North Dayi Member of Parliament, Hon. Mrs Joycelyn Tetteh Quashie, has represented Ghana at the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The conference brought together young legislators from 50 countries to deliberate on some of the pressing global challenges confronting young people and the broader question of how to protect human rights, justice and dignity in an increasingly turbulent world.
A key highlight of Mrs Tetteh Quashie’s participation was her appointment as Co-Rapporteur for the Conference Outcome Document, alongside Senator Alisher Sadullaev of Uzbekistan.
In this role, she helped capture the collective voices, concerns and commitments of approximately 100 young parliamentarians who participated in the conference and translate them into a shared parliamentary agenda.
Contributing to the presentation of the Outcome Document, the North Dayi MP highlighted the devastating impact of armed conflicts on young people and women.
She stressed the need for greater protection of education, healthcare and livelihoods in conflict-affected communities, while calling on parliaments to strengthen respect for international humanitarian and human rights law.
Mrs Tetteh Quashie also addressed challenges emerging from the digital space, emphasising that technology should serve as a tool for empowerment, opportunity and inclusion rather than become a platform for violating people’s rights.
She advocated stronger protection against online violence and harassment, greater accountability from technology platforms and improved digital literacy.
Climate change was another major issue discussed at the conference.
According to the MP, a safe and healthy planet should not be treated as a promise for future generations but as a right that must be protected today.
She further called for meaningful youth participation in climate-related decision-making, with intergenerational justice remaining central to global climate action.
The conference also examined youth participation in politics, the protection of parliamentarians from threats and violations, violence against women in politics, decent work, skills development and parliamentary action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Reflecting on the conference, Mrs Tetteh Quashie said she was proud to have contributed to the global conversation and, most importantly, to have brought Ghana’s voice to the international platform.
She maintained that human rights, justice and dignity cannot be taken for granted but must be actively defended and advanced.
“The responsibility now is to take the lessons from Samarkand back to our respective parliaments and translate commitments into meaningful action,” she said.
Mrs Tetteh Quashie expressed gratitude to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Parliament of Uzbekistan and the Bureau of Young Parliamentarians for the opportunity to serve as Co-Rapporteur and participate in the conference.
She concluded her message with a call for sustained parliamentary cooperation and greater recognition of the role of young people in advancing human rights, justice and dignity across the world.
“Long live parliamentary cooperation. Long live the voice of young people. Long live the pursuit of human rights, justice and dignity for all,” she said.
