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24 June 2008

Pursuant to its quest to ensuring that youth continue to play a critical role in social transformation, reconstruction and development in the post apartheid South Africa, Parliament created the Youth Parliament, a platform for youth to debate contemporary issues affecting them.

However, three years into the Youth Parliament, despite the global mid-point race to fulfilling the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs), young people especially from Africa are still hard hit by poverty and unemployment. South African youth are no exception to these challenges, many of the youth in the country are unemployed and many live in impoverished households. It is against this backdrop and the 2008 Parliamentary theme that Parliament will be hosting its fourth Youth Parliament under the theme Parliament empowering the youth of South Africa for poverty eradication

Poverty, unemployment and inequality are the root causes of human rights abuse and Parliament, in line with its oversight function and informed by its vision, views eradication of poverty and promotion of sustained development as a moral obligation.

In reviewing the three previous Youth Parliaments, it is important to review progress made in terms of recommendations that have yielded from the previous Youth Parliaments events to ascertain what the impact has been on youth development in the country. The report back in terms of progress made is valuable as the third democratic Parliament reaches the end of its term. The report coming out of the review which will take place, will serve as a guide in the next parliamentary term. For Parliament to make headway in facing the challenges in relation to creating a better life for the youth sector, Youth Parliament provides a consultative forum between policy makers and the youth.

Date: 26 to 27 June 2008
Venues: Old Assembly -Parliament of RSA (Cape Town)
Theme: Parliament empowering the youth of South Africa for poverty eradication

Issued: South African Parliament
24 June 2008
Source: South African Parliament (http://www.parliament.gov.za)