South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Dean of Student Affairs at Starford University, Adelino Iya, has warned that limited access to civic education and a lack of awareness regarding electoral and constitutional processes are preventing many young South Sudanese from participating meaningfully in nation-building.
Iya said that creating awareness among the youth will provide insights into national issues and guide their participation in the country’s development.
“The involvement of the youth in the electoral and constitution-making processes in South Sudan is critical to ensure broad civic awareness and engagement and to awaken a sense of responsibility among the youth, which is necessary to build an active youth constituency to enable democratic and accountable governance,” said Iya during the symposium organised at Starford University and supported by the Political Affairs Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Iya remarked that the majority of young people in South Sudan lack access to civic engagement or awareness of the electoral and constitution-making processes, limiting their ability to engage meaningfully in nation-building.
“Many young people lack the habit of reading widely, which restricts their access to information and limits their ability to stay informed. As a result, they remain disconnected from vital resources like the Revitalised Agreement, the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, and the African Youth Charter,” said Iya.
Grace Maina, a lead facilitator from the Political Affairs Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, stated that efforts and special attention are needed to enhance youth representation and meaningful participation in elections and constitution-making processes.
“Effective youth participation in these processes can create crucial openings and avenues for helping other vulnerable groups to overcome barriers to meaningful participation and ensure inclusion and diversity,” said Maina.
Maina added that when young people are aware of elections and constitution-making processes, they are better positioned to advocate for their implementation and hold relevant stakeholders accountable.
“It is therefore important to plan and strategise with the aim of embedding the youth agenda, their views, and aspirations in the electoral and constitution-making processes, and to provide a platform for youth to express their opinions and ideas about these processes,” said Maina.
“As an initiative committed to youth empowerment, we believe that educating youth about their national rights and responsibilities is a vital step toward building a more inclusive and progressive society.”
The workshop, fully supported by the UNMISS Political Affairs Division and organised by the Come Let’s Read Initiative organisation, serves as an outreach activity focusing on the Revitalised Agreement, constitution-making, and elections.
