| As Guyana sets about moving the National Youth Policy out of draft stage, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) has said that concerns regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youths must be up for consideration.On Friday and Saturday,Adam Duvall Jersey, the Ministry of Education hosted a two-day workshop aimed at finalising the National Youth Policy.The working sessions were convened by the government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).According to Founder and Co-Chairman of SASOD, Joel Simpson, a representative from the organisation had been a part of the National Youth Policy workshop.In fact,Jerseys NFL China, he said, SASOD had been a part of the process of crafting the policy for the past couple of years.However, though SASOD has been a part of the consultations for the previous draft National Youth Policy, Simpson said that none of SASOD’s inputs regarding LGBT youths and its vision on how to make improvements has been included in that policy.“So we weren’t happy with that draft at all,” Simpson said.Thus far, he said, the recent workshops have been positive.He said too, that a UNICEF representative had actually consulted with SASOD directly to receive feedback on the way forward with the policy.“We were clearly able to articulate what our issues were,” Simpson said. Nonetheless, he stressed that stronger emphasis must be placed on LGBT youths during the crafting of the policy.According to Simpson, a number of areas needed to be considered,China Soccer Jerseys, including homophobic and transphobic bullying in school by students. He said,David Robinson Jersey, too, that the lack of comprehensive sexual education should be considered when the policy is crafted.“It’s important so that, from an early age, children would stop viewing LGBT children as different. It’s truly a missed opportunity to educate our youths from an early stage,” Simpson saidHe added that employment and the effect of homophobia on livelihoods should come under review.“Because of homophobia,Air Max Outlet Online Italia, many LGBT youths do not complete school and do not gain qualifications for jobs. So we’d like the policy to have youths benefitting from jobs, skills training and entrepreneurship,” he said.Additionally, he said that access to capital for the startup of businesses should be an area reviewed.Simpson emphasised that SASOD will be looking closely at the government as the National Youth Policy is crafted.“This is one of our key areas of focus as LGBT youths are one of the most vulnerable groups,” he said.Furthermore,China Jerseys, he indicated that SASOD is working closely with the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment Aubrey Norton, and the group has already shown its interest in working along with the new administration.“We want to be involved in any task force or group that will monitor the implementation of the policy.” Simpson added.He stressed that any partnership between civil society and the government is the best way to benefit LGBT youths.“We must be partners so we extend a hand of solidarity and hope that civil society and the new administration will work together for mutual interest,” he stated.Recently, Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry had indicated that not only will the policy be given top priority from the new administration,Barry Larkin Jersey, but would also be moved out of the draft stage within the new government’s first 100 days.An updated National Youth Policy has been in the works for a number of years. |
