The legislature’s Education and Culture Committee is today reviewing a draft basic act for youth affairs, which would systematically establish policies across government agencies to support young people.
The bill would hopefully pass during the current legislative session, as legislating youth affairs is an international trend that Taiwan should follow, representatives of Taiwan EdYouth and the Taiwan Youth Association for the Common Good, alongside Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, told a news conference yesterday.
After the legislation is passed, a dedicated agency can integrate government resources to ensure that policies are designed to support young people and that valuing young people becomes a core government principle, DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) said.
Photo courtesy of Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi’s office
Youth participation in public affairs has been thriving in the past few years, with many high-school students actively engaged, Wu said.
Wu suggested that the legislation define 15 as the starting age for youth, allowing more young people to benefit from its safeguards and to participate in public affairs.
There are three main reasons why Taiwan needs a basic youth act, said DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤), the first legislator to propose a youth draft bill.
First, a dedicated agency is needed to coordinate policies horizontally and vertically across government agencies, Wu said.
Second, a systematic approach is required to promote integrated and cohesive policies for youth, she said.
Third, the act would ensure the sustainability of youth policies, making sure that youth interests would continue to be prioritized no matter who is in power, she said.
It is only now that a youth bill has been scheduled for review after years of advocacy, which reflects the challenges faced by young people in Taiwanese society, said DPP Legislator Lin I-chin (林宜瑾), the convener of the Education and Culture Committee.
The act would establish a central agency with authority to collect input from young people and coordinate policies across ministries, effectively addressing youth challenges, DPP Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) said.
The Executive Yuan should submit its own draft act as soon as possible, as 18 different versions have already been sent to the committee for review, including her own, DPP Legislator Chen Hsiu-pao (陳秀寶) said.
A white paper on youth policies should be established in addition to the act, collecting the voices of young people, DPP Legislator Jean Kuo (郭昱晴) said.
The act should cover five key areas — rights protection, government responsibilities, youth participation, education and career development, and social and cultural support, DPP Legislator Ariel Chang (張雅琳) said.
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