Regional Parliament (Comment)
Deng Ayok Deng, Freelance Research – [email protected]
This is evidently one among many dividends of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that we enjoy today in southern Sudan and in Sudan at large; it is quite an achievement of the youth and also quite a challenge for the speaker, his deputy and the members of the youth parliament to brainstorm, scramble, identify and prioritize monthly and yearly on youth related policies, social, economic and sustainable development needs of the southern Sudanese youth.
I am glad and would be even more intrigued to see the youth parliament focus and aiming advocating policies, programs and on empowering young people in journalism, broadcasting, management, agriculture, engineering, IT and other related fields in media and communication through capacity and skills building, dissemination of information about HIV/AIDS and Millennium Development Goals, and other relevant issues pertaining to youth and children.
Encourage the youth to collaborate with their municipalities to determine the feasibility of creating state and regional youth conferences, youth councils and organizing the youth into entities of actions in sustainable development.
The parliament must have youth technical and advisory committees selected from within the parliament and from the public (states representatively) to support the parliament with the technical development of policies and programs that are feasible and measureable. The speaker and his deputy must ensure that the members are not idly seating in the parliament; all the members must assigned in pairs or so to the government ministries, independent commissions and chambers to monitor, evaluate and influence those ministries’ and commissions’ policies and programs in favor of the youth and children, the youth and children aspect is our job as the youth to develop for all these institutions the relevant policies and programs; implementation could be theirs.
The youth parliament should aim and create strong friendships (bilateral) bonds and promote cooperation with neighboring youth parliaments in Africa or organizations, which will be reinforced in follow-up meetings and activities as education, information, and development programs. The parliament should not undermine issues such as youth employment and leadership.