Youth Human Rights & Youth Political Participation in the Virgin Islands (U.S.): Empowering our youngest citizens

“Our children are our future.” We have heard this statement time and time again, however, have we taken the time to provide our youngest citizens with the tools necessary for their success? What are these tools of success?  I had the great opportunity spending much of the month of June and most recently this past Saturday, speaking with upcoming young leaders, having them serve as guests on my program. I also reached out to other upcoming youth leaders utilizing the power of the internet, namely the premier social networking site: Facebook. I agree with the sentiments expressed by the owner and co-host of a local radio program (I called into the program last week).  He stated that our  young people must learn responsibility, i.e., how to fend for themselves, but this he stressed, requires proper preparation in the area of hands-on training and experience. On May 8, 2009 Governor deJongh held a summit on Poverty & Economic Opportunity, entitled  “A Call to Action: The Road to Family Economic Success”. I applauded him in his efforts, viewing the conference as a first step in dealing with the issue of poverty in the Virgin Islands, however I also expressed during the Panel Discussion on Family Structure, that young people should have been incorporated into the conference and should be included in decision-making, as there we were discussing what children need. Did we ask them?

Now turning to a youthful leader, President Barack Obama, who said it best (on the topic of youth participation) during his visit to Ghana. In speaking before the Ghanaian Parliament on July 12, 2009, President Obama spoke about the importance of young people's participation and the support for their advancement, stating that it is, among other items, critical to the continents’ advancement and way forward to end the corruption. So, now how does this matter fit into the human rights framework? Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to participate in decision-making processes that may be relevant in their lives and to influence decisions taken in their regard—within the family, the school or the community (Note: The United States, along with Somalia, remain the only two nations, a party to the UN, who have not ratified this celebrated document). For too long young people have been tokenized and as expressed by one of my former youth guests,  “…the support for children in our territory is wishy-washy”.  Our young people must be prepared to go out into the world and we must support them in their efforts.  The movement is forward, i.e., a push for the genuine participation of our youngest citizens in the decisions that also effect their lives both right now and into the future! Heal the World as our late brother, humanitarian, musical prophet: Michael Jackson, sang,  make it a better place for you and for me! Let us make a better society for our children and by extension a better world for our children!