1. THE ROLE OF Young people IN the Democratic process Presentation by Henry Charles, Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre. The Valley, Anguilla – March 2007

2. THESIS Young people can and should play a critical role in the democratic process. Young people must be empowered to become active participants in and beneficiaries of the democratic process.

3. PERSPECTIVES OF DEMOCRACY POPULAR DEMOCRACY PEOPLES POWER SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY SOCIAL DEMOCRACY US STYLE DEMOCRACY WESTMINISTER DEMOCRACY

4. DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF A DEMOCRACY CONSTITUTION PARLIAMENT EXECUTIVE ARM JUDICIARY LAW AND ORDER PUBLIC SERVICE CIVIL SOCIETY

5. ELEMENTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS Recognition and protection of fundamental Human Rights (freedom of expression, etc,) Independent Judiciary Adult Suffrage (right to vote) Electoral System ( political parties, Public Policy (formulation, implementation and evaluation) Economic empowerment and Social inclusion Professional Public Service Rule of Law (legislation, police) Private sector Civil society

6. OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS – FORM OR SUBSTANCE? DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OUR EXPECTATIONSACTUAL PERFORMANCE FREEDOM OF EXP. ADULT SUFFRAGE ELECTIONS LAWS Participation Avenues to express views. Exercising right to vote Effective/just laws Good governance Professional political parties Limited opportunities for effective participation. Increasing voter apathy Inadequacy of some legislation. Antiquated political structures SEPERATION OF POWER Constitution Independence of Judiciary Supremacy of Constitution and parliament. Conflict between authority and functions of Organs. Irrelevance of constitutions POLICY FORMULATION/IMPLEME NTATION. Effective policies Peoples participation Policies are sometimes ineffective and not formulated with participation. Lack of transparency and accountability. HUMAN RIGHTSProtection of basic rights.Many concerns regarding human rights issues. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION. Equal opportunities Sound economic/social policies. Widening gap between social groups. Increased poverty. PUBLIC SERVICESEfficient and professional Public Service Many questions/concerns regarding efficiency and professionalism

7. YOUTH IMPERATIVE Ineffective youth development strategies Social problems and challenges have disproportionate impact on youth. Deformed youth participation strategies Absence of sustainable youth leadership development programmes. Social exclusion Deformed Juvenile justice systems Problem based approach to youth development.

8. The verdict FORM: basic outline, structures of democratic process are evident. SUBSTANCE: our democratic processes are fragile, inefficient and in need of urgent reform. A source of increasing discontent and alienation.

9. ENHANCING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS- ACTION POINTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IMPROVING THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FORMULATION PROCESS. ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF THE STATE TO FACILITATE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM AND MODERNIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES REFORM AND MODERNIZATION OF TRADE UNIONS AND OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. ENHANCE THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS. ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE.

10. ACTION POINTS Reform of the electoral process Reform of the juvenile justice system. Institute effective local government systems. National youth policies- strategic youth development plans.

11. CITIZEN YOUTH - RIGHTS Young people have a right to sustainable livelihoods. They have a right to be active participants in the governance and development of their communities.

12. ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE Change agents Leadership Advocacy Voters Public education/building social and political consciousness Formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policy

13. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT WHY? “CYP believes that young people who are empowered by their societies can be a force of great contribution and advancement both for themselves and their countries. We also believe that young people who are marginalized and disempowered by their societies can quickly become disillusioned and may try to empower themselves through extreme measures” (Executive Summary, CYP 2006/2008 Strategic Plan)

14. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT HOW? Adopt a rights and asset based approach to youth development. Provide an enabling environment for effective youth participation Establish effective strategies/mechanisms to facilitate economic empowerment and social inclusion of young people. Improve the quality and accessibility of social services for young people. Increase public investment in youth development. Mainstreaming youth development

15. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS Create an enabling environment for the development and upgrading of youth groups and youth networks. Support the implementation of a massive programme of civic education and leadership development for young people. Facilitate the implementation of strategies to enhance youth accessibility and competence in ICT. Political parties and other civic groups must engage in a process of modernization and democratization to improve their relevance to young people. They must also adopt appropriate policies and structures to facilitate effective youth participation in their decision making processes. Develop and mainstream more effective employment and micro-enterprise programmes for young people.

16. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS Provide adequate support for the development and promotion of youth artistic and creative abilities. Consider new and more efficient methods of increasing access to tertiary education. Create avenues for existing youth parliaments to more effectively influence public policy. Consider reducing the eligible voting age to 16 years (this may serve as a powerful incentive to enhance the creativity, relevance, attractiveness and dynamism of political parties in particular and the electoral process, generally)

17. Let all ideas contend!!! THANK YOU