ICYO-Youth Information

                     No.2007/56                                 

E-newsletter from Indian Committee of Youth Organizations

 

2nd General Conference of Pacific Parliamentarians

Parliamentarians Prioritized Youth Issues in the Pacific

The 2nd General Conference of the Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD), held on May 21-25 in Apia, Samoa, was organized by the Samoan Legislative Assembly, UNFPA, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and AFPPD.

Safeguarding Pacific Youth Through Partnership with Parliamentarians

Parliamentarians, resource persons and guests at the meeting

The conference gathered parliamentarians from Pacific countries to discuss matters of the assembly, to revisit its goals and operations, and to strengthen its vision and functions in the region.

Alongside the general conference, a thematic conference titled, “Safeguarding Pacific Youth: Accelerating Actions Through Partnership with Pacific Parliamentarians”, was also organized to discuss and focus on youth issues in the Pacific. The conference engaged the parliamentarians in the discussion of priority youth issues, and provided them an opportunity to respond to these issues to develop plans to work with development partners and agencies to strengthen youth initiatives in the Pacific.

Mr. Totofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua, Speaker of Samoa and Chair of PPAPD, opened the conference, together with Mr. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, and Ms. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector of New Zealand. The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of SPC.

A need for dialogue on complex and sensitive issues faced by the youth

-Mr. Najib Assifi, Representative, UNFPA-Fiji

Left to right: Mr. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, Mr. Najib Assifi, Representative of UNFPA-Fiji, and Ms. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector of New Zealand

Mr. Najib Assifi, Representative of UNFPA-Fiji, urged the Pacific parliamentarians to pledge their outmost support, dedication and solidarity to safeguard the youth of the Pacific. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Assifi said that those gathered are to be active champions for the young people. “If we do not work together, we will short-change ourselves and jeopardize our chances of success. There is a real need for dialogue and greater understanding among parents, families, communities, and governments about the complex and sensitive situations faced by young people. By taking concerted actions to address these challenges, governments can meet their commitments to young people and international goals, and give hope to the world’s largest generation of young people. Five of the MDGs cover areas in which young people are directly involved and the goals will not be achieved unless we focus on the youth”, he said.

AFPPD experiences

Mr. Shiv Khare Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD, shared AFPPD’s experiences in working with parliamentarians in supporting youth programmes and he provided guidance for parliamentarian advocacy in the Pacific. The role of parliamentarians in supporting youth development was further discussed by Mr. Peter Kenilorea, Speaker of Solomon Islands.

Progress in the Implementation of the 2004 Suva Declaration

Left to right: Mr. Gary Rogers, Deputy Section Head of the HIV and STI Section of SPC, Mr. Totofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua, Speaker of Samoa and Chair of PPAPD, Mr. Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of SPC, and Mr. Tim Sladden, Advisor of UNFPA-Fiji

Mr. Gary Rogers, Deputy Section Head of the HIV and STI Section of SPC, provided an overview of the regional strategy on HIV/AIDS and its linkages to the 2004 Suva Declaration. The progress in the implementation of the declaration was discussed by Mr. Tim Sladden, Advisor of UNFPA-Fiji.

 

  

Young people must be part of the solutions and be consulted on future policy considerations

-Ms. Steve Chadwick
Chair of the Standing Committee on Women of AFPPD and Chair of NZPPD

Ms. Steve Chadwick

A report from New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) titled, “Youth Sexual Health: Our Heath, Our Issue”, was presented to the conference by Ms. Steve Chadwick, Chair of the Standing Committee on Women of AFPPD and Chair of NZPPD. The report was the result of an open hearing held in December last year which gave ministries, NGOs and health professionals an opportunity to speak frankly to MPs about youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in New Zealand. The report calls for a cross-government approach to improve the SRH by developing a teenage pregnancy strategy and establishing a ministerial taskforce. “Young people must be part of the solutions and be consulted on future policy considerations”, she said.

Youth development issues

A session to highlight youth development issues from perspectives of the Pacific youth and to engage parliamentarians’ responses to youth issues in their respective countries was facilitated by Mr. Iseye Ndombi, Representative of UNICEF. A panel presentation from young members of the Pacific Youth Council (PYC) followed.

Ms. Jacqueline Koroi

Active citizenship where young people are actively involved

-Ms. Jacqueline Koroi (Fiji)
President of PYC

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Jacqueline Koroi from Fiji, President of PYC, highlighted the concept of active citizenship where young people are actively involved in influencing decision making that affect their lives. “Paramount to good governance is the principle of inclusiveness where the voices, views and aspirations of all people are taken into action. Both are ways of engaging young people as central actors in the development of their communities and country”, she said.

 

Left to right: Mr. Sydney Faasau, Assistant CEO of the Ministry of Women, Mr. Peter Kenilorea, Speaker of Solomon Islands, Mr. Tangata Vainerere, Youth Development Advisor of SPC, and Ms. Mereia Carling, Child Protection Officer of UNICEF-Fiji

We need quality education

-Mr. Reginald Kipe (Vanuatu)
Executive Member, PYC

“The quality of education is one particular aspect of education that is of great importance. One should question the kind of education he receives. What we need is quality education that makes us think critically and provides with competency-based skills”, said Mr. Reginald Kipe from Vanuatu, Executive Member of PYC. He further emphasized that state and non-state actors should work together to provide relevant education for the marginalized youth.

 

 

 

Traditional culture needs to be protected by the leaders

-Mr. Jasper Anisi (Solomon Islands)
Executive Member of PYC

Mr. Jasper Anisi from Solomon Islands, Executive Member of PYC, emphasized that the youth have a role to play in the promotion and propagation of cultural diversity. He suggested that this could be done by legislating for the protection and preservation of traditional knowledge and customs, and establishing and strengthening programmes to educate and generate young people’s interest in reviving and fostering their culture and tradition. “Young people need guidance and encouragement from leaders of parliament to preserve their traditional cultures and customs. Our traditional culture needs to be protected by our leaders and peace promotion is something that the leaders and young people can be partners in”, he said.

Responding to youth issues

Ms. Rufina Latu

Mr. Tangata Vainerere, Youth Development Advisor of SPC, spoke in the session on responding to the youth issues in the Pacific. The session focused to inform the meeting of youth programmes in the Pacific, and to engage parliamentarians in supporting existing and innovative youth programmes. Mr. Vainerere discussed on the vision and plans for 2010’s Pacific youth strategy.

Meanwhile, examples of youth programmes like Adolescent Health and Development (AHD), Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), Talavou Project, and Protection of Children and Young People were discussed by Ms. Rufina Latu, Adolescent Health and Development Advisor for Joint UNFPA/UNICEF/SPC Projects; Ms. Afu Billy, Regional Director of CYP; Mr. Sydney Faasau, Assistant CEO of the Ministry of Women; and Ms. Mereia Carling, Child Protection Officer of UNICEF-Fiji - respectively.

 Roles of key stakeholders

The roles of key stakeholders in youth development and strengthening of the partnership among stakeholders to further support youth development were discussed by Ms. Luagalau Foisagaasina Eteuati Shon, CEO of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development; Mr. Sanele Lavatai, Youth Director of the Methodist Church; Mr. Seumanutafa Semi Epati, Assistant CEO for Sports of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture; and Mr. Apulu Lance Polu, Managing Editor of Talamua Media.

A greater need for partnership and united actions for the development of future leaders of tomorrow

-Mr. Sanele Lavatai, Youth Director of the Methodist Church

Mr. Sanele Lavatai

Mr. Sanele Lavatai, Youth Director of the Methodist Church, spoke on the role of faith-based organizations in youth development. He said, “The challenge for faith-based organizations is to work with other stakeholders for the community. In a world torn apart by division and anxiety, there is a greater need for partnership and united actions for the development of future leaders of tomorrow”.

PPAPD’s framework for action on youth initiatives in the Pacific was endorsed at the closing session. A media interview with parliamentarians and a meeting of PPAPD Executive Committee took place afterwards.

(Credit:  Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Pop. & Dev.)

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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 programmes;
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), Member of Indian Network for Combating Trafficking (INCT)

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