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YOUTH RIGHTS: A PRESENTATION

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Introduction: Who is a youth?• “Youth” is the term used to refer to people

in transition from childhood to adulthood.• It is, often considered synonymous with

the term “teenager”, but the latter term is used to refer, specifically , to children between 13 and 19 years of age.

• In the United States of America, the Department of Labour defines “youth” as anyone between the age of 14 and 21.

• The United Nations defines youth as anyone between the age of 15 and 24, for statistical purposes and official documentation.

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• Youth Rights are certain safeguards provided to the community to improve their visibility and acknowledge their participation in society.

• In the 20th century, youth rights largely referred to the rights of franchise and right to run for public office.

• In the 21st century, it encompasses a larger meaning and now also extends to driving age, drinking age, age of consent and the age of majority.

• The Youth Rights Movement also emphasises on taking into consideration the opinions of the youth in decisions that affect them.

Youth Rights

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Universality of Rights• “Rights are legal, social, ethical or moral of

freedom or entitlement, that is, rights are fundamental normative rules about what is allowed, what is to be allowed or owed to people.”

• Rights are decided by law, social conventions or moral justifications.

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Human Rights are…

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Why Do We Need Youth Rights?

WE NEED YOUTH RIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS:• Paternalism: Youth are considered to be

immature in understanding and in decision-making.

• Adultism: The belief that adults are always better in running the country than youth

• Social Inclusiveness: Youth form a major percentage of our country’s population, and marginalising them from the government and society will take a toll on the country.

• Ageism: Discrimination based on age.

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What youth rights activists are fighting for?

• Reducing the Voting age: usually from 21 or 18 to 16 or 15.

• Youth Representation: representing youth and their issues through youth councils.

• Emancipation of minors: helping minors in abusive households.

• Presumption of Innocence by the law.• Prevention of bullying and discrimination in

schools.• Prevention of corporal punishments.• Reducing the age of majority to 16.• Reducing the constitutional requirements

regarding the Age of Candidacy.

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Reducing the Voting

Age

Reducing the

Candidacy Age

No taxation without being

represented

Active representation…

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History of Youth Rights• Youth activism gained international

recognition during the Great Depression in the United States in the early 1930s.

• This was because, youth lost jobs and had no recourse to improve their skills, due to the economic downturn.

• Educated undergraduates were left without jobs and huge student debts.

• The American Youth Congress urged the Roosevelt Administration to establish the National Youth Administration.

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The American president spear-headed the movement to train youths during the Great Depression.

FranklinDelanoRoosevelt

“…….”

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National Youth Administration

United States of America.

• First ever Government organisation on youth affairs.

• Vocational Training during the Great Depression: typing classes, out-of-school training etc.

• 45 lakh American youth brought back into the job-market.

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VOCATIONAL CLASSES SKILLS TRAINING

TYPING CLASSES

National Youth Administration

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Youth Activism in India

SEPOY MUTINY

INDIAN INDEPENDEN

CE MOVEMENT

STATE OF EMERGENCY

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Youth Rights in IndiaThe Constitution of India

• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

NGOs and Corporate Organisations

• UN through MGIEP

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Youth Rights in India: Legal Perspectives

The Constitution Of India

Legislations

Regulations

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Constitutional ProvisionsARTICLE 21 A: EDUCATION

ARTICLE 24: EMPLOYMENT

ARTICLE 39E: PREVENTION OF EMPLOYMENT ABUSE

ARTICLE 39F: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

ARTICLE 45: EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE

ARTICLE 47: RIGHT TO NUTRITION & LIVING STANDARD

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LegislationsTHE CHILD LABOUR AMENDMENT BILL,2012

JUVENILE JUSTICE AMENDMENT ACT, 2006

RIGHTS OF CHILDREN TO FREE EDUCATION ACT

CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) ACT

PROBATION OF OFFENDERS ACT, 1956

NATIONAL POLICY FOR CHILDREN, 1974 ORNATIONAL YOUTH POLICY 2014.

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National Youth Policy 2014CREATE A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE

DEVELOP A STRONG GENERATION

INSTILL SOCIAL VALUES

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

OBJECTIVES

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A COMPARISON

YOUTHRIGHTSAROUNDTHE WORLD

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Youth Rights: Comparison

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National Youth Policies Worldwide

AS OF 2013, THE FOLLOWING DATA IS AVAILABLE ABOUT NATIONAL YOUTH POLICIES: OF THE 198 COUNTRIES,

99 COUNTRIES HAVE YOUTH POLICIES.

56 COUNTRIES ARE REVISING YOUTH POLICIES.

43 COUNTRIES HAVE NO YOUTH POLICIES.

• 50%

• 28%

• 22%

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ASIACOUNTRY YOUTH POLICY:

THERE OR NOT?APPROVED/RATIFIED/REVISED

AFGHANISTAN YES AUGUST 2014

BANGLADESH YES 2003, BEING REVISED

BHUTAN YES 2010-2011

CHINA(PRC) NO --

CAMBODIA YES 2009

IRAN NO --

IRAQ BEING DEVELOPED YOUTH SURVEY 2011

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AFRICACOUNTRY YOUTH POLICY:

THERE OR NOT?APPROVED/RATIFIED/REVISED

ANGOLA YES 2006

BOTSWANA YES REVISED 2010

BURUNDI RUDIMENTARY POLICY

2011

CAMEROOM INEFFECTIVE 2006

CONGO REPUBLIC NO --

EGYPT UNCLEAR 2010 POLICY BRIEFING

SOUTH AFRICA YES (RATIFIED ONCE IN 5 YEARS)

2015-2020

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NORTH AMERICACOUNTRY YOUTH POLICY :

THERE OR NOTAPPROVED/ RATIFIED/ REVISED

BAHAMAS YES 2013

CANADA NO NATIONAL POLICY, BUT THERE ARE REGIONAL POLICIES LIKE UNITED WAY TORONTO

--

MEXICO YES 2008

CUBA NO --

U.S.A DRAFT 2013

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SOUTH AMERICACOUNTRY YOUTH

POLICY : THERE OR NOT?

APPROVED/ RATIFIED/REVISED

ARGENTINA NO NATIONAL YOUTH BUREAU

BRAZIL YES 2010COLOMBIA YES

YOUTH LAW2013

CHILE YES 2004URUGUAY YES 2011There are more than 154 million young people aged 15 to 29

in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with the largest populations being in Brazil (51 million), Mexico (30 million), and Argentina (9.9 million). Young people are significantly affected by poverty (41%) and extreme poverty (15%). Young women are more negatively affected than young men. Of the 23 million young people living in rural areas in LAC (representing 22% of youth), 64% are affected by poverty.

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EUROPECOUNTRY YOUTH POLICY:

THERE OR NOT?APPROVED/RATIFIED/ REVISED

AUSTRIA YES 2013BELGIUM YES 2012DENMARK YES 2012FINLAND YES (LEGISLATIONS) 2012-2015GERMANY YES (FEDERAL

YOUTH POLICY)2012

SPAIN UNCLEAR (DRAFT POLICY ONLY)

--

SWEDEN YES (LEGISLATION) 2004

MOREOVER, THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS A SEPARATE YOUTH PORTAL TO DISCUSS THE RIGHTS OF YOUTHS IN MEMBER STATES.

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United Kingdom• The United Kingdom has a

comprehensive youth policy.• The United Kingdom ranks 15 out of 170

Nations in the YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX.

THE UK ORGANISES ANNUAL YOUTH-PARLIAMENTS IN THE ACTUAL PARLIAMENT BUILDING- THE WESTMINSTER PALACE.DELEGATES FROM ACROSS ENGLAND, WALES, SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PARLIAMENT.

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OCEANIACOUNTRIES YOUTH

POLICY: THERE OR NOT?

APPROVED/ RATIFIED/REVISED

AUSTRALIA YES( NATIONAL YOUTH STRATEGY)

2010

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

YES 2007-2017

NEW ZEALAND YES 2009FIJI YES 2011VANUATU YES (YOUTH

MONOGRAPH)--

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Future Developments• Many countries are preparing their national

youth policies or are ratifying/revising the existing ones.

• G200 Youth Summit has been organized from 6th April-10th April, 2016.

• International Youth Leadership Conference has been organized from 3rd -8th January, 2016 in Prague.

• New South Wales, Australia will introduce a Youth Health Policy in 2016.

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Thank You