Honduras is making progress in building a new Public Policy for Youth

In an event considered by its protagonists as a historic moment for Honduras and Latin America, the draft of the new Public Policy for Youth 2025–2035 was presented in Tegucigalpa, an instrument that arises from the active participation of young people in Honduras, and that seeks to guarantee their rights, recognize their leading role in the present of the country and project structural public policies with a territorial, intersectional and human rights approach.

The event was attended by national authorities, organized youth groups, political and academic figures, among others. Zulmit Rivera, Minister of the National Youth Institute; Pablo Vommaro, executive director of CLACSO; and Hugo Noé Pino, deputy of the National Congress of Honduras.

A participatory process from the territories

The Minister Zulmit Rivera He emphasized that the new public policy responds to a mandate from the President's government. Xiomara Castro It is now a clear political decision: to build a new horizon for Honduran youth. “We believe that the urgency of having a public policy for youth reinforces the capacity we have to contribute to the development of our nation,” Rivera said.

“This public policy is fully in line with what President Xiomara Castro has expressed since the beginning of her government: a deep respect for human rights and the allocation of a budget directed to the most disadvantaged populations.” Rivera also pointed out that the policy was built on a participatory process, with territorial diagnoses and a feedback system that will allow for its constant updating: “To boost the country’s development, to empower the individual and collective future of young people, it is necessary, it is urgent. It is not only necessary, it is urgent.” concluded.

The present, not just the future

For its part, Pablo VommaroThe executive director of CLACSO, celebrated the initiative and stressed the importance of building policies that arise from the very problems faced by young people: “There needs to be an organic relationship between youth issues and public youth policy. That's why this policy, which started from a participatory diagnosis, consultation, and the participation of young people, is organically related to their realities.” Vommaro emphasized that youth should no longer be thought of as actors of the future, but as protagonists of the present: “Youth as strategic actors in development. In the specific case of Honduras, where the country needs the energy of young people, we can no longer talk about the future: youth is the present.”In that context, and returning to the minister's words, she posed a question: “How much does a public youth policy cost? But more importantly: how much does it cost not to have one? It costs more not to have one than to have one.”

The deputy Hugo Noé PinoThe current vice president of the National Congress praised the presentation and the collective process that resulted in the document. At the same time, he emphasized the inherited budgetary constraints and the challenge the government faces in sustaining social policies. However, Pino maintained that, despite these limitations, the National Congress fully supports the initiative and is committed to working on developing a youth-focused budget, similar to what has already been done in other areas such as gender equality. “We can and should incorporate specific regulations for youth into the budget, with clear indicators and accountability mechanisms.”

A tool for comprehensive development

The three panelists agreed on the urgency and need for a public policy that does not remain on paper, but has concrete effects in key areas such as education, work, health, security and political participation.

Vommaro summarized: “A public youth policy like the one being implemented in Honduras is a powerful tool: for influencing, diagnosing, planning, and solving concrete problems. It is a transformative tool that we cannot afford to postpone.”

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