THE ROLE OF LEGAL AWARENESS IN PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AMONG YOUTH

Abstract:

This article explores the pivotal role of legal awareness in promoting and safeguarding human rights among youth, emphasizing its function not merely as knowledge, but as a transformative force for social justice. The discussion is centered around three core dimensions: the empowering nature of legal consciousness in youth-led advocacy, the essential role of education in fostering legal literacy, and the persistent barriers—social, structural, and linguistic—that hinder access to legal knowledge. By analyzing these aspects in depth, the article highlights how legal awareness serves as both a shield and a compass for young people navigating systems of power, inequality, and accountability. Ultimately, it calls for a collective effort from educators, policymakers, and civil society to cultivate a legally empowered generation—one capable of defending dignity, challenging injustice, and building more equitable societies.