The Somali Youth Charter

We, the youth of Somaliland, and • Ensure that every young person, both men South Central , acknowledge that we are and women, has the right to participate the present and future of the nation. Bearing this in decision-making processes in social, in mind, we would like to have a unified voice: political and economic spheres of society. one voice that is heard through this Charter. We • Create sustainable national youth want a supportive and enabling environment, in empowerment funds. which every young person—women and men— gains ability, authority, agency and opportunities Social Empowerment to make effective choices, and translate these in their own lives and the lives of other people. • Wish to change the curricula and make them relevant to local labour market Recognizing the power and struggle of the opportunities, patriotism, morals, the Somali Youth League for the liberation of dynamic environment and personal the in 1960, we, the youth development. of Somaliland, Puntland and South Central • Every young person shall have the right to Somalia want to have a common voice to quality education that encompasses civic address our common challenges for building an education at all levels. inclusive Somali society, in which all • Provide free and compulsory basic would feel valued and empowered. education, and make all forms of secondary Acknowledging that we are a strong force that education more readily available and can propel the country forward to improve accessible by all possible means, also overall human development, and address the focusing on the nomadic populations. challenges facing the Somali youth today, and • Introduce scholarship programmes to recognizing the aspirations outlined in the encourage entry into post-primary school Millennium Development Goals, we have set education and into higher education for aside our differences and come together with outstanding youth from disadvantaged the hope of attaining the following principles: communities, particularly young girls. We, the Somali youth, declare in a unified voice • Encourage stakeholders to provide through this Charter the empowerment of youth opportunities, such as inclusive education, and the Somali people through: to physically challenged children and youth. • Every young person shall have the right to Policy and Institutional Reform enjoy the best attainable state of physical, • Urge the government to develop and mental and spiritual health. implement a comprehensive and coherent • Institute comprehensive programmes national youth policy that is well integrated to prevent the transmission of sexually into national policy and programmes. transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and drug • Acknowledge the need to eliminate abuse, including risks related to maternal discrimination against girls and young health (female genital mutilation, unsafe women according to obligations stipulated child delivery and high birth rates) by in various international, regional and providing education and awareness creation national human rights conventions and as well as making protective/rehabilitation instruments designed to protect and measures and youth friendly reproductive promote women’s rights. health services available, affordable and

162 Somalia Human Development Report 2012 relevant with special attention to at-risk religion, and political, social, cultural or youth. economic background. • Access to HIV and AIDS prevention, care • Every young person shall have the right to and treatment services. be protected from economic exploitation • Zero-tolerance on HIV-related stigma and and from performing work that is harmful discrimination. to the young person’s health or holistic development. • Require access to public spaces where we can safely meet, interact and play sports, • Foster greater linkages between the labour regardless of gender. market and the education and training system to ensure that youth are being trained • Request families and governing bodies in fields where employment opportunities to encourage sports, particularly as they are available or are growing. instill values such as discipline, healthy competition and mental productivity. • Develop employment-led macroeconomic policies on job creation for youth, • Want to change society’s perception of particularly young women. youth as problems to be resolved (deficit approach) to positive agents of change. • Promote youth entrepreneurship by launching a comprehensive training • Want the society—our families, friends, programme (providing life skills and policy makers, institutions and fellow livelihood skills training, access to credit, citizens—to perceive us as fresh, young, mentorship opportunities and better innovative and future visionaries, pioneers information on market opportunities). and intellectuals. • Institute national youth service programmes • Want to practice tolerance and respect of to engender community participation and people from different backgrounds (clan, skills development for entry into the labour race, tribe or financial disposition). market. • Eliminate all traditional practices that • Institute a holistic national youth-led undermine the physical integrity and community based programme encompassing dignity of women. both peace and development in an integrated • Harness the creativity of youth to promote package. local cultural values and traditions. • Promote research on Somali youth’s • Establish structures that encourage common problems to shape poverty- young people in the diaspora to engage in reducing policies. development activities in their country of origin. Political Empowerment

• Enhance mitigation strategies for youth • Guarantee the representation of youth in who have turned to piracy, extremism, drug Parliament. abuse and other forms of risky behaviours. • Create space and strengthen platforms Economic Empowerment for youth participation in other decision- making bodies at national, district and local • Every young person shall have the right levels of governance. to gainful employment for sustainable • Every young person shall be assured the livelihood opportunities. right to express and disseminate his or her • Ensure equal access to employment ideas and opinions freely in all matters. and equal pay for equal work, and offer • Every young person shall have the right protection against discrimination regardless to free association, freedom of peaceful of ethnicity, race, gender, disability, assembly and right to information.

Annex 1 Youth Charter 163 Peacebuilding • Support youth organizations in instituting programmes that encourage sustainable • Would like to be involved in, and to energy and environmental preservation, contribute substantively to peace processes. such as waste reduction and recycling • Would like to change the status quo, and programmes using clean technologies. move away from short-term externally • Wish to receive information about and driven conflict management to Somali- introduce or reinforce strategies to protect led conflict transformation, embracing the environment and prevent climate constructive dialogue and addressing change, particularly in regard to protecting challenges innovatively. resources such as land (to avoid overgrazing, • Want to forge close partnerships with the improper waste disposal and deforestation) youth in the diaspora. and water (to prevent flooding, illegal • Ensure youth representation in all national fishing and dumping, and protect marine peace and reconciliation conferences. resources), so we may take steps towards protecting the environment and livelihoods. • Reinforce traditional peacebuilding methods. • Encourage the use of renewable/alternative energy by developing a cadre of youth-led Greening Human Development energy entrepreneurs. • Ensure youth participation in the design, • Recognize the vested interest and potential implementation and evaluation of renewable of young people in protecting the natural energy and environmental policies, including environment as the inheritors of the the conservation of natural resources. environment.

The Youth Charter was adopted by youth representatives from Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia during the consultative workshop held in Garowe, Puntland on 24 September 2011, and disseminated to a wider youth group across the regions through consultations.

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