Speakers at a discussion marking International Youth Day on Friday stressed the need for more involvement of youth in policy-making.

Brac Youth Platform organised the discussion on "Unleashing the power of young people towards a new Bangladesh: Ageism as a barrier’ today in the city.

Youth employment, health, access to justice and good governance, and political participation dominated the open discussion, according to a press release.

BRAC's Migration Programme and Youth Initiatives head Shariful Hasan said empowering the youth, their views prevail at BRAC. But unfortunately in Bangladesh, the youth do not dominate the policy-making space.

“The involvement of youth in policy making and decision making is very necessary,” he added.

The speakers also discussed the limited opportunities of the youth and its possible causes at various stages of decision-making, programme management, planning and implementation at the state, social and institutional levels.

Read: Int’l Youth Day: TIB for suitable environment to utilise youths for development

The issues of proper recognition, initiatives and contributions of youths were also emphasised in the discussion.

BRAC’s Youth Platform, a recently initiated programme, is working with several initiatives to assist youths in developing their innovative and creative capacities, ensuring mental and physical health and wellbeing, and promoting their participation in solving social issues.

It has also established the Amra Notun Network to develop and integrate individual and social empowerment and values, innovative skills and leadership qualities of the youths. Through this network, BRAC’s Youth Platform provides regular training to young people, particularly aged from 18 to 25 years, and supports them to implement community projects.