National Institute for Youth and Democracy introduces Moroccan youth to politics

03/03/2006

The recently formed Moroccan National Institute for Youth and Democracy aims to equip political parties with a tool for training young people in the values of democracy.

By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 03/03/06

[File] El Gahs hopes the institute will spur youth political involvement

Established by the Moroccan secretary of state for youth, the National Institute for Youth and Democracy is a programme to encourage young people to engage in political action. It will organise training sessions, symposiums and conferences to bring young people closer to the constitutional institutions of the country, introduce them to the mechanisms of political action and teach them the principles of political communication and techniques for expressing themselves and organising political demonstrations.

The institute, which was launched on Monday (27 February), will be run by young people. While presenting the project to the country's main parties and political organisations, Secretary of State for Youth Mohamed El Gahs said the institute is being established to encourage young people to participate in political life, adding that this initiative should boost activity among political youth organisations. "These organisations are called upon to unify their efforts in education towards democracy and political participation," he said, noting that the success of Morocco's transition to democracy relies on the preparation of a political elite who would work to preserve and strengthen what has already been achieved.

Moroccan political organisations have welcomed the initiative, describing it as "courageous and audacious". They noted that this initiative would not only boost political action, but also contribute to the country's economic and social development.

El Gahs feels democracy in Morocco has built up values, traditions and experiences that will allow it to offer young people objective and convincing reasons to consider what is in the general interest. He thinks the general interest should prevail as a common aim, despite plurality and differences. "This is a school for democracy, for citizenship and political participation and will not under any circumstances be exploited for party political ends," he concluded.