National Council to host  2nd Junior Council session 

By Maria Kandjungu
THE National Council will this  week host the Second Session  of the First Junior National  Council (JNC) under the theme  “Enhancing partnership to strengthen  good governance in Namibia.”  The two-day session is scheduled  from 30 – 31 August and will consist  of 42 learners from grade 10 to 12,  from different schools countrywide.  The learners come together and sit  in the National Council chamber to  discuss different issues affecting the  Namibian nation and make recommendation  to parliamentarians for  consideration.  During this year’s session, the  group will touch on issues such as  effects of human trafficking on the  youth, cyber crimes, involvement  of the youth in enhancing economic  and social development, youth participation  in the budgeting process  at local and national level, amongst  other topics.  Inaugurated in 2017, the JNC is  the mouthpiece of school-going  youth in Namibia through which  they voice their opinions and debate  matters of national and international  concern. The youth body  was formalised by way of a motion  passed by the National Council in  2013. lts composition mirrors that  of its senior counterparts, with three  members from the 14 Junior Regional  Councils, which culminates  in the 42 members of the Junior National  Council. The members of the  JNC are nominated in their regions  through a process based on their  leadership skills and ability to debate  issues of common interest.  According to statement issued by  NC, the Junior Council is one of  the many initiatives of the NC in  achieving its strategic goal of “Enhancing  Public Participation in the  Law-Making Process”. This programme  further aims to develop basic  understanding of parliamentary  functions and practices, legislative  procedures as well as the importance  of review and oversight in law making  amongst the Namibian society,  more especially the youth.