The first national conference of vice-chairs of local youth councils across the country has issued a 7-point memorandum, calling for a multi-stakeholder approach to empower youth and promote their meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Organized jointly by the Government of Nepal, the National Youth Council, and Yuwalaya, the three-day conference gathered executive vice-chairs from 30 formally established local youth councils.
The National Youth Policy 2015 defines youth as individuals aged 16 to 40 years. Currently, Nepal’s youth population stands at 12.4 million, accounting for 42.56% of the total population. The memorandum calls for the formation and effective operation of youth councils in all 753 local levels, ensuring inclusivity, leveraging demographic dividends, and providing free access to technical and vocational education. It also urges local, provincial, and federal governments, as well as national and international stakeholders, to prioritize youth empowerment.
The vice-chairs have also demanded that youth be given priority in appointments to various government bodies.
The memorandum states, “Ensure mandatory 40% youth participation in the committee structures of all political parties and allocate youth-targeted budgets and programs to promote meaningful participation in local levels where youth councils have been established.” It further emphasizes, “Conduct research-based studies to design and implement youth-targeted programs effectively.”
Dharma Raj Rimal, President of Yuwalaya, the organizing institution, stressed the need to place youth at the center of policy-making and implementation. “This conference has made a multi-stakeholder call to prioritize youth voices in policies and programs,” he said. “The foundation of building a youth-friendly nation lies in establishing youth councils across all local levels and enhancing youth access to resources and opportunities. Youth are the present and future of the nation, and their empowerment and meaningful participation are the pillars of the country’s prosperity.”
Similarly, Surendra Basnet, Executive Vice-Chair of the National Youth Council, called for enhanced coordination at the local, provincial, and national levels to empower youth. “The cooperation and participation of all stakeholders are essential to make the formation and operation of youth councils effective,” he said. “It is time to harness the creativity and energy of youth for the nation’s development.”
The conference concluded with a commitment to take concrete steps toward youth empowerment and meaningful participation in all spheres of society.
