Reference number: 94/2023
Date: September 22, 2023
Native language: Arabic
Press release
“Hashd” stressed the need to have elections and increase young engagement in local bodies during the workshop it organized.
A gathering of specialists, experts, representatives of political forces, and youth stressed the importance of youth engagement in local bodies, improving their role in bringing about change and democratic reform, and assuring the conduct of local elections were emphasized during a gathering of professionals, experts, representatives of political groups, and youth. They urged the establishment of alternative monitoring councils to improve the experience of young local councils and urged the cities of Gaza and Jabalia to reverse their decision to abolish the councils. Youth work to build procedures and a guide for youth involvement in the Ministry of Local Government and Municipalities in a way that fosters young participation and prioritizes the nation’s and the citizen’s higher interests to improve the impartiality of governmental institutions, far from any partisan or regional considerations and in a way that protects civil peace.
They emphasized the requirement that the Ministry of Local Government and Municipalities create an environment that is supportive of youth involvement in local authorities by fostering their involvement in planning processes based on their needs, enacting their role in decision-making positions, and fostering their assumption of societal responsibility.
This occurred during the workshop on “Youth Participation in Local Authorities: Challenges and Prospects,” which was held today, Thursday, by the International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights, “Hashd,” with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, municipalities, and youth councils that were disbanded in the municipality of Gaza and Jabalia, as well as political forces, civil society organizations, and interested youth.
Many comments were made during the workshop, expressing the participants’ disapproval of the decisions to dissolve the youth councils in the municipalities of Gaza and Jabalia. While the majority of the speakers emphasized the need to evaluate dissolution decisions made by the appropriate authorities in light of the electoral experiments’ outcomes, which need further development and clear norms, the participants, especially the young, requested The general elections be held sooner than expected because they are seen as essential to bringing about a democratic revolution and a chance to elevate the stature and role of youngsters in positions of power.
Finished.
