Page 17 - EN-Youth Report

Youth Situation

Definition of youth

The adoption of a definition of youth is not easy, especially in the absence
of international consensus on the term and on the existence of a clear
indicator of the age range it defines. The term youth in each country
depends on a variety of political, social and cultural factors. For the purposes

of this mapping, it was agreed to define the age group 16-25 years as the
definition of young people, with a slight deviation from UNESCO's definition
of young people as between the ages of 15 and 24, and adolescents aged
from10 to 19
1
Analysis of rights and needs

Syrian youth can play a large role if their potential is properly furthered to
ease tensions in Syria and stabilize the country. The persistence of violence
because of political obstruction, and the military targeting of residential
neighborhoods and siege tactics used by the Syrian regime against all areas
outside of its control, have resulted in dire humanitarian conditions. In this
dangerous context, young people are among the most vulnerable and
marginalized groups, after they were among the first to advocate for a
change in political engagement in 2011. This has by large led to their

separation from their communities and increasing disappointment with their
future. Contrary to being included in the decision-making process, youth are
facing increased marginalization and exclusion from society, while remaining
unable to improve their living conditions. As such, instead of playing their
role as agents of positive social change, many youths have become
increasingly prone to resort to negative defense mechanisms, including
mobilizing radical ideologies and engaging in violent extremism
Although some local government institutions have worked on developing

their capabilities over the past years, including the ability to absorb young
people and address their issues, the ongoing state of violence has
consistently undermined the ability of youth to cope with the difficult living
conditions forced on them. For this reason, in addition to the absence of an

1 United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Empowering Youth through National Policies, Euromissile,
Paris, 2004

17 | MAPPING YOUTH SITUATION IN NORTHWESTERN SYRIA