UN
Afghan youth a powerful force for peace, radio show panellists say
KABUL - The young people of Afghanistan can be a powerful force for peace and stability in the country, said panellists during two UNAMA-backed radio programmes broadcast to an audience estimated at 500,000 in the country’s eastern provinces.
The programmes, which aired last week in Nuristan and Laghman with the support of the regional offices of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), focused on the role of youth in peacebuilding. Participants included civil society leaders, university lecturers, women’s rights activists, journalists and Peace Committee and Peace Council members.
“Young people are hardworking and full of energy, and can bring stability to the country,” said the head of the Sub-Directorate of Youth, Fazel Rahman Payam, in the Laghman broadcast.
Offering similar comments in the Laghman show, Ms. Nazifa, a staff member in the province’s Department of Women’s Affairs, said peace is the key to prosperity and development.
In the Nuristan radio debate, civil society member Sahibdad Hamdard highlighted the importance of education and the effective implementation of the Afghan National Youth Policy, a plan outlining a roadmap for strengthening Afghanistan’s youth demographic and leveraging its contributions.
The National Youth Policy, officially launched earlier this year by the Afghan Youth Directorate, details a plan for young Afghans to participate in decision-making so they can actively contribute to the country’s development. The Policy also details a plan for improving the literacy rates of Afghan women.
Shazia Safay, a woman’s rights activist in Nuristan, said that the relatively low numbers of women participating in Afghanistan’s political arena results from high levels of illiteracy among rural women. As such, said Ms. Safay, it is essential to raise awareness about women’s rights and the role women can play in peacebuilding.
The two shows, broadcast by radio Khyber-Nawokht in Laghman and Alina in Nuristan, are part of a series of UNAMA-backed events that focus on the role of youth in peacebuilding.
