Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Joycelyn Tetteh Quashie, has called on parliaments around the world to strengthen efforts to protect young people and women from threats to their rights, safety and livelihoods.
Speaking at the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Madam Quashie said the growing impact of armed conflicts, digital violence and climate change required stronger and more coordinated action.
She said young people and women often bear a disproportionate share of the consequences of conflicts, making it necessary for governments and parliaments to prioritise access to education, healthcare and livelihoods.
Madam Quashie also urged lawmakers to ensure that technology serves as a means of empowering people rather than exposing them to abuse.
“Technology must be a tool for empowerment, opportunity and inclusion, not an avenue for the violation of people’s rights. We therefore called for stronger protection against online violence and harassment, greater accountability from technology platforms and improved digital literacy,” she said.
Her remarks formed part of discussions at the conference, which brought together about 100 young parliamentarians from 50 countries under the theme, “Reclaiming human rights, justice and dignity in an increasingly turbulent world.”
Madam Quashie, a two-term MP and Chair of Ghana’s Young Parliamentarians, also played a key role in the conference as Co-Rapporteur for its Outcome Document.
She worked alongside Senator Alisher Sadullaev of Uzbekistan to help capture the concerns, commitments and priorities emerging from the discussions and translate them into a shared parliamentary agenda.
Climate change was another major concern raised by Madam Quashie, who stressed the importance of giving young people a meaningful role in decisions that affect the environment and future generations.
“Another critical part of our existence is a safe and healthy planet. We need to protect today for tomorrow,” she said.
She said the principle of intergenerational justice must remain central to efforts to address climate-related challenges.
The conference also addressed young people’s participation in politics, threats and violations against parliamentarians, violence against women in politics, decent work, skills development and parliamentary action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Madam Quashie further stressed the need for the lessons and commitments from the conference to translate into practical action when participants return to their respective parliaments.
“Human rights, justice and dignity cannot be taken for granted. They must be defended, advanced and made real in the lives of our people,” she said.
The 12th IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians was hosted by the Parliament of Uzbekistan and the IPU Bureau of Young Parliamentarians.
