Witness Center and Kashef Platform Discuss Youth Empowerment and Enhancing Political Participation

Witness Center for Citizen Rights and Community Development and Kashef Platform participated in a roundtable discussion organized by the Coalition of Youth Organizations in Palestine, entitled: “The Role of Civil Society in Enhancing the Political Participation of Palestinian Youth.”

Their participation reflected the importance of strengthening the presence of Palestinian youth in public life and ensuring that their political participation extends beyond voting to include broader forms of engagement, influence, and decision-making.

During the discussion, colleague Riham Abu Atiyeh delivered an intervention entitled “The Youth Voice: How Do We View Participation Today?”, addressing several key issues related to youth participation, most notably:

• Moving beyond the narrow understanding of political participation as being limited to electoral processes, toward a broader and more inclusive concept of civic and political engagement.
• The importance of empowering young people and providing supportive environments and safe, interactive spaces where they can express their views and actively contribute to public affairs.
• Strengthening young people’s critical thinking skills and enhancing their ability to verify information and media content before sharing it, particularly amid the growing challenges of the digital environment.

We extend our thanks to the Coalition of Youth Organizations in Palestine for organizing this discussion and look forward to continued joint efforts toward practical initiatives and interventions that strengthen the presence and participation of Palestinian youth in public life.