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MEET YOUR MP: YOUTH URGED TO BE AWARE OF LAWS AND POLICIES
Engaging young people in politics is crucial for strengthening democracy, peace and the sustainable future of the country. Although youth have representatives in parliament, they feel underrepresented and their needs and priorities are not adequately taken into consideration by policy-makers while also facing unprecedented issues that hamper their human security and influence.
It is in this framework that Inzira Nziza facilitates youth engagement with members of parliament to increase their understanding on legislation processes and create opportunities for direct interaction between youth and MPs in a gathering dubbed “Meet Your Member of Parliament (MP). Meet Your MP sessions also create avenues for advocacy through individual petitioning and provide opportunities for members of parliament to participate in open interactions with youth.
In January 29, 2019, Never Again Rwanda under Inzira Nziza conducted the “Meet Your Member of Parliament” session at Bigogwe playground in Nyabihu district. The MYMP brought around 100 participants including local leaders and youth champions from Bigogwe, Mukamira, Jomba and Karago sectors who interacted with Hon. Eugene Barikana.
Never Again Rwanda’s Governance & Rights and Special Projects Team Leader, Mr. Eric Mahoro underlined the role of youth participation in identifying issues affecting them and finding solutions to those issues because leaders cannot do it alone. He added: “Young people have to play a significant role in solving many community issues through leading positive change. It takes a sense of ownership, consistent engagement and better collaboration between youth and local leaders”.
In his speech, the Member of Parliament, Hon. Eugene Barikana said that it’s important for youth to have information on what is going on in their communities and national policy formulation and implementation in order to reach their full potential. He said: “As the young generation, you have responsibilities to voice your ideas and opinions before certain laws are published. But being uninformed doesn’t take away your responsibility to implement them”.
A female participant, Munezero Alphonsine highlighted the lessons learnt from the event stating that “I have learned how laws and policies are made since the MP informed us that citizen consultation is part of it. I would suggest if they should mobilize more young voices in making laws and policies” while Ndahiriwe Pacifique added that “youth participation benefits youth themselves as through participating they get new opportunities, having the power to influence laws and policies, as well as access to information, helps them”.
Furthermore, Hon. Eugene Barikana explained the duties and responsibilities of lawmakers: lawmaking, representing the people, examining and holding the Government to account for its policies and actions.