Youth policy: between autonomy and assistance. An analysis from the approach of rights

Abstract

The historical analysis of human rights, show the important role they play in (re) building linkages between the State and civil society, particularly in circumstances that followed socio-political cleavage periods which deepened situations of inequality. The first fifteen years of this century were focused on repairing wounds inflicted during the neoliberal decade, through recognition of rights. Political, media and legal discourse have made an intensive use of terms associated with human rights language such as inclusion, participation, gender, among other similar ones. However, this was not a merely discursive issue since public social policies showed interest in the construction of youth as a subject of rights. Therefore, rights approach —viewed as a theoretical perspective of social sciences— is appropriate to mention issues involving rights which have been incorporated, as well as those which still remain to be included. On this basis, the possibility of granting greater autonomy —through empowerment— for youth groups, and removing assistance aspects in State actions. From this approach, the article analyzes design aspects linked to three social programs. One of them —named Programa de Respaldo a Estudiantes Argentinos (PROGRESAR) — was implemented at the national level and two other Programs carried out in San Luis Province: “Plan de Inclusión Social Trabajo por San Luis” (PISTS) and “ Plan de Inclusión Educativa” (PIE). In this regard, it seeks to make a contribution to the construction of a youth and social policies field study within the country, since reports concerning research in this thematic area are lacking.