The Youth Act highlights the roles and responsibilities of the youth and how they can engage in activities that promote peace-building in the country.

The National Youth Act was passed by the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, October 7, following the reading of a communication from its committee chair on Youth and Sports, J. Jonathan Barney.

The communication, which was dated October 3, recommended to the body to “pass” the Bill, as it was in the interest of the youthful population of the country.

Commenting further on the Bill, Tamba said the concurrence on the part of the senators signals a boost for the young people of the country, as well as a challenge to them to take on leadership roles that promote the future of youths.

In an interview with the Liberia News Agency after the passage of the Youth Act on Tuesday, Tamba indicated that the Act highlights the roles of youths, in ensuring that they take initiatives and promote the spirit of national service, volunteerism, and self-help activities, through equal opportunity, civil responsibility and active participation at all levels.

According to him, the youth of Liberia must see the passage of the Act as a major step forward in addressing the pressing issues confronting youth across the country, as they most often form part of the majority of vulnerable persons.

Tamba cited the high rate of pregnancy among youths between the ages 15 and 19, and unemployment as some of the urgent issues that need redress, as it sometimes exposes the group to danger, something, he said, the Act also seeks to address.

On September 9, 2013, the House of Representatives passed the Act following scrutiny of the document forwarded to the body by its committees on Youth and Sports and Judiciary, headed by Representatives Lester Paye and Samuel Karmo.
LINA WTD/GDJ/TSS/PTK/JKW