CPDR EVENTS 2016

Role of Political Parties in Promoting Youth Participation in Decision-making Process

Dear Participants,

The political process is embedded in the civic culture of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) since its inception.  In AJK, the youth make up approximately 65 per cent of the total population and is dramatically transforming the traditional socio-political settings. There are 2.9 million potential voters which can play a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape in the upcoming elections.

Since 2010, our regular conversations with the young people have illustrated that there is an increasing sense of marginalization, from the mainstream political processes experienced by the youth. They are consistently unable to find space in the political process or voice their concerns.  Similarly, the youth face a lack of economic opportunities which negatively impacts their life trajectories and increases vulnerability. The present state of affairs demands urgent attention at multiple fronts to ensure that the voice of the youth is heard and given due importance. There is a dire need to establish vibrant communication channels between young people and the political leadership in order to ensure meaningful participation of youth in the political process.

In this context, a policy dialogue will be held titled: “Role of Political Parties in Promoting Youth Participation in Decision-making Processes” on 10 March 2016 in Muzaffarabad. A group of political leaders from major political parties of AJK have been invited to share their perspectives on the subject and interact with the youth. The details of the program are given below. We look forward to seeing you. Regards, Ershad Mahmud Executive Director 0300 5132375   Dr. Waqas Ali Director Program 0333 5752717