Engage youths in decision making to achieve SDGs: TIB
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for ensuring active participation of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by involving them in making decisions, formulating policies and strategies, setting action plans and implementing them.
TIB has also emphasised ensuring transparency in the political process by eliminating political malpractices and demanded an end to the arbitrary application of the controversial sections of the Digital Security Act and other similar laws, so that young people can rise above all fears and express their views.
In a press release yesterday, the organisation drew the attention of the government and authorities concerned to the theme of this year's International Youth Day, "Youth Engagement for Global Action".
Since 2006, TIB has been conducting various anti-corruption awareness and campaign through the Youth Engagement and Support (YES) platform involving college and university students, with a view to creating awareness among them about local and national problems and solutions, and ensuring their participation in the decision-making process.
Mentioning that young people are at great risk of education, occupation and mental health in the current Covid-19 situation, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said while the Covid-19 has created an impact on people from all walks of life, the risk is especially high for young people.
According to him, the workplace has shrunk as the job fields related to youths has been damaged due to the pandemic. Besides, the vast majority of the young people in Bangladesh are lagging behind in terms of access to new and innovative workplaces.
"Due to the weakness of our education system and since the youth is not associated with formal education for a long time, it has become an additional challenge for them to attain the new set of skills that the market will need in the new normalcy," he added.
In order to meet these challenges, the government must create opportunities for them to acquire the necessary technical and managerial skills and increase opportunities for creativity, cultural activities and intellectual pursuits, he urged.
TIB also demanded a corruption-free recruitment process in all public and private sectors, and ensuring an equal competition on the basis of merit and qualities.
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