ANC, DA, EFF AND AGANG SA DEBATE HOW THEY INTEND TO ADVANCE YOUTH RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Thursday, 24 April, 17:00 for 17:30 - 19:00 IJR offices, 105 Hatfield Street, Gardens, Cape Town Members of the media are invited to participate in an election debate, which will specifically seek to address issues of intergenerational justice, in the run up to 7 May 2014 general elections.

Two thirds of South Africa’s population is younger than 35, and in any democracy worth its salt the manifestos of political parties should reflect the priorities of numerical majorities such as these. But is this the case in the upcoming elections that will coincide with the celebration of two decades of democracy, and where the first cohort of young people that were born after the transition of 1994 (commonly referred to as ‘born frees’) will have their first opportunity to vote in a national election?

This election debate, hosted by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), with its focus on intergenerational justice, will ask party representatives to respond to how they intend to address the interests of youth. It will furthermore ask to what extent their manifestos are forward-looking in not only embracing the interests of new voters but also those that are too young to vote or not yet born, beyond the 2014 poll.

In democracies across the world it has become common practice for political parties to exploit short term fears and make unrealistic promises, more often than not, at the expense of future generations. From this perspective elections can inflict long-term damage that reverberates across generations. Will South Africa’s 2014 elections be any different?

Join the discussion at IJR on Thursday, 24 April 2014, at 17:00 for 17:30.

Please confirm your attendance to Zyaan Davids, IJR Communications Coordinator, on 021 202 4071 or zdavids@ijr.org.za. Limited seating is available.