Advocacy & Campaigning
Youth rights in the constitution
Youth rights are the core focus of Mohamed Hamuda’s advocacy efforts; the launch of the 3000 youths national survey from 65 regions in 2013 clearly identifies the sheer efforts and agenda of Hamuda to unite and ignite morale within the regions youth. The findings were then showcased within the following year at the constitutional drafting assembly (CDA) in December 2014.
It was then called for a gathering of 30 youth members from set organizations across Libya to meet under the UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF and DRI for the ’Finding our Future – Libyan Youth Demands for the Constitution’’. This arrangement was formed in aid of discussing the released draft of the 2014 CDA. It was a matter of acknowledging mutual agreements of combined efforts, resources and ensuring the CDA responded to such considerations to ensure the continued engagement of youths-regardless of their gender, age, ethnic roots or any other matter that contradicts with an equal rights movement. This was a top priority within the constitutional drafting procedure. Hamdua’s role within this project was highly significant as through H2O momentum and campaigns, he sought out a high visibility for the ‘’Youth Demands for the Constitution’’. Campaigns took place across social media and different spectrum of activities via the CDA. This included a three-day training regime to highlight the importance of human rights within the constitution, in addition to a series of ‘question and answers’ to educate between trainees and CDS members.
Training for youth activist took part across the regions of Libya, with the main effort and moral of empowering individuals to communicate their rights across a public scale. The debates took place across Tripoli universities, alongside the associated CDA representational standee. The entire process brought great media coverage and immense public support for the matter at hand at the time. Hamuda also made sure to cover expenses of training for community members in the process.
Raising awareness within the sublet of the media, allowed for distribution of materials and animated videos that elaborated on the controversy of the constitution; showing all angles of the scope. This was made to happen due to the marketing scheme of using simple messaging context in plain Libyan dialect, to ensure all would be captured in attention once broadcasted-but most importantly that they understood the message behind the movement. To work alongside the schemes of education, H2O also conducted a network for trainees through a series of live public events that catered in seminars and workshops across the regions of Libya.
It was due to all these significant procedures that Hamuda succeeded in introducing the 7th article within the constitution, which allowed youths to be more involved within political regimes. The minimum age of presidency reduced from 40 to 35, alongside for active partaking in parliamentary movements, going from 25 years to 21.
Referendum first
From the opening of the voting register on December 6, 2017 by Dr. Imad Al-Sahi, there began public disarray and confusion within the masses. Due to circulation within the media, it came to light that there was no degree of procedure or management to those that took candidacy within regional elections. With no laws to protect and govern, there was no sense of control on who will win the right to govern with the reputable legitimacy. However, Hamuda engaged with this matter, by launching the “Referendum First Movement”. This encompassed structure with guidance and direction for legalities, meaning a political agreement and realignment was necessary for a progressive movement forward.
On the 29th July, the referendum was drafted with aid of fellow youth bodies. It provided legal guidance, in a sense of encompassing correct direction- where a political agreement was a necessity. Any adopted political elections could be challenged if followed through without the correct parliamentary practices under the constitutional election basis. This was called the “Mobility of the referendum first” movement, which now provides democratic demands and rights to express views, to all citizens when registering to vote within the electoral commissions.