MSDYesterday, on Thursday, a number of Syrian youth discussed in Raqqa the role of youth in the democratic transition in Syria, at a dialogue symposium called for by the Syrian Democratic Youth Council.
The symposium was held at the SDC meeting hall in Raqqa, in the presence of more than 50 young men and women from the youth, political parties, youth movements and bodies in Raqqa, Tabqa and Deir ez-Zor.
The symposium was begun with a speech by Mr. Hassan Muhammad Ali, the Co-chair of the Relations Bureau of the Syrian Democratic Council, stressing the importance of the role of young people who lead the revolutions by dynamism, knowledge, awareness, movement, and access to a youth organization that includes all young forms by making the existing youth a center of attraction, launch, and a model for all of Syria.
“This goal which is an influence and access to the forefront, can only be achieved by developing awareness, knowledge, institutional and organizational aspects, and networking relations, in addition to the social aspect because our country needs the strength, minds and vigor of youth under the difficult situations” Muhammad Ali added.
The symposium consisted of two themes, the first of which was the national identity and the effects of the war practiced by several parties, such as the Turkish and Damascus governments, on the youth.
Mahmoud Al-Yateem, the Co-chair of the Youth and Sports Committee in Tabqa, explained that the youth people have been marginalized since the Middle Ages, and even regarding the Syrian case before the crisis, the constitution was changed to fit only specific persons, but not for the youth to have any political representation, unlike today, where each party or movement has this segment of youth for its importance.
On the other hand, Malek Al-Muhammed, a youth activist in Deir ez-Zor, pointed out the reasons for the youth’s distancing from the national identity, such as war, the succession of authorities since ancient times, and the directing of youth energies towards the West countries, in addition to the use of methods that harm young people, such as spreading drugs among them.
Meanwhile, Anas Al-Marfooa, a member of the SDC Relations Committee in Deir ez-Zor, participated in the symposium by emphasizing the strengthening national identity by reviving the common history, culture and seminars, investing youth energies and preventing them from directing towards plans and projects that are hostile to the approach of liberation and values in society.
While the second theme of the symposium dealt with the steps of democratic transition in Syria, reaching a radical resolution for all outstanding issues, ensuring the access of the Syrian people of all sects to safety, methods of development and construction, ways of resolving and facing difficulties.
Where Malek Al-Muhammed who is from Deir ez-Zor stated that the resolution must be settled by Syrians without any external interference and on Syrian territories, and the need for the Youth Council to participate in any program proposed to resolve the Syrian crisis, and for youth movements to have an action program to implement in society according to the political situation, especially after the raging conflict in the region.
While Bushra Al-Youssef dealt with the Young Women’s Bureau in Raqqa to organize the ranks of young people and educate them, through training courses held by the young women.
Ali Al-Hussein called the Training Committee in Deir ez-Zor called for intensifying courses and lectures to educate young people.
Moro Al-Ali, the youth administrator in Al-Tabqa, denounced the lack of youth participation in decision-making positions, and noted that youth today can access and participate in decision-making centers, especially within the Autonomous Administration areas.
Nasser Nassero, the head of the Relations Bureau of the Syrian Democratic Youth Council, spoke about the pioneering role of youth since the beginning of the revolutionary movement in Syria, which was the base for construction of all civil and military institutions.
In conclusion, the organizers of this symposium stated that it is the seventh symposium at the level of Syria after Aleppo, Manbij, Al-Hasakah and Qamishli. As the aim is to organize the ranks of the youth and supervise them, and to have a role and opinion for them.
