The younger generation should have more of a voice in governance as they are the leaders in technology, which is most dominant in this modern era, says Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy governor Sanon Wangsrangboon.
“The challenge we face today is the generation gap, not just in Thailand but globally,” said Mr Sanon, adding that “we must accept that the past and present are distinct. In today’s world, the new generation is leading the way, yet we continue to place older people in power”.
Due to this, people who understand new technological trends still have a small voice when it comes to making decisions at local or national level, he said.
Mr Sanon spoke at a recent online forum hosted by Unicef titled the “International Knowledge Exchange Forum on Youth Participation in Local Governance”.
“The BMA recognises the importance of youth participation and advocates for its youth council to represent younger voices,” he said before emphasising that current council functions are “outdated”.
According to the Bangkok deputy governor, the current number of representatives on the youth council is already sufficient.
In a move to increase the voice of youths in local governance, the BMA will create an online and offline platform that allows the younger generations to share their opinions and to be heard, he said.
The platform and the activity space, tools, budget, and resources are expected to be completed by the end of March. “I believe the platform will be an open system in which everyone will be able to participate,” he said.
Watwaree Chaimongkol, a university student and member of Unicef’s Young People Advisory Board (YPAB), cites two key obstacles to young people participating in local politics.
Many youths have never been active in local government, with the main impediment being a lack of awareness on accessing it or its procedures, she said.
Another concern is a lack of knowledge and inexperience in the relevant background, which makes them feel left out, she explained, pointing out that while some organisations and conferences help provide background information on the subject to youth participants, more needs to be done to encourage them to participate.
Encouraging communication among the younger generation is crucial for driving society forward, she said.
“To achieve this, they need to interact with one another, not just exchange ideas with adults,” she added.
“I am optimistic about the future of youth participation in governance, and I truly hope it will align with the vision my colleagues and I are working towards,” Ms Watwaree said.