KUNDUZ - To promote good governance in the northeastern region, a young man from Baghlan has made it his mission to engage and enlist other young Afghans to participate in public life, fight corruption and foster peace.

Najibulla Muhseni, a member of Afghanistan’s Youth Parliament from Baghlan, participated in a UN-backed televised debate on the role of young Afghans in fighting corruption in Pul-e-Khumri earlier this year. Sharing the platform with Muhseni was the then Baghlan Provincial Governor, Abdul Satar Barez, who fervently spoke on the power of youth to change the country and challenged them to take more interest and active roles in public life.

Inspired by Governor Barez’s challenge, Muhseni has since used available platforms to spread the word against corruption and enlist other youth in the region to join the fight. “Young Afghans should be mobilized as drivers of positive change in our war-torn country,” says Muhseni, who now features as a speaker at major public discussion forums and events in Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

Muhseni says he believes his peers can make a difference in social activism to promote good governance. “Young people must get involved in advocacy and travel to every village to convey peace messages and speak against corruption,” said Muhseni at the National Youth Dialogue in Fighting Corruption, recently held in Kunduz.

Afghanistan has one of the largest youth populations in the world. According to some estimates, three quarters of the population are below the age of 30, making young people a vital demographic. Afghan youth are also one of the most affected by the protracted conflict, grappling with high levels of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty, leaving them vulnerable to recruitment by insurgent groups.

Participating at another forum, the Baghlan Youth Organizations Coordination Meeting, the youth advocate called for unity among his generation as “key to making local institutions accountable and to provide better and equal service delivery to all communities.”

In a recent interview with UNAMA, Muhseni said he plans to organize youth events in Kunduz and across the north-east region to get other young Afghans to join his cause, promote good governance and foster peace, which he says are all interlinked.

UNAMA supports the work of youth organizations, women, community leaders and local media stations by creating platforms such as radio, social media and television for local communities to engage in dialogue on issues affecting them.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and the people of Afghanistan in a political mission that provides 'good offices' among other key services. 'Good offices' are diplomatic steps that the UN takes publicly and in private, drawing on its independence, impartiality and integrity, to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading.

UNAMA also promotes coherent development support by the international community; assists the process of peace and reconciliation; monitors and promotes human rights and the protection of civilians in armed conflict; promotes good governance; and encourages regional cooperation.