Kathmandu: The National Youth Festival, organized in Kathmandu by Samanwaya Nepal, an organization working on youth issues and concerns, to mark International Youth Day, has concluded with the release of the “Youth Declaration 2026.”
Through the declaration, youth representatives from all seven provinces called for good governance, digital inclusion, decent employment, quality education, healthcare, climate action, and meaningful youth participation in national development.
Conveying a message of advancing multilateral cooperation through technology and partnerships, the declaration outlines 11 commitments and emphasizes collaboration with relevant stakeholders to implement them in the future.
Youth representatives called for the establishment of accessible mechanisms that would enable them to monitor public services, budgets, policies, and development commitments, including on issues affecting young people. They also called for meaningful and institutionalized youth participation in policymaking, planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring at the federal, provincial, and local levels.
The declaration places particular emphasis on inclusion, equality, and the protection of youth rights. It addresses the concerns of young women, persons with disabilities, Dalits, Indigenous peoples, Madhesi communities, rural youth, economically disadvantaged groups, and other marginalized communities.
On technology, youth representatives called for affordable access to digital infrastructure and skills while advocating for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy, digital rights, online safety, and measures to combat misinformation.
Prior to the release of the declaration, two panel sessions were held. The first, titled “Youth Policy Dialogue,” featured Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP and Chief Whip Krantishikha Dhital, Nepali Congress MP Gita Gurung, public policy expert Dr. Prakash Bhattarai, and youth representative Majid Ansari. The discussion focused on the first anniversary of the Gen Z movement, as well as governance, public service delivery, and policy reforms. The second session, titled “Youth and the Digital Future: AI and Privacy,” featured advocate Baburam Aryal, advocate Yogita Rai, and TechPana CEO Bijay Kumar Timilsina.
The event was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Viraj Bhakta Shrestha. Addressing the opening session, Minister Shrestha highlighted the growing mental health challenges among young people and emphasized the need for strong social support systems and meaningful personal connections. He encouraged young people to remain creative and engage actively in public discourse to advocate for their concerns.
Jagdish Ayer, Founder and Executive Director of the host organization, Samanwaya Nepal, said that young people should be viewed not merely as “torchbearers of the future,” but also as “questioners of the present.”
