Although discussions and initiatives on Climate Change have grabbed the headlines at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009, the main issue on the agenda of the Commonwealth’s young people was “Youth Involvement in Decision Making.”

The Commonwealth Youth Forum officially closed on Friday night after seven days of intense work and some play but the work was not finished because on Saturday, the Youth Dialogue was held. This comprised of a selection of delegates from the Youth Forum in discussions with Heads of State where the case for decision making inclusion was once again put forward by the youth.

“This was the topic most vigorously debated”, according to Youth Forum Delegate Prunella Mungroo of Trinidad and Tobago. The Caricom Youth Ambassador said “Involvement in the decision making process will aid in addressing the issues in all the thematic areas discussed at CYF 7.”

Kavuma Samuel of Uganda passionately supported his counterpart by adding “Young people must have representation.” He went on to explain “In democratic systems, young people can be appointed to articulate the views of youth in the country, at all levels, Local Government, Parliament and even the Senate, where applicable.”
“The Youth must be empowered to operate” Samuel went on to say, “and with this empowerment will come the ability to make a stronger contribution in addressing global problems.”

Prunella expressed her satisfaction with the progress made at CYF 7 but was surprised to see such commonality in the issues confronting the Youth of the Commonwealth. “Everyone voiced concerns about unemployment, health, the global economy and climate change; therefore it was not difficult to get on the same page.”

 Coming out of the Forum she expects “Strong structures to be set up for the inclusion of youth in the decision making process and for those initiatives to bear fruit in order for young people to take up their active position.”

“Best practices” is what Samuel said will come out of CYF 7 and he hopes “it will have a multiplying effect, with each delegate spreading the word and encouraging those receiving, to spread it further.”

He closed by saying “It is not too early for the inclusion of the youth in decision making because all the agreements that are signed today, young people will have to implement them tomorrow.” It’s that simple.