Staff Correspondent
Norwegian Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen recently inaugurated a seminar titled "Listen to the
Voices of the Youth" at his residence. Around 25 youths from diverse backgrounds participated in the
seminar.
In his welcome remarks, the ambassador stated: "Bangladesh still has a youthful population, but the
voices of young people are seldom heard in the public room. Solutions to the country’s and the world’s
many challenges and pressing issues must be sought in dialogue with the people who will still be here in
the decades ahead."
Speakers also highlighted on the existing traditional social norms, and how to overcome those for
advocating gender equality rights to create a positive impact for the youth in the country.
During the panel discussion, the participant youths also raised other related societal issues like key
factors that drive child marriage, disability inclusion in institutions and workplaces, problems of gender
norms and stereotyping, preventing persecution of minority and marginal communities including their
youth, challenges faced by the youth while seeking employment and undertaking startups and acquiring
skills that are in demand in the ever-changing job market and spheres of entrepreneurship.
