Final Day at the World Conference on Youth 2014

 

 

Colombo Declaration adopted

 

The Colombo Declaration on Youth 2014 was adopted by World Conference of Youth in Colombo on 10 May 2014.

 

Gender equality, ending systemic inequalities, empowering marginalized youth, inclusive youth led-development, realizing equal access to quality education, realizing peace, reconciliation and ending violence have been identities as priorities for action in recommendations. 

www.wcy2014.com

 

Day 02 - World Conference on Youth 2014

It was a great pleasure to facilitate back to back two sessions on "Youth Rights" and "Poverty eradication and food security sesions"

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Cambodia Dr. Marc Derveeuw stressed the importance of educating young people on overall health and the need for school curriculums to include physical, mental health and comprehensive health. He said that the definition of health is inclusive of mental and social health. The comments were made as he addressed delegates of the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo, on Thursday (May 8). He pointed out that social media and marketing campaigns do not necessarily educate youth on health and went on to explain how new media, by promoting unattainable beauty and substance abuse, encourage risky behavior. He also spoke of how young people are sometimes denied family planning and contraceptives, and some women still need to seek permission to use contraceptives.

The majority of the world’s youth are growing up in poverty or in near poverty situations he said, adding that the issue had resulted in some youth selling themselves in order to obtain money. He drew the attention of the audience to the issue of young migrant girls being subject to abuse. Policies should favor the girl child so as to prevent sex selection, Dr. Derveew said. Youth were urged to make policies with a view to promoting mental and nutritional health and eradicating suicides. Adolescents are the ultimate stakeholders of health, and it is necessary to ensure a proper health service is delivered to them, he said. In conclusion, he urged the youth to ensure a legal framework that protects the health of young people.

Mr. Josko Mise, President of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), spoke about the lack of accessible, affordable, stigma free and youth friendly healthcare. He emphasized the need for youth to be included in health awareness programs and discussions. In addition, he spoke about how precise and up-to-date information on adolescent health will help ease the current general lack of knowledge on health issues among youth.

Day 01 - World Conference on Youth 2014

It was a great pleasure to facilitate back to back two sessions on "Youth Rights" and "Poverty eradication and food security sesions"

 

A continuation of the roundtable discussion on “Youth Rights” was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) this morning. The speakers of the session included Assistant Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Sri Lanka Mr. Gamini Wanasekara and President of EIJ Mr. Alejandro Blancas Alvarado. The discussion was a continuation of the discussions from the last two days, which focused on topics such as implementation of youth rights and different definitions found in different countries on youth rights, among others.
The moderator commenced the session by talking about the importance of the three factors discussed at earlier sessions: Recognizing youth rights, access to youth rights and cultural differences among youth in the world, which set background for the continuation of the discussion.

Mr. Alvarado commenced his speech referring to collective efforts from the past to ensure better living conditions in the world at large, paying special attention to the contribution of the United Nations. He believes that the three factors of the role of the youth, achieving the set goals for the youth and the role of youth in realizing their goals are of importance. He also emphasized the significance of a framework. He said that there should be a common understanding as well as a common framework for youth rights that are being discussed. He believes that the absence of a framework can lead to pressure. Further, he also added information on the steps taken globally in ensuring youth rights by referring to the special commission appointed by United Nations on ensuring youth rights. Talking about the plight of young women in the world, he said that half of sexual harassments incidents happen to young women under 16 years old.

Mr. Alvarado thinks that goal setting for 2015 should be ambitious and concrete. He also believes in
strengthening the mechanism process related to goal setting and implementation. His comment on
building new models on youth rights was that youth should be given the opportunity for direct
involvement. The second speaker, Mr. Wanasekara, spoke on how to achieve what needs to be achieved. Mr. Wanasekara believes in fighting for youth rights. “Dignity will not come to you in a platter” he said. He calls upon the young generation to take action to achieve their needs. He further explained his thoughts by referring to the relationship between the “right holders” and “duty bearers.” He believes that right holders should claim rights from the duty bearers and in return the duty bearers should fulfill their responsibility towards right holders. He believes that though the youth rights are in existence at present, there should be a mechanism to reach them. Concluding his speech, he showed the two choices the youth have: To fulfill their needs and live a “comfortable” life or to claim your rights and lead a “dignified” life.

At the World Conference on Youth 2014 - Opening Ceremony

Excited to be at the opening ceremony of the World Conference on Youth took place on May 6th in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. For the first time a world youth conference was held in Asia and celebrated youths from all over the world. Over 1500 youth participants, from ages 18 to 29, two official delegates from each country and 350 from marginalized backgrounds gathered to celebrate the beginning of the conference.  The goal of this gathering is to create an inclusive youth participation platform that enables young people to review the progress of the Millennium Development Goals and to share ideas, experiences, and innovative approaches for effectively contributing to the post-2015 development agenda and its implementation.

 

 

Invited as a Host Country facilitator for the World Conference on Youth

Although I have facilitated many local to international events and conferences, it is really exciting to be a host country facilitator for the one of the most important high level youth country due to take place this may in Sri Lanka.

Preamble: Zero Draft

We young people, youth-led organizations, Ministers in charge of the subject of Youth
Development, Senior governmental officials, representatives of governments, United Nations
agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, other development partners and representatives of
academia, media and the private sector, have gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 6th-10th May,
2014 for the World Conference on Youth explore strategies on strengthening partnerships
with youth in the development and implementation of the global development frameworks,
particularly through their active engagement in the discussions on the internationally agreed
development agenda, including the Post-2015 Development Agenda, with a renewed focus on
the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY)......

Nearly half of Arab youth prefer modernity, finds survey

Doha: Young people in the Arab World are embracing modernity as digital technologies and media reshape behaviour.

However, it is opinions and influences of family, friends and religion that matter most to them, the sixth annual Asda’a Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey shows.

About 46 percent of youth agreed that “traditional values are outdated and belong to the past; I am keen to embrace modern values and beliefs”.

Although modernists remain a slight minority, this are the closest results that have come to parity in the survey’s history, up from 17 percent in 2011.

However, family, friends, and religion remain the greatest influences on the young, with two-thirds of respondents citing their parents (67 percent) as their first source of advice and counsel, followed by family (58), religion (56) and friends (46).

In the increasingly urbanised economies, the importance of family, particularly parental ties, remains strong. However, external forces are increasing their sphere of influence, with community leaders rising from 33 percent in 2013 to 38 and social media and bloggers reaching 35.

The Arab Youth Survey is an annual initiative of Asda’a Burson-Marsteller, the leading public relations consultancy in the Mena region. Its sister agency, international polling firm PSB, completed the survey for the sixth edition. It conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews — men and women aged 18-24 in the six GCC countries, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Yemen and, for the first time, Palestine — between December 2013 and January 2014.

About 54 percent of respondents agree ‘a lot’ with “Following the uprisings across the Arab world, I feel the Arab world is better off”, down from 70 percent in 2013 and 72 in 2012. The rising cost of living and unemployment were identified as the two biggest concerns. About 63 percent say they are ‘very concerned’ about rising living costs, while 49 percent are concerned about unemployment. This concern is strongest in non-GCC countries with 55 percent citing it as their biggest concern. Though still high at 39 percent, the youth in the Gulf are less concerned than their counterparts in the rest of the Arab world, with governments providing some reassurance.

Favourability towards the private sector is steadily rising in the Gulf, with 31 percent saying they would like to work in the sector, up from 24 percent in 2013. Preference for the private sector in non-GCC countries is declining at 31 percent in 2014. For the third successive year, youth cite UAE as their top choice (to live in) ahead of 20 countries, including the UK, the US and Germany.

Asked to think about their country’s biggest ally, the youth are choosing their GCC neighbours over traditional Western countries as Gulf governments’ political weight grows.

They cite four of the six GCC members in their country’s top five allies with 36 percent saying Saudi Arabia is their country’s biggest supporter, followed by the UAE (33), Qatar (25) and Kuwait (25). The US is the only Western country to feature in the top five allies, at 22 percent.

The findings of Arab Youth Survey were presented to media yesterday. Don Baer, Worldwide Chair and CEO of Burson-Marsteller and CEO of PSB; Joseph Ghossoub, Chairman and CEO of the MENACOM Group, the regional parent company of Asda’a Burson-Marsteller; and Sunil John, Chief Executive Officer of Asda’a Burson-Marsteller, were present.

The Peninsula

Highlights of the tour to UNHQ - New York

 

Brooklyn Bridge

New York Skyscrapers

 

My Statement at UN Headquarters - High Level Thematic Debate

My Statement at UN Headquarters - High Level Thematic Debate 

 

New York City

 

Liberty Statue 

 

?????? seems to red-bull

 

The Hot Seat - My Country at UN

 

 World Famous Wall Street and New York Stock Exchange

 

@UNHQ

 

Its Wall Street - The World Financial District

 

 

@ UN Security Council

 

The City that never sleeps - Times Sq

 

@the UN General Assembly Hall

My Statement at the Joint Thematic Debate at UN Headquarters; New York

April 10th 2014 was a big day for me, where I was able to  deliver the UN Major Group for Children and Youth statement representing the half of the worlds population at the High Level and Thematic Debates of the President of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA.

 

The statement

Good Afternoon Excellencies, ladies & gentlemen,

As a youth from Sri Lanka -- I am happy to say that after 30 years of brutal civil war now we are free at last and entering a rapid development stage. New roads, airports and skyscrapers are constructed everywhere. But we have made sure that these developments does not compromise the environment and meet the social needs to accelerate the economic progress. It is important that developing country like Sri Lanka can be an example to others in conserving the natural beauty, biodiversity and it’s cultural heritage.

As part of the Major Group of Children and Youth, I would like to emphasis how it is essential to build intergenerational meaningful partnerships and adapt to change. Trade priorities must be in line with the public priorities, such as human rights and equity.  Partnership should not be limited to specific private sectors or agencies but it should accommodate with all actors. We need to highlight the partnership with public, private and people’s groups.

Sustainable infrastructure is not only about new infrastructures; it is about rehabilitation, reuse or optimization of the existing resources. It’s not always about building new things but using what we have sustainably taking into account local context. It is important to calculate the environmental, economic and social impact during the planning, designing, construction and operationalization phase. Infrastructure is not just about privatization or commercialization -- it is about innovation, sustainable patterns and resilience.

Youth globally are prepared to turn dialogue into action. Indeed, the outcome document of the World Conference on Youth to be held in Sri Lanka will also focus on the importance of “Mainstreaming youth in the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda”.  To us, working together in unity to implement solutions is true partnership. We look forward to working with YOU, to create the future we need"

As a Youth Speaker for the Joint Event of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council “The role of partnerships in the implementation of the post 2015 development agenda”

It was a great pleasure to be a youth speaker for the joint thematic debate which was held on 9-10th April 2014 in UN Headquarters, New York city.

The Outcome Document of the Special Event to Follow‐Up Efforts to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals held on September 25th of 2013 underscored the need to strengthen the existing global partnership for development under MDG 8 and build new partnerships for sustainable development.
With less than 800 days remaining, efforts must be intensified for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, building on successful, effective and well‐managed national, regional and global strategies that have allowed the international community to meet several of the MDG targets and to achieve significant and substantial advances in those goals and targets that have not yet been met. Strengthened global partnerships for sustainable development will be a catalyst for the international community to aspire and advance towards an ambitious and transformative sustainable development agenda beyond 2015.
National ownership will be a fundamental factor of the post 2015 development agenda. National efforts will also need to be assisted by international support and an enabling international environment. The mobilization and effective use of all resources, public and private, domestic and international, will be vital. A renewed sense of commitment and partnership holds the key to both leveraging new public and private resources and leveraging stakeholders’ comparative advantage, including in the areas of research, technology, innovation, finance and human capacity.

The main objective of the thematic debate was to provide a platform for Member States to address how strengthened global partnerships for sustainable development including multi‐stakeholders partnerships can contribute to the implementation of the post 2015 development agenda.
The event promoted the scaling‐up of the impact of all forms of cooperation in the post 2015 development agenda, and promote the urgent implementation of existing commitments under the global partnership for development while also addressing the emerging role of innovative multi‐stakeholder partnerships.
The event guided by the following preliminary questions:

1) What are the key lessons learned of the implementation of MDG 8 and what incentives can be created to reinforce its implementation?

2) While not a substitute to existing cooperation mechanisms, how can multi‐stakeholder partnerships be an important complement to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including in the context of the post 2015 development agenda?

3) How can Governments, at all levels, incentivize multi‐stakeholder engagement for the implementation of sustainable development, in particular from the private sector?

4) Which models or mechanisms can help ensure effective monitoring and accountability of the means of implementation of the post‐2015 development agenda?

 

Pics - UN Web TV

A workshop for youngsters in Thalawakale-Nuwaraeliya

I facilitated a workshop for bunch of youngsters from a tea community in Thalawakale, Nuwaraeliya on March 7th and 8th, The workshop was focused on developing a news letter about the work they have been involved with Child Fund. Chulani served as a project consultant/manager

UN Secretary-General commends Sri Lanka for hosting the "World Conference on Youth - 2014

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon commended Sri Lanka’s initiative to host the World Conference on Youth (WCY) in May 2014 - the first ever global youth conference in Asia. The WCY will seek to mainstream youth concerns in the post-2015 development agenda.

He made this remarks when a Sri Lankan delegation led by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma called him at the UN Headquarters in New York on 18th February (Tuesday) to hand over the invitation of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa inviting him to the World Conference on Youth in Colombo in May 2014.

The Secretary General emphasized that youth are one of his key priorities in the programme that he had outlined at the commencement of his second term. “More than half the world’s population is under the age of 25, so this is a “youth world”, the UNSG said. He highlighted the urgency of resolving the huge burden of unemployment and providing political and economic opportunities to youth. “I am impressed by what Sri Lanka has been doing for the advancement of the youth”. He recalled the comments of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights Navi Pillay of the impressive success of the Youth Parliament of Sri Lanka.


Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon thanked the President of Sri Lanka for the invitation and said that he would make every effort to be in Colombo for this unique event despite his busy schedules.

Minister Alahapperuma expressed his gratitude for the continued assistance given by the UN system and the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth with regard to the arrangements for the Colombo Conference. “As a nation, we believe that the Youth Conference will help in rebuilding the nation. The ‘Colombo Youth Action Plan’ – the outcome of the Conference which will be jointly produced by the youth and the policymakers would serve as a guideline to meet youth aspirations in many multilateral processes in the post-2015 era. This action plan will cover seven fundamental issues and seven thematic areas that have been recognized as vital for youth engagement in the global development agenda", he added.  Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, said that, “youth are today’s concern, not tomorrow's. They contribute to electing governments and in the formulation of national policies. Their concerns and aspirations could be addressed only by recognizing their input to policy-making and empowering them. That is why the Government of Sri Lanka has set up a task force of 20 global young leaders to prepare the key components of the conference arrangement”.

Minister Alahapperuma presented the UNSG with copies of the recently launched “Youth Policy of Sri Lanka” and the publication on “Youth and Development: Realizing the Millennium Development Goals for Sri Lankan Youth”. Mr. Lalith Piyum Perera, Chairman/Director General of the National Youth Services Council (NYalso spoke about the successful conclusion of the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Hambantota, Sri Lanka last November. Mr. Christopher Dekki and Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake – Members of the International Youth Task Force for the conference - explained the ongoing logistics arrangements for the 1,500 delegates expected to attend the conference and the inclusive multi-stakeholder consultations on the draft outcome document. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon further said that he placed youth at the center of the UN agenda for the first time by appointing an Envoy on Youth and creating a system-wide action plan on youth and an inter-agency network on youth. UN Volunteers, he said, play a key role in many aspects and recalled how thousand so of volunteers were active at the Sochi Olympics.

Accompanying with the Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development was Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York, Mr. Lalith Piyum Perera, Chairman/Director General of the National Youth Services Council and Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN and IYTF members – Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake (Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka) and Mr. Christopher Dekki (IMCS-Pax Romana-US and Syria).