On Thursday, United Nations Special Advisor to Yemen Jamal Benomar led an open discussion with youths at Sana’a’s Movenpick Hotel under the theme ‘The Youth and the National Dialogue Conference: Challenges and Aspirations’.

Benomar asked those in attendance questions about the transparency of NDC activities, community participation, the representation of segments of Yemeni society, youth contributions outside of the NDC’s main site and standards by which the performance and success of the NDC could be measured.

A number of participants said they were optimistic that the NDC could contribute to resolving Yemen’s most complex issues, including those concerned with the south, Sa’ada, state-building and matters of transitional justice.

At the same time, some in attendance criticized the absence, or unfair representation, of some Yemeni political parties and social groups, including the youths credited with leading the country’s 2011 revolution.

Yasmin Al-Selwi, an activist from the Wojooh Media and Development Organization, said youth representation was lacking.

“Most youths participating in the NDC were selected by the Secretariat General on the basis of favoritism, and at the expense of properly utilizing the youth’s role in NDC’s activities,” she said.

A number of NDC members also voiced their opinion that community participation with the conference must be enhanced, and that suitable channels for interaction between the NDC and citizens be established.

Some criticized the NDC for being insufficiently transparent, while others stated that all issues on the National Dialogue table should be regarded as equally significant.

In response to a question about which issues should be given priority, all who spoke agreed that while the Southern Issue should be given top priority, all issues on the NDC's agenda were crucial and must be addressed in a fair manner.