- Nat’l Youth Statement recommends youth-centred, gender responsive, non-discriminatory, & accessible professional mental health services
- Notes need to address mental & reproductive health issues & interconnected problems such as substance use
As part of the country’s efforts to empower the young population, Sri Lanka should implement youth-centred, gender responsive, non-discriminatory, and accessible mental health services equipped with professionals providing youth-friendly health services in order to address mental health issues and reproductive health issues, along with interconnected areas such as substance use.
This recommendation was included in the National Youth Statement submitted to the Government based on the National Youth Consultation held recently in the lead up to the United Nations’ (UN) Summit of the Future of this year. The Youth Statement was drafted by 72 young persons representing the nine provinces of Sri Lanka and was reviewed by UN agencies in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.
The Youth Statement outlined a number of challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s youth as identified by the youth representatives and also recommendations to respond to those challenges. The Consultation called on all stakeholders to commit to advancing the identified priorities, creating a supportive environment where young people can thrive, and catalyse meaningful change.
“The dual economic and governance crises have intensified economic and social conditions in Sri Lanka, exposing young people like us and other marginalised groups to multiple intersecting vulnerabilities that hinder progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the youth representatives said, adding that the comprehensive recommendations presented in the Youth Statement reflect their determination to address the pressing issues affecting health, gender equality, climate resilience, education, and political participation.
Current challenges
The youth representatives explained several key challenges faced by young people, which they said will persist as obstacles for future generations if left unaddressed.
“Due to limited opportunities, regional disparities, the lack of support for young entrepreneurs, skills mismatch, and gender related differences, young people are facing several challenges in accessing decent jobs, with gender minorities facing additional barriers of lower pay and harsher conditions hindering the economic empowerment of young people,” the Youth Statement noted.
“Significant barriers in accessing quality education due to the mismatch of the curriculum with existing labour market demands, the lack of growth in digital tools and materials, the notable digital divide, and the gap in mentoring for 21st Century skills, including digital literacy and innovation, all lead to disparities in the knowledge and skills of youth,” it said, adding that regional disparities and gender disparities further exacerbate the problem with young women and gender minorities lacking equal opportunities in decision-making platforms related to education and gender equality.
The Youth Statement stressed that young people also face challenges when accessing rights based healthcare. It added that the shortage of skilled medical professionals to provide youth friendly health services, exacerbated by recent economic migrations, severely impacts the availability of care, especially for marginalised youth and those living with disabilities. According to the youth representatives, cultural and social stigmas surrounding sexual and reproductive health lead to issues such as unplanned pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted infections, and mental health concerns, which remain persistent barriers for young people.
With regard to mental health in young people, the Youth Statement noted that the stigmatisation of mental health has led to high suicide rates and widespread reluctance among youth to seek mental health services. It observed that the lack of awareness on support mechanisms and restricted access has resulted in adverse mental health impacts on young people, including the increased use of alcohol or tobacco.
“In terms of political participation and civic engagement, young people face several challenges due to generational divides, stigmatisation, and mostly due to low political literacy. Often exploited within harmful political cultures, youth feel discouraged from engaging in meaningful ways. The lack of opportunities for meaningful engagement in nation building and sustainable development, combined with generational power imbalances, creates an unjust environment for youth leadership. Unmet expectations and the degradation of ethical values further hinder youth participation, which is often tokenistic and offers limited real influence on decision-making.”
The Youth Statement pointed out that the climate crisis significantly impacts young people overall, with several challenges exacerbating their pre-existing vulnerabilities, and that in addition, there is limited accessibility and inclusivity for persons with disabilities in climate related initiatives and broader societal participation.”
Young people’s recommendations
The youth representatives put forward a number of recommendations which they referred to as transformative actions that are of critical importance to the development of youth.
The creation of youth centred programs focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career guidance in order to encourage the participation of youth in policy making processes and to ensure that their voices influence decisions affecting their economic future is one of the key recommendations.
“Stronger policies against workplace sexual harassment and non-discriminatory laws that address pay gaps in both the public and private sectors and developing comprehensive, zero-tolerance and inclusive policies and establishing independent bodies to handle complaints confidentially are needed. In addition, a safe work environment, especially for young women and gender minorities, encourages more young people to engage in employment. To support gender minorities in the workplace, we recommend introducing inclusive job recruitment and application policies, providing stigma reducing inclusion training, and mandating accommodations such as medical leave.”
The Youth Statement recommended that the education system should be shifted towards a learner-centric model with improved digital infrastructure to enhance access to education across urban and rural areas. It added that education reforms should align with the current needs of young people and the education system, including technical and vocational education, to provide young people with the skills required in the 21st Century. In order to promote digital literacy, it was further recommended that resources should be allocated to address the digital divide and to ensure inclusive digital infrastructure along with capacity building workshops for educators, leveraging social platforms to amplify educational innovation, and ensuring access to technology for all students, especially those from marginalised communities.
“The implementation of age appropriate health education, including comprehensive sexuality education, from the primary school is crucial in ensuring that this information is accessible both in and out of the school.”
The Youth Statement said that it advocates for the decriminalisation of laws against diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as safe abortion, in line with recommendations from judicial and international human rights bodies.
With regard to climate related action, it was recommended: “Enhance climate education and awareness by establishing youth led councils and committees within Government and civil society organisations, ensuring direct involvement in climate action planning and implementation. Developing climate resilient and sustainable agricultural practices including subsidies for innovative farming solutions, the integration of climate smart agriculture into policy, and the promotion of sustainable consumption practices at the local level can bolster resilience. For inclusivity, we request collaboration with expert institutions and leadership programs for people with disabilities to ensure their meaningful participation in climate action.”
In addition, the Youth Statement recommended the establishment of platforms for capacity building in civic and political empowerment and to create inclusive digital platforms to enable meaningful community engagement. The introduction of a youth quota for political representation at all decision making levels and the integration of political literacy and civic engagement into the education curriculum are also crucial. Strengthening value based and ethical leadership practices, establishing a national institute to protect youth political candidates' rights, and encouraging young people's effective political participation, were also among the recommendations pertaining to political participation. The youth representatives further proposed to develop a National Action Plan for Youth, a Peace and Security Agenda with a national commitment and a multi-stakeholder collaborative process for meaningful youth participation for sustainable peace and security under the UN Security Council Resolution 2250.
“Further strengthening and implementation of the National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security, the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Policy, the Women Empowerment Act, the National Action Plan to Combat Sexual and Gender Based Violence, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and other relevant conventions and treaties are of importance in ensuring inclusivity and gender equality across all areas of concern,” the Youth Statement added.