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| THE ROLE OF YOUTHS IN CONSTRUCTING DEMOCRACY IN A TRANSITIONAL POLITY |
 PRINTABLE VERSION |
The paramount task to defend these rights and freedom resides with the youths who most often constitute the larges in terms of numbers and percentage.
Democracy has two ends. On one end are rights and on the other end is justice. For the two ends to come to play in a polity a dynamic group must emerge to perform two tasks.
The first, to defend these rights and the second to bring justice to those who do harm to others in the process of democracy.
The participation of youths is required in infant democracies if they hope to push back totalitarianism, anarchy and tyranny. The passivity of youths in sub Saharan Africa with regards to their political participation, and their submissive involvement with regards to rebellion and civil unrest is not a healthy sign to the future of these countries.
The challenges today are enormous. Youths have to stand out against usurpation, constitutional violations, political persecution, eternalize leadership, corruption, human rights abuse, electoral fraud, the recruitment of child soldiers and the violation of our freedom of expression, association and belief.
We have to put up a front that will declare our stand on these issues to the world. We also have to provide the leadership and involvement required to control both the government and our selves in a civilized democracy.
The year 2000 is a critical moment in the history of what youth ability can do and achieve.
Margaret Mead has said;
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has”
Let us deceased form singing the songs of our leaders` mistakes and weaknesses of the past, on all and every side. Our duty now is to the future. I believe we have to appreciate what advantages democracy can offer us now, and in the future to a point where we would be able to defend it with our lives. Although force to prevent freedom and to deny rights is not more moral than force to gain freedom and to secure rights.
We must remain loyal to the principles of democracy, overcome contradictions and firmly defend the rights of youths while remaining open and ready for dialogue with our elected legislative body.
The responsibility of constructing true democracy in our communities, rest on the shoulders of youths. The duty will be lighter if we exchange ideas and information, share resources and take advantage of modern telecommunications.
This joint venture could open many doors for future cooperation and help, to youths recovering form civil strife and political conflicts like Somalia, Liberia, Bosnia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Angola, Ivory Coast, Iraq, Israel, Palestine and even Sudan; to understand that despite the enormous political and cultural differences, there are many youths all around the world working for one goal: realizing the dream of democracy in transitional polities around the world.
Finally, I will love to put up the shutters of this work with an astute statement made by the Secretary General of the United Nations- Koffi Anna on the fiftieth anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights delivered on 10 December 1997, at the university of Tehran;
“ My dear young friends, here in this hall and all over the world, the ideals of human rights are the ideals of hope and humanity.
Your idealism inspires your faith in our common future, and your determination to make it more just and more merciful than the past.
It is for you to realize these rights, now and for all time.
Human rights are your rights. Seize them. Defend them. Protect them. Understand them and insist on them. Nourish and enrich them.
They are the true reflection of humanity’s highest aspirations. They are the best in us. Give them live”.
*Program Coordinator Youth Activities,
Social and Economic Development Research Officer
Adviser on (Youth Issues) to Hon. Victoria T. Ndando
Global Network for Good Governance Cameroon
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Stephen N. Asek
Stephen Asek is a Cameroonian with a multicultural perspective in development, justice and social responsibility.
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