Draft of national youth policy launched

A national youth policy has been drafted by government and is now in its preliminary phase of consultation, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Chris Agius announced this morning.

The policy focuses on the needs of youngsters aged 13 to 30, focusing on the five-year period between 2015 and 2020.

It aims to improve the access, means, participation, integration and inclusion of youngsters in society, through sectors like work and education, whilst allowing for a diverse demographic.

"This government believes in the country's youth and believes that they should be given every opportunity, as well as the tools to succeed, as their contribution strengthens society," Said said.

"Youngsters should be the fulcrum for every society, primarily because of their creativity and their, at times, alternative views on life. These factors can only help the country's economic cycle gain in strength."

Explaining that the draft policy will soon be presented for consultation to the relevant stakeholders such as the political parties, various ministries, the Church, non-governmental youth agencies and government ones, as well as the general public, the parliamentary secretary spoke of the importance of an inclusive national politics for youngsters.

"This can only transpire if tangible results are offered to youths, families and communities so that they can benefit from this style of politics," he said. "

Meanwhile, Miriam Teuma, Chairperson of the committee undertaking the policy, said that the document focused on three issues.

"We analysed the current state of youngsters in Malta, their development over time and the difference in their lifestyle trends," she said. "We also compared these results to similar studies carried out across the European Union."

Teuma explained that one cannot draft a national youth policy without first having a clear idea of what state the country's demographics are in.