Young people should be actively involved when making decision concerning them

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan once said that, “no one is born a good citizen and no nation is born a democracy. Both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline and it is condemned to bleed to death.”

I believe that young people are part of the solution to the many challenges they face, and their problems cannot be resolved by others.  Young people must be engaged effectively and actively in all decision making processes on matters affecting them.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which was adopted in 1989 recognizes the importance of young people as individuals whose dignity must always be respected. It promotes the principle that young people are entitled to express their views on all matters affecting them and to have the views they give taken seriously. Moreover article 12 of the Convention makes it clear that participation is a substantive right of all children and young people.

However, in Kenya, the rights of young people to be heard, have the views they give taken seriously, and given serious consideration and to play an active role in championing their own interest is far from being respected; because of the traditional attitudes that the adults have towards young people. Most Adults feel that they are the ones who should have full responsibility towards young people since they are too young to make any decision.

Adults must understand that allowing young people to take part in decision making processes on matters affecting them does not mean that they no longer have a responsibility towards the youth. Young people cannot independently work alone to secure their rights. Adults need to learn to work more closely in collaboration with the young people to help them articulate their needs and develop strategies to enhance their well-being.

Youth participation has more often led to better decisions made and better outcomes. Many challenges faced by young people in the country such as HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender based violence, gender inequality, forced marriages, lack of sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services and many more others could be resolved; if young people are involved in finding their solutions since they are the answers to their own problems.

Moreover when young people are given opportunity to question, express their views and to have their opinions taken seriously, they are more likely to build competencies, develop new and more skills, acquire much more confidence and form aspirations. The more opportunities young people have for meaningful participation, the more experienced and competent they become, and this allows more effective participation, which in turn enhances development.

Young people in Kenya must be given a chance to participate in all decision making processes on issues affecting them because participation is a fundamental human right. All persons, including young people, have the right to express their views on decisions and issues directly affecting their lives. Real empowerment can only be achieved when young people are able to identify things that are main concern to them and are able to develop strategies to pursue them.