In an address he made in connection with the RIGHTS project operated by the Foundation for the Good of Society, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that children and young people are an important part of the changes that our country must make to rise ‘ to the next level, the quality.
Dr Abela was speaking in front of a new milestone linked to the RIGHTS project where more than half of the local councils in our country now have local children’s councils and even at a regional level. In fact, there are currently 39 councils of this type that strengthen the activism of children and young people in localities around the country. These types of councils are expected to increase more in the coming months through work with the local government and European funds obtained for this project.
The prime minister welcomed with satisfaction that one year after the launch of this project he is seeing more than half of the local councils partner in RIGHTS. He said he wants to see more local councils participating in favor of active communities in the discussion and implementation of what affects children and young people. He said that the changes that our country must go through in important sectors such as the environment, education are children and young people as catalysts that also spur thinking. “Children and young people are not only part of the decisions of the future but also of today,” claimed Prime Minister Robert Abela.
He praised this initiative led by President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and explained how the government remains convinced that young people and children have an important role and their voice must continue to be heard. Here he referred to the Youth Advisory Forum and explained how the RIGHTS project fosters children and young people to have a greater part in the time to come in other forums that discuss and decide on important themes for the country.
The Prime Minister referred to an important reform brought by the government in favor of Vote-16 and the one that young people of 16 and 17 years will be able to run localities if they are given the trust of the electorate. “It was not the most popular decision but with conviction we brought about another change with which we believed more in the capacity of young people,” said Dr. Abela. He also said that in this country we must continue to listen to the voices of everyone, including children and young people who have their own aspirations. “Our role is to create the best opportunities so that their dreams do not remain on paper but become a reality,” said the prime minister, stressing that a strong Malta means having communities that serve the needs theirs as part of modern democracy.
Photos: OPM
