11-18 September 2022, Mollina, Spain – the 21st edition of the University on Youth and Development took place at the Centro Euro-Latino Americano de la Juventud (CELULAJ) in Mollina. The event was attended by 235 participants from academia, international organizations, and youth. PAM was represented at the Opening Session by the President of its Women Parliamentary Forum, Hon. Joana Lima from Portugal.
Inspired by SDG 16, the 2022 UYD edition is about “Building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions”. Specifically, the event focused on the importance of parliaments and local authorities working together with young people and youth organizations to ensure more efficient mechanisms of youth participation and more inclusive decision-making processes.
During her multiple interventions, Hon. Joana Lima highlighted the role social media is now playing in spreading activism. She also urged Youth to be as involved as possible – not just virtually – but in their communities as well. Youth is used to speedy developments, which may make them loose faith in traditional institutions. By getting more involved in civil society, they will carry projects forward and work on more long-term goals. “Inclusion and empowerment of young people in decision-making structures and institutions, could represent a solution to this challenge” she said.
On the issue of synergies between intergovernmental organizations and national institutions, Hon. Lima recalled: “the strength of intergovernmental organizations, like PAM, is their wide network of partners, at both national and international levels. Regional and global challenges cannot be dealt exclusively with public and political institutions, but also with grassroots organizations and the private sector”. Hon. Lima highlighted the role of parliamentarians, government representatives, civil society and youth, in achieving SDG 16.
Finally, while discussing parliamentarians’ role in increasing women’s participation and representation, Hon. Joana Lima recalled the importance of gender equality as a fundamental human right. She expressed the hope that the work of the newly established PAM Women Parliamentary Forum towards enhanced women representation and leadership in national parliaments, as well as on issues such as the fight against domestic violence, work-life balance etc. will positively impacts all women of the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions.
Hon. Lima concluded by inviting the young generation to design fairer and more equal societies, where all genders feel empowered, heard, and able to make changes for all.//