Revising the National Youth Policy

Youth have rights and responsibilities just as any other sector of society. What is special for the youth sector is that young people are in a dynamic situation, a process of integration into society - a process which involves every aspect of life.

This involves finding an identity professionally, morally, socially and sexually, towards full independence and their full potential. The society in which young people have to establish themselves is not one that they will have had the opportunity to create. It is a society that is at the same time an inheritance and on loan from future generations.

Any resources that are used to enable youth to develop their abilities and to participate and contribute to society is an investment and should be seen as such.

Youth is a time for both learning and starting to take responsibilities, and for this very reason, this process should be facilitated through a youth policy.

Youth policy should take the interests of young people as its basis. It encompasses the whole range of social, cultural, and political activities affecting young people, their needs, aspirations and problems. At all levels youth policy co-ordinates measures to serve the interests of and integrate young people into social, professional and cultural life.

That is why the National Youth Council gives particular importance to the National Youth Policy that is being revised. A task force has been established for this purpose by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, which is responsible to assess all the comments made from various interested parties, and sectors in society.

A draft policy will then be presented to the public later this year, after which comments and suggestions would again be welcome.

The National Youth Council is also represented on this task force and is willing to provide all the information necessary to all those interested in keeping abreast with the developments in the revision of the National Youth Policy. It is in everyone's interest to participate.

More information could be obtained from KNZ - tel: 2124-5275, e-mail: info@knz.org.mt