ICYO

YOUTH INFORMATION

                           No: 2007/35  (May)

(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)

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ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.

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Be Active Champions for Young People - Pacific Parliamentarians Urged 

22 MAY 2007, The United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA)Representative to the Pacific, Najib Assifi has urged the Pacific Parliamentarians gathered in the Samoan capital, Apia to pledge their utmost support, dedication and solidarity to safeguard the youthof the Pacific.

Speaking at the 2nd Regional Meeting for Pacific Parliamentarians on Safeguarding Pacific Youth, Mr Assifi said those gathered are to be active champions for the young people of the Pacific.

If we do not work together, we will shortchange ourselves and jeopardise our chances of success, he said.

In the Pacific region there is a real need for dialogue and greater understanding among parents, families, communities and governments about the complex and sensitive situations facing young people.

By taking concerted actions to address these challenges, governments can meet their commitments to young people, meet international goals, and give hope to the worlds largest generation of young people, Mr Assifi said.

He said there were two reasons why the Pacific should invest in young people and their human rights.

The first reason is because young people account for such a large share of the population and they can be a dynamic force for change, but greater investments must be targeted to their well-being.

Young people, against a background of often limited economic growth, face increasing competition for jobs and other economic opportunities. Investing in the education and health of the current youth generation will pay off, in terms of improved productivity, reduced health costs and enhanced social capital, Mr. Assifi emphasised.

The second reason is because five of the Millennium Development Goals cover areas in which young people are directly involved and the goals will not be achieved unless we focus on youth. These goals are designed to guide us in our work to: Eradicate poverty; Achieve universal primary education; Promote gender equality and empower women; Improve maternal health; Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB; and develop a global partnership for development.

With the theme Safeguarding Pacific Youth parliamentary representatives from 15 Pacific Island countries will deliberate over the information and tools that will help them expand their understanding of the Millennium Development Goals and the concerns of youths in the Pacific.

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Youth Information is published by

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)

194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang Enclave

New Delhi 110029, India

Phone: 91 9811729093  / 91 11 26183978 Fax 91 11 26198423

Email: icyoindia@... / icyo@...

Web:  www.icyo.in

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Our goal:
To improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in their programmes and activities

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN), Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia