National Youth Policy under way in Myanmar

National Youth Policy under way in Myanmar

by DIPD on August 8, 2016

The work to formulate a new national youth policy in Myanmar has been kick-started and DIPD’s Myanmar Multiparty Democracy Programme (MMDP) ensure that political party youth are involved in the process.

Myanmar plans to adopt a national youth policy in 2016. The policy formulation was initiated under the hundred-day plan of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and is being led by the Ministry. Myanmar Multiparty Democracy Programme believes that participation of political party youth in the national youth policy-making process will improve the inclusiveness of the policy. In order to foster participation by political party youth MMDP, organized a two-day multiparty youth dialogue on national youth policy on July 7th and 8th in cooperation with the Global Platform. The event convened more than seventy participants from eighteen political parties. The program was designed with the aim to foster knowledge sharing and gather best practices of youth policy from different parts of the world with political party youth. Additionally the event to provide a platform for discussing policy inputs for the national youth policy framework.

Sessions on the on the first day of the forum introduced knowledge of national youth policy, case studies and international best practices regarding formulation and frameworks of the policy such as the “Baku commitment to youth policies”. MMDP’s political party and dialogue adviser Dr Jeremy Liebowitz shared case studies of national youth policy formulation, framework and implementation institutions of Cambodia and South African. Mr. Clancy Moore from the Global Platform delivered a short presentation on Australian National Youth Strategies. What captivated the participants the most was the policy formulation process in particular whether it is to be characterised as a top-down or bottom-up. Sai Kyaw Thiha of the SNLD raised his concerns: “What I can see in the case of Australia is that youth have the opportunities to communicate their concerns through different channels. But here the process is more top-down and controlled by the government.”

During the two-day event, multiparty group discussions provided the opportunity for party youth representatives to share their concerns with youth leaders from other parties. Youth within the political parties are concerned whether the process will be inclusive of voice from different sectors such as civil society organizations, political parties and nation-wide student organizations, and if marginalized groups such as LGBT youth, ethnic minority youth and youth with disabilities will have their voices heard. Another aspect, which concerned youth from the political parties were if the new national youth policy would be evidence-based in this vein, they questioned which research data the policy would be based upon. Furthermore, the participants shared their ideas on the issues they find that the new youth policy should address. Nay Htet Win of NLD said, “I hope the policy will be established based on the data related to issues such as youth and education, healthcare, eradication of drug-abuse and participation in peace-making,” Youth participants raised concern that the policy may not cover youth in conflict areas. The participants also questioned the transparency of the process and suggested a more open communication was established.

The youth dialogue hosted a panel debate among young politicians on what impact the national youth policy will have on the political life of party youth. Salai Myo Chit of National Brotherhood Federation shared his expectations: “National Youth Policy will promote youth participation in politics. If the policy includes articles which allow students to join political parties, the policy will serve to create access for them to participate in party politics.” Panellists were engaged arguments regarding the period of the policy formulation process with those supporting the provided timeframe arguing that it is high time the national youth policy is established, while their opponents suggest the process need to last longer in order to provide enough time to ensure the inclusiveness.

The last discussion session offered the youth representatives from the political parties the opportunity to identify windows to get to get their concerns heard and to develop strategies for contributing with policy inputs to the national youth policy. Youth party members can use their party youth wings, party leadership, MPs and media as advocacy channels. The participants also considered state and regional youth fora as an opportunity to discuss their concerns. These Youth fora are taking place between June and September 2016; DIPD has been supporting youth in political parties to participate in policymaking and will continue to be a supportive partner of party youth throughout the youth policy cycle.

From: Myanmar, News and updates