STORY: Youth engagement vital to advancing peace and

political progress in Somalia, says UN envoy

TRT: 3:11
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ SOMALI/ NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 29TH JULY MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST

1. Wide shot, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James

Swan, addressing the youths at a meeting on youth empowerment
2. Close up shot, UN Secretary -General’s Special Representative for Somalia,
James Swan addressing the youth at a meeting on youth empowerment
3. Med shot, youths attending the meeting
4. Wide shot, youths listening during the meeting
5. Med shot, group of youths listening during the meeting
6. Med shot, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James
Swan giving his opening remarks during the meeting
7. Med shot, youth taking part in the meeting giving her remarks
8. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) JAMES SWAN, UN SECRETARY- GENERAL’S SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOMALIA
“We want to see young Somalis recognized as partners in decision making for
the country and people who can contribute to issues that concern society as
a whole not just youth.”
9. Wide shot, youths taking part in a marathon
10. Med shot, youths taking part in a marathon
11. Med shot, youths crossing the finish line during the marathon
12. Med shot, youths crossing the finish line during the marathon
13. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) JAMES SWAN, UN SECRETARY- GENERAL’S SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOMALIA
“We think prospects for lasting peace in Somalia would be improved if young
people feel represented if they participation in political life, if they have a say
in national political dialogue and ultimately show their stake and involvement
in the country’s future.”
14. Wide shot, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia,
James Swan, listening to a question posed by one of the youths during the
meeting
15. Med shot, youths listening during meeting
16. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) JAMES SWAN, UN SECRETARY- GENERAL’S SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOMALIA
 “We look forward to hearing some of the specific ideas about actions that
need to be taken that will help ensure more prominent role for the youth in
decision making here in Somalia.”

17. Med shot, moderator giving his remarks during the second session of the
meeting
18. Wide shot, moderator giving his remarks during the second session of the
meeting
19. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) GEORGE CONWAY, UN SECRETARY-GENERAL’S
DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOMALIA
“We know that this is a critical couple of years for Somalia. The
constitutional review process is moving ahead. The country is gearing up for
one-person, one-vote elections by 2020 according to the current plan. The
government has recently launched a national reconciliation framework that
seeks to bring communities together at different levels around the country to
build a more peaceful stable Somalia and your participation in these
processes is fundamental to ensure that they are credible that the results of
these processes are seen to be legitimate.”

20. Med shot, youths taking part in group discussion during the meeting
21. Med shot, youths writing discussion points on a flip-chart
22. Med shot, youth writing discussion points on a flip-chart
23. Wide shot, youth making his presentation after a group discussion
24. Med shot, moderator making a presentation during the meeting
25. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) ANDERS THOMSEN, UNITED NATIONS POPULATION
FUND REPRESENTATIVE
“In order to build peace, to build safe and secure place for all Somalis or
young Somalis in the entire country, we have to invest in young people to
achieve that peace, to achieve that safe space where everyone, men and
women can talk and can participate in the democratic process.”
26. Wide shot, youths and UN officials applauding after the meeting

Youth engagement vital to advancing peace and political progress in Somalia, says
UN envoy

Mogadishu, 30 July 2019 –The United Nations in Somalia will continue to help young
people develop initiatives to ensure their active participation in the country's
ongoing political processes – that was the message from the world body’s envoy to
the country at a gathering of Somali youth in the capital yesterday.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, was

speaking with young activists from across the country at a two-day youth
empowerment and engagement dialogue at which they discussed how best to help
youth participate actively in political processes – including the ongoing constitutional
review process, national reconciliation dialogue and preparations for national
elections in 2020.
"We think prospects for lasting peace in Somalia will be improved if young people
feel represented. If they participate in political life, and if they have a say in the
national dialogue, they can ultimately show their stake and involvement in the
country's future," Mr. Swan said.

The review of Somalia's constitution was launched in May last year at a national
convention held in Mogadishu and attended by more than 350 representatives from
the federal government, federal member states, civil society and the diaspora. The
process is meant to lead to a permanent constitution, which will replace the
provisional one, adopted in 2012.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and other UN agencies
are advocating for the active participation of youth and women in the process to
ensure that the final document reflects the views of all Somalis.

Reflect society’s composition

Also speaking at the two-day event – organised by UNSOM, the UN Population Fund
(UNFPA), Sweden's Folke Bernadotte Academy and the MAAN Organization, a forum
for Somali young professionals – was the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special
Representative for Somalia, George Conway. He emphasized the need for political
processes in Somalia to reflect the composition of society.

"We keep hearing that Somali youth are the voice of the future – but in a country
where 80 per cent of the population is younger than 35, Somalia's youth are very
much the voice of today," said Mr. Conway, who also serves as the world body’s
Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

“Your participation in these processes is fundamental to ensure that they are

credible and that they are seen by the people to be legitimate,” he added.

Somalia has one of the youngest populations in the world. Experts believe that the
active participation of youth in decision-making processes is vital for Somalia's
stability.

“We are already participating in politics in some ways, like through our own
organisations and local initiatives, but we also want to participate in the formal
political processes” said one of the event’s participants, 22-year-old Sahra, a leader
of a local young women’s organisation.

In his remarks, Mr. Conway observed that the United Nations, in support of the
federal government, will step-up efforts to advocate for the involvement of youth in
formal decision-making processes related to some of the critical political
benchmarks.
He also noted that youth more generally should be engaged informally through
advocacy, community mobilisation and raising public awareness on critical issues
around the country.

The youth representatives pledged to be more active at the grassroots level by

participating in public forums and education programmes that influence political
participation.

“Dialogues like this are very important, but now it’s our job, as Somali youth, to take
the conversation beyond these walls and reach the youth that aren't sitting around
the table,” said another participant from Banaadir, 28-year-old Mohamed.

“We need to expand the circles, diversify the voices and make sure all youth,
regardless of where they live, understand how they can contribute to improving
Somalia,” he added.

UNSOM’s mandate includes a reaffirmation of the importance of the full, equal and
effective participation of all Somalis, including youth, among others, and “urges the
Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States to increase
representation and participation of women and youth at all decision-making levels.”

*****