By Sean Malloy
The youth organisation Resistance, widely known for its recent campaign around the Fact and Fantasy File Diary, will discuss a charter of youth rights at its national conference in July. The group is seeking suggestions and submissions from young people in the lead-up to the conference.
"The idea is to give students and high school students, young unemployed people and workers, young women, Aborigines, migrants, gays and lesbians, all young people, an opportunity to make a declaration or a statement about their lives", says Resistance assistant national coordinator Jorge Jorquera. "We hope to come up with an action plan that can help to inform and organise young people around the issues they think most pressing.
"We expect the charter will take up issues such as youth wages and jobs. Around 34% of young people these days don't have a job, and in some areas it's 70%. Resistance has also devoted a lot of attention to young people's right to information about sexuality and related health issues so they can make fully informed choices.
"Education is another important issue. Too many people are excluded or forced out of the education system, especially those from working-class backgrounds. Cuts to schools, universities and colleges are making education the privilege of a few rather than available to all.
"We also expect that the charter will take up broader issues including the environment and social justice. We will be organising public meetings and discussions around the country.
"The need for a charter is quite pressing, as there are very few young people's organisations that recognise the need for political action. After the conference we want to popularise the charter through public meetings and help young people to use it as a focus for united action."