Four minor opposition parties, alongside the Better Together for NextGen Taiwan organization, yesterday urged a speedy and rational review of a draft youth basic act, ensuring the law would become the principal legislation for youth-related policies, as the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee conducted an item-by-item review of the draft act.
Taiwan is suffering intergenerational injustice in politics, as highlighted by the rapid passage of the Act Promoting Development for Strong Generation Policies and Industries (壯世代政策與產業發展促進法) proposed by then-Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) last year, New Power Party deputy secretary-general Liu Pin-chen (劉品辰) said.
The act gives the older “strong generation” more power, resources and the right to speak out over young people or the so-called sandwich generation, Liu said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
The legislature should pass the youth basic act with the same gusto it passed the “strong generation” act, Liu said.
People who are 18 years old are eligible to serve their mandatory military service, pay taxes and shoulder other obligations, yet they cannot vote outside of referendums, Liu said, adding that this is an injustice.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party Chairman Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) said that the party supports the bill, as it would guarantee that youth rights are a part of basic law.
The party supports the legislation, as it ensures that youth rights would be considered when forming policy, and that governments across all levels would have a bureaucratic system for youth affairs, Wang said.
The party also wants to allow people to vote when they reach the age of 18, and to establish a local youth democracy review committee that would allow young people to countersign any local legislation being passed, he said.
Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party secretary-general Ho Yu-jung (何語蓉) said youth participation mechanics are only skin-deep and the act, if passed, would grant a legal basis for youth rights and obligations.
Green Party Taiwan general convener Kan Chung-wei (甘崇緯) said the party supports writing into the act the rights that 18-year-olds should enjoy, adding that youth participation is necessary for democracy to continue.
Better Together for NextGen Taiwan secretary-general Huang Chung-hsien (黃種賢) said that all problems pertaining to young people are intergenerational, adding that young people are not some form of sub-adults and are active members of society.
Huang said young people’s capabilities and autonomy should be acknowledged, and that youth participation is necessary for Taiwanese society.
The term “strong generation” refers to the generation born after World War II, aged 55 or older.
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