ICYO –

YOUTH INFORMATION

                        Update

February 2007 / 7

(E - newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)

==========================================

Call for nomination:

Tunza International Youth Conferences

The TUNZA International Youth Conference has the vision of the organization to "foster a generation of environmentally conscious citizens who will better influence decision-making processes and act responsibly to create a sustainable world".

The TUNZA International Youth Conference will be organized by UNEP in Liverkusen, Germany from August 26-30, 2007.

The Conferences (for young people between 15-24 years), provides opportunities for young people to learn from one another, share experiences and ideas on community-based environmental actions and develop joint strategies on promoting environmental protection.

The TUNZA conference 2007 follows in the footsteps of the 2005 TUNZA conference in Bangalore, India.

Nomination Criteria

• For candidates to be considered their birth dates must fall strictly between 26 August 1984 and 26 August 1992.
• Candidates must be nominated by their organizations and must be active members.
• Only nominations from organizations working on or interested in environmental and sustainable development issues will be considered.
• Each nomination must have two candidates - one female and one male. But only one of them will be elected (Please note that applications will not be considered unless the above is fulfilled).
• All nominations must reach UNEP on or before 28 February 2007.

For more information please log on http://www.unep.org/tunza/youthconference/About/index.asp
or contact to:

The Children and Youth Unit, Division of Communications and Public Information, United Nations Environment Programme, P.O Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: 254 -20-7623937 Fax: 254 -20-7623927/4350

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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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION

                                                                           February 2007/Issue 6

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

=====================================================

ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

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

=====================================================

Announcement

International Workshop on Youth Values Development 

The International Youth Centre (IYC), Kuala Lumpur will be organized the ‘International Workshop On Youth Values Development’ from March 18-25, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The workshop will be organized in cooperation with the University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Asian Youth Council (AYC), Committee for ASEAN Youth Cooperation (CAYC) and the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC).

The theme of the workshop is “Operationalising Youth Values for Maximizing Human Capital” and comprise of: Paper presentations, country paper presentations, Forum, group discussions, deliberations and field visits.

The workshop shall be determining approaches and methods to develop and instill positive values among young people., while the following objectives are set

a.         To share development approaches on developing human values

b.         To identify best practices on youth values development

c.         To identify relevant development programmes on inculcating values in youth

d.         To prepare youth leaders for their roles in the development and implementation of sustainable youth development programmes

For more detail and participation contact Mr. Salehudin Ghazali, Programme Executive, IYC at email: admin@... 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

ICYO – Youth Information Update 

                                                                                       February 2007/issue - 5

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

------------------------------------

70% Rural Women in Bihar not Aware of HIV/AIDS: Survey

The word HIV/AIDS may be dreaded the world over, but in Bihar's rural hinterland nearly 35 per cent married men and 70 per cent women have no idea about it. In urban areas, there are nine per cent men, who have never heard of it.

These are the findings of the latest National Family Health Survey (NHFS), which shows with devastating clarity the extent to which Bihar has failed to create a properly functional public health system. The fieldwork for the survey of 2005-2006 was conducted between April and July 2006.

The NHFS is a massive all-India survey which gives key indicators on vaccination rates,

HIV/AIDS rates, child nutrition, infant mortality etc. The last one was conducted in 1999.

In the last six years, the number of children, who are wasted (too thin for height) in Bihar, has gone up to 28 per cent in 2005-06 from 20 per cent recorded in 1999 while the number of underweight children (too thin for age) has reached 58 per cent from 54 per cent in 1999.

Though the trends in infant mortality in rural areas is encouraging as the rate has gone down from 68 per cent to 63 per cent, it has surprisingly risen to 54 per cent from 53 per cent in urban areas during the last survey.

The total fertility rate is 4 children per woman, mocking at the much-publicized two-child norm. Nearly 60.3 per cent of the surveyed women were married at 18 and 25 per cent women in the age group of 15-19 had become mothers, or were pregnant. Craving for sons refuses to die down as 77.4 per cent married women with two living children wanted sons.

Only 34.1 per cent women aged between 15 and 49 years use family planning. Just 28.8 per cent of these women used modern methods, compared to male counterparts, of whom just 23.8 percent have tried it.

Overall 82.4 per cent children aged 12 to 23 months were immunised while only 22.2 per cent children with diarrhoea were given ORS. Just 48.7 per cent of the children were taken to a health facility while just 54.6 per cent of kids with complaints of acute respiratory infections had access to any health facility.

Despite spread of awareness at every level only 4 per cent received breast-feeding within an hour of birth. No wonder 58.4 per cent of children below three years were found underweight; 42.3 per cent of them are stunted and 27.7 percent are wasted, according to the survey.

The survey found that 43 per cent of women had less than normal body mass index. The percentage for men being significantly lower at 28.7. The percentage of anaemic children between 6 and 35 months is 87.6, while 68.3 per cent married women were anaemic, the report added.

As much as 46.3 per cent newly married women participate in household decisions, while 59 per cent ever-married women experienced spouse violence, the survey said. (Ashok Mishra/Hindustan Times/13.2.2007)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION

                                                            February 2007/III

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

====================================================================

ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

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

====================================================================

Northeast India Tribal Group Offers Cash Reward to Women With More Than 12 Babies

Tribal leaders in India's remote northeast are offering cash rewards to women who bear more than a dozen children in a bid to keep from being outnumbered by settlers from elsewhere, a leader said.

In the past two months, Khasi tribal chieftains in Meghalaya state have paid 16,000 rupees (US$348; euro270) each to four such women including 45-year-old Amilia Sohtun, who has 17 children, said H.S. Shylla, a member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.

Tribal elders defended the move, which has infuriated many women and health activists "Our community faces a genuine threat of being outnumbered by outsiders, and the only way we can prevent our race from becoming extinct is to ensure our population rises soon enough," Shylla told.

The council is an elected administrative body of tribal leaders in Meghalaya. It works with the state government on development issues, and makes decisions regarding customary community rules. The Khasis, numbering less than a million, are the majority community in Christian-dominated Meghalaya, which has 2.5 million people.

The community is worried about an unabated influx of migrants from outside the state, Shylla said. However, some in the state decried the incentive programme. "We oppose the idea because no one has the right to keep having babies unless she can provide them with a quality life," said Theilin Phanbuh, an activist in Shillong. "It is for the authorities to check the influx or settlement of outsiders in traditional land belonging to our people. Increasing our community's population by having more children is not the answer," she said. Meghalaya health activist Hasina Kharbhih also slammed the idea.

"A woman's body is not a machine that she can go on having babies. The government must intervene on the Khasi Council's decision because of the health issues involved," she said.

Shylla said the decision to pay mothers of more than 12 "has been generally welcomed."

The Council has received four more requests for cash incentives from women with more than a dozen children, Shylla said. In Meghalaya's matrilineal society, a man moves into his bride's home and their children take the mother's maiden name.

Meghalaya is one of the seven states in India's remote northeast where fears of migration from other parts of India and neighboring Bangladesh have helped fuel separatist revolts. (The PUSH Journal)

India's Health Indicators Show Some Improvement But Still Lag Far behind Wealthier Nations

Nearly half of India's children are malnourished, putting the country in the same league as some of the world's poorest countries even though fewer infants are dying and more pregnant Indian women are seeing doctors, according to government data released on 9^th February.

The figures from India's National Family Health Survey offered a snapshot of a country that has made gains in recent years, yet is struggling to match its dramatic economic achievements with equal improvements in the health of its more than 1 billion people.

The data also highlighted persistent gaps between the health of rural and urban India, and the awareness of health issues among men and women, who in many parts of India remain second-class citizens, at best. But the most glaring problem illustrated by the data was the health of India's children. With about 46 percent of children underweight a negligible improvement over the last survey, conducted in 1998-99 India is in the same league as nations like Burkina Faso and Cambodia. In China, Asia's other rising economic power and the country India so often compares itself with, only 8 percent of children are underweight.

The improved infant mortality rate down to 57 per 1,000 births from 68 in 1998-99 remains dramatically higher than that seen in Western nations, such the Netherlands, where it is 4.  In every category where a comparison between the health of people in the countryside and cities was offered, those in rural areas lagged far behind. The rural infant mortality rate, for example, was 62 per 1,000, compared to 42 the in urban areas.

Such statistics show India "should be worried," said Werner Schultink of UNICEF. "It's going to be difficult for India if wants to use its human resources to develop the nation but does not make improvements."

The survey the third conducted since 1992-1993 covers about 200,000 people between the ages of 15 and 54, more than half of them women, and was conducted through face-to-face interviews all across India between December 2005 and August 2006. It has no significant margin-of-error.

Only selected figures were released and the full report was expected soon.

According to nearly 51 percent of women made at least three visits to the doctor when they were pregnant, up from 44 percent in 1998-99. Some 41 percent has children in a hospital or clinic, up from about 34 percent in the last survey.

Some 57 percent of Indian women who are or have been married have heard about HIV a big jump from the 40 percent reported in 1998-99 but still likely to be criticized as far too low for a country's with 5.7 million people infected with the disease, the most in the world.

The data also indicated that a much higher percentage of men in the same group 80 percent had heard about the disease. No comparison with the data from previous surveys was offered for men.

The difference may have something to do with the fact that men are much more likely to be exposed to the country's media the survey found 80 percent of men had access to media, while only 65 percent of women did. (The PUSH Journal)

Workshop on HIV/AIDS Accountability and Transparency

Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians Promise to Get Involved in HIV Prevention

In spite of the availability of funds, HIV and AIDS continue to spread. Several observers pointed some factors, including the lack of accountability and transparency in the programme; where parliamentarians can play effective roles. With this view, the AFPPD had organized an "Asian Parliamentarians' workshop on HIV and AIDS with Focus on Accountability and Transparency" from January 24-25, 2007 in Bangkok.

Parliamentarians from region discussed the causes and possible ways to prevent more infection, and the status of accountability and transparency. The expert from UNFPA, UNAIDS and FHI assisted them. At the end of the workshop, each parliamentarian made personal commitments before going back to their respective countries.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION Update

February  2007  - III

(E - newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)

===============================================================

        Issue 23 FEBRUARY 2007

Contents

·        From the Campaign Trail
Home-based care reduces HIV prevalence rate

·        Feature Story
Exclusive school for HIV/AIDS children in India

·        Spotlight
Mozambique: HIV/Aids Carers to Be Taught ARV Management 

·        Unsung Heroine
Namibia: At home with a home-based caregiver
ACW Alert
HIV/AIDS may orphan 25 mill children by 2010
Positively Alive
Grandfather of six thanks ARVs for saving his life
ACW Perspective
Malawi: Home based care eases pressure on public health sector

Get Involved!

·                     About ACW

·                     Join the campaign!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION February 2007/1

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

====================================================================

ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

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

====================================================================

President of India Urges Youth to Join Politics

Exhorting the youth to enter politics as a full-time vocation, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam urged them to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the nation.

"The youth should take up politics as their career in large numbers. Political science should form part of the curriculum from the secondary to college level for all students with development politics as the focus," Kalam said in his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day.

Referring to India's fast growing population, he said there were over 540 million youth under the age of 25 that would be continuously growing till 2050.

"Citizens should proactively cast their votes to select candidates of known performance with honesty as the focus. Legal personalities, experts and professionals should educate citizens about the political process, constitution, procedures and their rights and responsibilities."

Outlining some of the other tasks before the country's youth, Kalam said through politics they would need to make education accessible to every citizen, uplift citizens below the poverty level and accelerate agriculture reforms.

National Movement of Youth Vital: Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India

Highlighting the importance of young Indians in the path to progress, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the country needed a national movement of youth to ensure social development and equality.

Addressing the annual Prime Minister's National Cadet Corps rally in New Delhi, he also stressed on the need to move ahead with "greater speed" to sustain the progress and to ensure social justice to all as the country rolls on the path to development.

"India needs a national movement of young people engaged actively in social development, sports and the development of personal character. Values like discipline, comradeship, loyalty, dedication to the nation and the cause of social equality are built through such movements," he said.

"After six decades of our independence, our Republic today marches forward with confidence. We have to move ahead with greater speed to sustain our progress and ensure social justice and equality to our people," Singh added.

Kalam's Agenda for Youth: Work for World Peace

President of India address the 12th National Youth Festival

Ignited minds of the youth of India are the most powerful resource on the Earth, above the Earth and under the Earth.

President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam set the tone for his two-day visit to the Pune city with his words of inspiration as he called upon the youth of the country to work towards achieving world peace.

"In the 21st century, one should know one's purpose in life. Human society has been at war from within, and while there have been two World Wars in the last century, terrorism and low intensity warfare are affecting us to a great extent. At this time, when 3 of 6 billion people of the world are youth, this youth force should work towards peace," Kalam said at the valedictory function of the 12th National Youth Festival in Pune.

He stressed that the greatest challenge of the country was eradicating poverty where 54 per cent of the population were below poverty line (BPL). "To meet this challenge, the five engines of growth — infrastructure, education, water, energy, and employment generation — need to be accelerated for economic sustainability."

Kalam described his Vision 2020, which included energy, security, and transparency of administration through e-governance and 100 per cent literacy. "Every Indian should have a university degree or any employable qualification," he said.

"Venture capital system and entrepreneurship training should aim at creating more enterprise so that employment can be generated and there are more givers than seekers," Kalam said. The President also read out his seven-point oath to be repeated by the students, which urged them to "participate in making Vision 2020 a reality". The students took oath to set goals and achieve them, succeed in their tasks and enjoy others' success, keep their surroundings clean, contribute to peace in the world, lead an honest life free of corruption, light the lamp of knowledge, and do the best they can to contribute to the vision of India.

ASEAN Tourism Ministers Underline the Importance of Youth

Youth is the key in tourism. Such viewpoint gained prominence during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum 2007 held in Singapore. The tourism ministers from the ASEAN region are counting on youth from across the world as part of their regional tourism drive.

Sharing his viewpoint during the "Shaping the Future of Youth Tourism Forum" in Singapore, Robin Yap, Director of Contiki Indonesia Resorts said Singapore is probably the leader of this development and explained why other Asian countries may lag behind when it comes to traveling youths.

Upcoming Events:

Regional Network Resource Exchange (RNRE) Workshop for South Asia

ECPAT International will organize the Regional Network Resource Exchange (RNRE) Workshop for South Asia from February 8-10, 2007 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The RNRE includes workshops on ‘Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation in Emergencies’ and ‘Working with Boys who are Commercially Sexually Exploited’

All the ECPAT affiliates and member organizations are expected to participate including ICYO.

RHIYA out come Good Practices Dissemination meeting

The UNFPA and European Commission jointly organizing the meeting to dissemination of the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) good practices. The meeting will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from February 7-8, 2007.

ICYO will attend the meeting and represented by Mr Vijay Bharatiya.

Water and Youth

The Food and Agricultural Organization and the Pan American Health Organization will join over 300 national and international organizations to convene the first international meeting on "Water and Youth" in Buenos Aires, Argentina from April 12-14, 2007. 

The objective of the Meeting is to increase commitment and to initiate action that will contribute to water sustainability, as well as to forge a network of international cooperation. For more information log on http://www.waterandyouth.org 

Global Youth Service Day

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is celebrated on a designated weekend every April in more than 115 countries. GYSD also remembers the year-round contributions of young people as assets and resources in their communities. In April 2007 from April 20-22, 2007 millions of young people, in partnership with non-Governmental organizations, faith-based institutions, Governments, schools, media, and businesses will address the most pressing needs in their communities and their countries. For more information log on http://www.GYSD.org

TUNZA International Youth Conference

The TUNZA International Youth Conference is one of the main platforms for cooperation and interaction between United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its youth partners. It is the vision of the organization to "foster a generation of environmentally conscious citizens who will better influence decision-making processes and act responsibly to create a sustainable world". Organized for young people (15-24 years), the Conferences provides opportunities for young people to learn from one another, share experiences and ideas on community-based environmental actions and develop joint strategies on promoting environmental protection.

The programme will be held in Leverkusen, Germany from 26 - 30th of August 2007.

Asia-Europe Young Parliamentarians Meeting

The Sixth Asia-Europe Young Parliamentarians Meeting (AEYPM) will be held in the Netherlands, in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Institute for Asian Studies, and hosted by the Dutch House of Representatives. The series of Asia-Europe Young Parliamentarians Meetings is a programme of the People-to-People Exchange Department of the Asia-Europe Foundation, which aims to foster a high-level exchange of ideas and intensive networking between young parliamentarians from Asia and Europe.

This year theme is "Towards an Asia-Europe Parliamentarian Partnership" and will be held from February 26 – March 2, 2007.

Experts to Promote Greater Socio-economic Participation of Persons with Disabilities

An 'Expert Group Meeting on the Promotion of Social and Economic Participation of Persons with Disabilities towards the Biwako Plus Five' is scheduled for 27-28 February at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. At the meeting, experts will review the achievements made in implementing the Biwako Millennium Framework, assess global and regional developments that have taken place over the past five years, and identify key issues. The meeting is taking place in preparation of a mid-point review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012 to be held in September, at which time Biwako Plus Five will be adopted

Asian Parliamentarians Meeting on Population and Development

The Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) with support from UNFPA and IPPF will organize " 23rd Asian Parliamentarians Meeting on Population and Development" on February 22nd and 23rd in Tokyo, Japan

 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

Indian President Launches Free Education Portal

A pilot scheme to boost education through a 'one stop education portal' Sakshat, was launched by President APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India, in New Delhi. Observing that nearly 10 million youth were injected into the employment market every year, Kalam said the country also needed a large number of talented youth with education for the task of knowledge acquisition, knowledge imparting, knowledge creation and knowledge sharing in the 21st century. "A National Policy for creating a Global Human Development Cadre for India has to emerge," he said at a function to launch the HRD ministry's initiative.

Sakshat programme should think of extending the system for providing world class vocational skills to youth for making them internationally competitive, Kalam told the gathering of academics and students. "We have to start right now to realise this goal since the overall time available for such an educational growth is short," he added.

Terming Sakshat an impressive engine, the President said, this was of a scale not witnessed so far in India's internet evolution and for this to succeed, the people should get free bandwidth. "What we are starting today by the HRD Ministry is an impressive engine with great potential to change the country and change the way education is imparted," he said, adding it was a mission worthy of India and Indian capabilities and prowess in information and communication technology. Kalam said the university education system in the country produces three million graduates and post graduates every year and the students seeking employment after completion of tenth class and 10 plus two were around seven million a year. Keeping this demand in mind, he said the education system should create two cadres of skills—a global cadre of skilled youth with specific knowledge of special skills and another global cadre of youth with higher education.

To a question on poor, rural and intelligent wanting to become President, Kalam said "fix an aim and work hard...do not allow the problem to become your master. You become the master of the problem and succeed." Singh said the portal would be one of the important pillars of the National Mission on Education during the 11th Five Year plan. Lauding the project, Singh reiterated UPA government's commitment to ensure that no person was deprived of education on economic or social reasons. (Source: Nilay Ranjan/The Hindustan Times)

Development for Next Generation: WDR 07 launch in India

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt of India and World Bank, India office jointly organized the Seminar on World Development Report 2007 Development for Next Generation. The purpose of the event was to disseminate the finding of the report and discuss the importance of the messages of the Report for the youth development in India.

Hon. Minister for Youth Affairs and Sport, Govt of India Mr Mani Shanker Aiyar was critical on the WDR and refused to accept as it is. He expressed his concern about the report finding and recommendations in detail while addressing the seminar.

Speaking about the Youth in India – he called upon making youth as a center of development and involving youth at the grass root level. He said that ‘choice is either you take advantage or suffer its consequences’.

Minister further comment, reforms should be with human face and labour get getting maximum wages and labour intensive technology should be promoted. The investments should lead to more employment.

About the HIV/AIDS, Mr Aiyar said it is important health concern but in India ‘drug abuse’ is the major burning issue and youth should be provided with the more opportunities to use their energy creatively.  In this context he said that sports and games play an important role.

Earlier, Mr Francois J. Bourguignon, Sr Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank was made a presentation on Report, it finding and recommendations. Mr Madhukar Gupta, Secretary, and Ministry of Youth delivered the welcome address.

The event was held on 13 November 2006 in New Delhi to launch the WDR 2007 but in reality the report launch never took off, the presentation made during the seminar was also in bits and pieces. 

The World Bank in the past few years took initiative in involving youth. But halfhearted involvement of Youth Organizations in the preparation of the report leaves a big question mark on implementation of the recommendations of the report. The current world development report widely used the network but it has failed to recognize the role of youth organization and their contribution.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

Young Disabled Voices in the UN Convention

The eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee finalized the first-ever treaty on the 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities' on 25 August 2006.

Young people participated in the process and also conducted a side-event at the session. The event helped bring to the session the concerns and voices of disabled youth who had met earlier in 12 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

They discussed their national challenges as disabled youth and the impact that the Convention could have on their lives.  National representatives presented reports from the focus group discussions in their countries and highlighted issues they expect their Governments and the Convention will address. For more information log on http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable 

Young Decision Makers Conference held

The Young Decision Makers Conference was organized as a side event of Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM) in Helsinki, Finland from September 7-8, 2006. The Family Federation of Finland, in cooperation with the IEPFPD, organized the Conference. Around 40 young ((below the age of 35) parliamentarians and decision-makers from Asia and Europe attended the conference.

UNODC Monitoring and Evaluating

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Programmes

A handbook from the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, on preventing substance abuse among youth with the participation of youth has been developed on the basis of discussions of academic research and the experience of practitioners and youth. It is intended for those youth groups and community-based organizations who want to improve the monitoring and evaluation of their drug and substance abuse prevention programmes. Why are monitoring and evaluation important? How can we monitor and evaluate our programmes in feasible and effective way? For more information log on http://www.unodc.org/youthnet 

Vikram & Gautam Honoured with Youth Action Net Award

Twenty three year old Vikram Laishram from Uripok is among 20 "dynamic leaders" from 16 countries awarded with this year's Youth Action Net Award conferred by International Youth Foundation and Nokia.

Gautam Gupta of Delhi is the second Indian honoured with the prestigious award.

In addition to the 20 youths getting cash award of 500 US dollars each, they also took part in a week-long special skill-building workshop held at Washington DC under the sponsorship of the two groups.

During the workshop that concluded on November 18 the awardees shared their experiences on different issues relevant to youth and drug abuse.

Vikram, who founded a project christened "Better treatment equals better life" to improve health of the Manipuri people where cases of drug addiction is among the highest in the country, is currently working here as a regional focal point for south Asia under a New York based group - Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

"The Washington meet was awe-inspiring and from it I've learnt lots of innovative ideas to fight drug abuse amongst the youth and HIV/AIDS infection," Vikram who arrived here yesterday said. (Source: Joya Banerjee/GYCA)

Preparation of World Youth Report 2007 Underway

The World Youth Report 2007 (WYR07) will examine the challenges and opportunities existing for the roughly 1.2 billion youth between the ages of 15 and 24 in the world. Distinct from the 2003 and 2005 editions, it will provide a regional overview summarizing the major youth development issues in the fifteen priority areas of the World Programme of Action for Youth, including employment, education, health, poverty and violence. Simultaneously, it will highlight youth as a positive force for development and provide recommendations for supporting their essential contributions to national and global development. The WYR07 is expected to launched next year.

For updates on the launch, please see: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/wyr07.htm

Report on Youth Employment and the Sports Sector

In many parts of the world, sport has proven to be a powerful tool to promote education, health, development and peace. "Beyond the Scoreboard: Youth employment opportunities and skills development in the sports sector" focuses on sports' vital role in the social development and employability of young people. Offering insightful research from leading experts in the international, governmental and academic communities, it presents a comprehensive collection that examines how youth leadership and skills development can be fostered through sports today.

It considers what sport means for social and economic development and how it can be an innovative method of drawing attention to issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention and the reduction of violence and poverty. Case studies and examples from Europe, the United States, East Africa, Latin America and Asia are presented, revealing how the sports sector often acts as a vehicle between local and global markets.

For more information log on  http://www.ilo.org/publns

More Opportunities for Young European People with the

New Youth in Action Programme

The European Parliament adopted the new "Youth in Action" programme on October 25, 2006. The European Commissioner Ján Figel' said that "this new programme aims at encouraging young people to work together to acquire new skills through non-formal education activities, for a common project, for the defence of cultures, for a future of prosperity, understanding and peace. It fosters the idea of belonging to the European Union, and promotes social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, both inside and outside Europe."

Under the new programme during the year 2007 - 2013, funding support will be given various projects and participation is open to a wide range of young people, (between 15 and 28 years and, in some cases, between 13 and 30), from European Union and beyond.

Sexual, Reproductive Health Declining

The World Health Organization (WHO) says inadequate attention to sexual and reproductive health has caused an increase in disabilities and death.

The report to appear in the British medical journal Lancet shows there has been declining financial support, increased political interference and an overall reluctance to tackle threats to sexual and reproductive health. The study says the findings reveal a picture of growing unmet needs and neglect and a decline in money spent on education, family planning and preventive measures.

59th Annual DPI/NGO Conference concludes

More than 2,000 representatives from non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other civil society partners from more than 90 countries gathered at the United Nations in USA from September 6 – 8, 2006, to discuss ways and means for strengthening collaboration between local communities and global institutions.

They met during the 59th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, entitled Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development. To ensure the widest possible exchange of views and experiences, all NGO delegations included one representative under the age of 30. As an annual three-day meeting-taking place on the eve of the opening of the General Assembly, the Conference has become an established forum for networking and exchange of views, opinions, expertise and best-practices on relevant issues.

Tribal Demanding Land Rights Put-in-Jail in False Case

The Tribal activists of Ekta Parishad (eight including three young women) arrested by Madhya Pradesh (MP) Police while they attending the annual warship of ‘Tree god’. During the festival they discussed their social problems, the basic rights including the ‘Land’. The local Forest Department arrested him handed over to Sagar District of MP on 14th November 2006 with the charges of anti-national activities.

These were amongs the 1000 tribal from Yamanpur and surrounding dozen villages had gathered for annual worship.

According to National Convener of Ekta Parishad (organization working for livelihood rights of tribal people), Dr Ran Singh Parmar, Forest Department singled out the workers of 'Ekta

Parishad' intentionally and preplanned manner from the crowd and charged them of holding secrete meetings, distributing anti-national pamphlets, cutting trees and instigating the tribal against the state (locally termed as Raj droha).

More interesting, the department and the district administration have branded the Gandhian movement of Ekta Parishad as Naxal movement as reported in some of the local news- papers. 

The arrested tribal activists who placed in Sagar jail were sit on Satyagraha (a non-violent protest) against false case and the injustice meted out to them by various authorities. In first hearing in court granted the bail to these activists.

Youth Camp: Right to Information for Transparency for Rural Employment Guarantee for Poverty Alleviation

A National Rural Employment Guarantee Awareness Camp was conducted in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, a NREGA District in India, on Nov. 11, 2006, to review the status of implementation of various schemes to sensitise the citizens' on the use of Right to Information Act, for poverty alleviation.

The camp was conducted under the banner of Right to Food Campaign, an association of over 200 activists, including Self Help Group Members and Civil Society Organizations, led by Human Rights Law Network, to empower the rural citizens. 60 activists, consisting of equal number of deprived men and women attended. 

Many suggestions were made towards introducing transparency and accountability in the working of the various schemes. The camp helped the participants to understand and appreciate the various dimensions of implementation of such welfare schemes in their true perspective.

Indian President Advises Parliamentarians on HIV/AIDS Discrimination 

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, while addressing both houses of Parliament of India on World AIDS Day on December 1, narrated two heart-touching stories about his experiences with AIDS-affected children and other people. He advised parliamentarians to take up the issue of discrimination seriously.

He also urged them to consider taking up control and prevention of HIV/AIDS from their constituency within the next five years as an important mission. The occurrence of HIV is found to be 32 percent among youth in the age group of 15-29 years and 40 percent of them are women. Considering this situation, the parliamentarians could create an organized awareness campaign among all rural youth and women in their constituency for enabling prevention of infection among this population through a well-organized prevention programme, he said.

He added that creating a mechanism in partnership with societal organizations, medical institutions and Government for testing blood for any contamination and ensuring that contaminated blood is not stored in any blood banks in their constituency.

Kabul Declaration: New Commitments Made to Reduce Infant Mortality in South Asia

Over 3.7 million children die every year in South Asia before they reach five years of age. Of these, 2.2 million children die before they reach their first birthday. Such an enormous number of children dying annually, demands that strategies be devised to rapidly reduce these numbers, not just to meet the millennium development goals, but also to ensure the basic human right of children to survival.

The State of the World's Breastfeeding – South Asia Report Card, released in Kabul on 20th November at the inauguration of the South Asia Breastfeeding Forum-3. The Report Card assesses and rates the practices, policy and programmes related to Infant and Young Child Feeding in eight countries of the region, and rank them on their performance in promoting IYCF.

The Report Card reveals that the region has barely reached the halfway mark in creating the enabling environment for optimal infant and young child nutrition. Sri Lanka is closest to the half way mark, followed by Bangladesh.

Evidence has shown that under nutrition among infants underlies the majority of deaths, making optimal infant and young child feeding crucial to any strategy to reduce child mortality. As most of the deaths occur in the first year of life, optimal IYCF in this period rests on early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond with introduction of adequate and appropriate complementary foods from six months onward.

New research has shown for the first time that starting to breastfeed immediately after birth significantly increases the chances of survival of babies. If mothers start breastfeeding within one hour of birth, 22% of babies who die in the first 28 days, the equivalent to almost one million newborn children each year, could be saved. If breastfeeding starts on the first day then 16% of lives could be saved.  For more information log on www.ibfan-asiapacific.org

Incoming Events:

UNEP Global Youth Retreat at Governing Council

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Youth Retreat will be held from February 1-4, 2007 in conjunction with the UNEP Governing Council session. The Retreat brings together approximately 50 youth leaders including the Tunza Youth Advisory Councilto review UNEP Governing Council documents and prepare youth inputs to the Governing Council. In addition, the Retreat provides an opportunity for participants to review UNEP's activities with young people and makes suggestions on how to better engage youth in environmental issues.  For more information, contact children.youth@unep,org

UNEP International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment

International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment is an annual competition for children from ages 6 to 14 years by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment, Bayer and Nikon Corporation. It aims to give children an opportunity to express their concerns and dreams for the environment.

The theme of this year's competition is "Climate Change" and the deadline for submission of paintings is 31 December 2006. Winners of the competition will be invited to the World Environment Day Celebrations in Tromso, Norway on 5 June 2007 and will receive cash prizes of $2,000 for the top global winner and $1,000 for each of the 6 regional winners. More information on this Competition can be found on: http://www.unep.org/Tunza/paintcomp/

7th MIYD

7th Melaka International Youth Dialogue (MIYD) will be held form June 25-27, 2007, in  Melaka, Malaysia. World Assembly of Youth will organize the event.

The theme for this MIYD will be "Youth Business and International Trade".

Oxfam International Youth Partnerships 2007-2010

Oxfam International Youth Partnerships is a global network of young people working with their communities to create positive, equitable and sustainable change. If you are aged 18-25 and working with your community to create a positive future then you can apply to be a part of the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships. Between 2007 and 2010 you will have opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding and to talk and share with other young people. Applications Deadline: 31 January 2007. For more information, log on

www.iyp.oxfam.org

18th Annual National Service-Learning Conference

The National Service-Learning Conference is the largest gathering of young people and adults involved in the service-learning movement. This year's conference focuses on service-learning as a way of teaching and learning that builds academic skills and citizenship while addressing community needs in a genuine way. It convenes teachers, administrators, researchers, policy-makers, youth leaders and other service-learning practitioners. The conference will held in New Maxico from March 28-31, 2007.

For more information log on https://programs.regweb.com/metro/NYLC2007/registration/

Next World Social Forum will be held in Kenya

The World Social Forum International Council in its meeting held in Parma, Italy, from 10-12 October 2006 have advanced in the preparation for the next edition of World Social Forum, be held in Nairobi, 20-25 January 2007.

Acknowledgement

The ICYO secretariat has received following publications which is very useful for our documentation, research work and planning of activities. We extended thanks ICYO network to all the organizations those provide us these valuable publications/reports etc.

1.   AHRNews – Published by: Asian Harm Reduction Network, Thailand; No41 June- September 2006.

2.     Advocacy Internet- Published by National Centre for Advocacy Studies, Pune; Vol 8: Issue No. 03.

3.     Asian Forum Newsletters – Published by: AFPPD, Bangkok, Thailand

4.     Behond Borders Newsletter- Published by Beyond Borders Inc, Canada; Fall 2006.

5.     CASA Programme Report 2005-2006 –Published by: Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, New Delhi, India.

6.     CRIN Membership Directory 2006 - Published by: Child Rights Information Network, UK

7.     Defenders–Published by the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODW), Iran, Winter-Spring 2005/2006.

8.     Go Between and NGLs Roundup  – Published by: NGLS, Geneva, Switzerland; April – July 2006

9.     IAPPD Newsletter – Published by: IAPPD, New Delhi.

10.   Info Report- Published by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA

11.   Neeti Marg – Published by: Samvad, Bhopal; every fortnight.

12.   One Country, Newsletter, Published by: Baha'i  International Community, New York, USA: April –June 2006

13.   Partners: Annual Report 2005- Published by Partners in Population and Development (PPD), Dhaka, Bangladesh

14.   Perspectives: Children and drugs – Published by UN office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna, Austria; No. 1, 2006.

15.   Population Reports - Published by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA; Nov.–Dec. 2006.

16.   Sankalp Newsletter –Published by: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in India, New Delhi; Sept – Oct 2006.

17.   The HVP Herald – Published by Hindu Vidyapeeth, Nepal; Sept. 2006.

18.   The Population Challenges in Asia By Jyoti Shanker Singh.

19.   The World of Parliaments- Published by: Inter-Parliamentary Union, Geneva, Switzerland; Oct. 2006.

20.   UNews – Published by: UN Information Centre, New Delhi, India; October 2006; Nov. 2006.

21.   V.Y.K Newsletter – Published by: V.Y.K International Youth Centre, New Delhi; July 2006.

22.   Voice of the Voiceless – Published by Natsap, AP; September 2006 and October 2006.

23.   World Bank In India – Magazine Published by: WORLD BANK, New Delhi, India; Nov. 2006.

24.   Youth of India (Newsletter) – Published by: National Council of YMCAs of India, New Delhi; Sept. 2006.

25.   Youth Culture - Published by National Youth Project, New Delhi.

26.    Yuvahit  - Published by: Print Impression, Pune, India; October 2006.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – Youth Information Update 

                                                  December 2006/2

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

----------------------------

Malaria helps spread AIDS

Boosts HIV Virus In The Body For Weeks At A Time

Washington: Malaria is fueling the spread of AIDS in Africa by boosting the HIV in people’s bodies for weeks at a time, says a study that pins down the deadly interplay between the dual scourges. It’s a vicious cycle as people weakened by HIV are, in turn, more vulnerable to malaria.

University of Washington researchers who estimated the impact of the overlapping infections concluded the interaction could be blamed for thousands of HIV infections and almost a million bouts of malaria over two decades in just one part of Kenya.

The research, published in Science, highlights the need for a joint attack on both epidemics. “It’s an important paper,” said Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, the government’s leading infectious disease specialist. “We really need to be much more serious about what we do about malaria at the same time we’re serious about what we do about HIV.”

Malaria sickens up to half a billion people annually and kills more than a million, mostly young children and mostly in Africa—which also bears the biggest HIV burden. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 24.7 million HIV-infected people, according to UN update.

Scientists long have suspected the two diseases fuel each other. The new study created a mathematical model to figure out just how much they do. HIV is most easily spread when patients have high virus levels in their blood. A bout of malaria causes a temporary surge — a stunning sevenfold increase — in those levels, said lead researcher Laith Abu-Raddad, a scientist at the University of Washington.

The surge may last up |to eight weeks. That is longer than it takes adults in intense malaria areas, where people get the parasitic disease once or twice a year, to recover from a typical bout and feel up to sexual activity again, he said. AP

(Time of India/9/12/2006)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – Youth Information Update

                                              November 2006 - XII

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

Festival of Life - Condom Chain of Life Festival

The World AIDS Day events planned by UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok, Thailand and will take place in Bangkok on the 1^st of December 2006, is being billed as the “Condom Chain of Life Festival” and will include setting a new Guinness Book of Records mark for the world’s longest chain of condoms.  The underlying philosophy of the Festival is to be upbeat and positive about life and how best to protect it and live it.

The Festival of Life will also include a parade organized by the Thai Red Cross involving HRH Princess Somsavalee; games, activities, performances and prizes (including gold) throughout the afternoon; tents and pavilions organized by other agencies and NGOs working on HIV and AIDS-related issues; the selection of best “Condom Costumes;” celebrity appearances, including former Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova; and the present Miss Thailand, Lalana Kongtoranin.   

Film and video footage of the event will be recorded and will be used throughout the following year as public service announcements (both national and international) and video curriculum packages for schools and industry.  In a word, we hope this will be the beginning of a new and highly spirited campaign that focuses not on dire statistics, but on the theme of “Positive Choices for Healthful Living”.

I am hoping that you, your colleagues and friends will join us to make this day a success. Attached is an electronic version of our poster and flyer plus information about the day. If you need any further information please contact Simon Baker
Chief, HIV/AIDS Coordination and School Health Unit, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok at s.baker@... or reach on by phone no 66 2 391 0577 Ext. 113

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION Update

November 2006  - XI

(E - newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)

===============================================================

GYCA looking for Regional Representatives (Focal Point)

The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS is currently recruiting Regional Focal Points for 2007. This is a call for all young people interested in taking a fundamental role in GYCA's development by applying to be a GYCA RFP. Please look at the principle functions, duties and responsibilities, criteria for application and benefits if you are interested in applying. The term for this position is 1 year (January - December 2007).

Please DO NOT apply if you do not meet the criteria attached in the form. You must be a GYCA member to apply: Join by sending a blank email to gyca-subscribe@...

Deadline: December 11th, 2006 and should be sent to info@... .

Further detail download from: http://files.tiggroups.org/37701/App for RFPs 2007.doc.word

Please send all responses to info@...

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

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. 

ICYO – Youth Information Update

                                              November 2006 - X

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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise” World AIDS Day Theme for This Year

Thousands of campaigns around the world are preparing local and national events to raise awareness of HIV and to call on leaders to keep the promises they have made to tackle the AIDS pandemic.  The theme of accountability, with the slogan, “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”, was chosen in consultation with civil society campaigns to stress the critical need to meet current commitments to increase the global response to AIDS and reach universal access to treatment, care, and prevention by 2010.

Youth Camps:

National Youth Project announces the Youth camps in Chennai (Tamil Nadu and Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh).

First National Integration Youth Camp will be held in Velluvar Gurukulam at Tambaram, Chennai from December 24-30, 2006. The registration fee is Rs 100.-  The organizer will provide the simple food and group accommodation to all the participants. Participants have to take care of their travel expenses, if youth under 35 traveling in group of five or more can avail the 50% railway concession.

Second camp will be held in Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh from January 22-28, 2007. The registration fee is Rs 150/-. The organizer will provide the simple food and group accommodation to all the participants. Participants have to take care of their travel expenses, if youth under 35 traveling in-group of five or more can avail the 50% railway concession. The limited travel subsidy (up-to Rs. 500.00 per participant) available those are not able to meet their travel expenses.

For more detail and participation, contact ICYO secretariat at youthconference@...

UNESCO supports the World AIDS Day events in Delhi:

Chenta – Inter-College Quiz on HIV/AIDS by NSS Unit of Daulat Ram College on 24 November 2006.

Antradhwani – Inter-college Music Competition by Swarajali Music Society, Hans Raj College on 27 November 2006

Designing Hope – Inter –College Fashion Competition by Nakshatra Fashion Team of Hindu College on  29 November 2006

Galliara – Inter college Street Theatre Competition by Cultural Society and NSS Unit ARSD College on 30 November 2006

Perceptions – Inter-College On-the-Spot Poster Making Competition by Social Service League of St Stephen’s College on 1 December 2006.

For ore information contact : Mr Shankar Chowdhury, Programme Officer (HIV/AIDS & Education),  UNESCO, New Delhi, India, Ph- +91-11 26713000

Human Rights Day

In celebration of Human Rights Day 2006 on 10 December, the UN Cyberschoolbus is holding a Poverty and Human Rights essay contest for young people between 8 and 18 years of age. Entries must focus on the link between human rights abuses and poverty and select one of two topics:

(1) pick one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and use an example from real-life to illustrate how the violation of this right is a consequence of living in poverty and include any suggestions you may have on how poverty can be reduced so that this right is not violated; OR

(2) pick one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and use an example from real-life to illustrate how the violation of this right can cause poverty.

Include any suggestions, what can be done to protect this right so that it does not lead to poverty. Entries for the Human Rights and Poverty Writing Contest 2006 must be received by email to cyberschoolbus@...  no later than 10 December 2006. For more log on http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/humanrightsday2006/guidelines1.asp

Udayan Shalini Fellowships

Udayan Care has announced 150 scholarships under their Delhi based ' Udayan Shalini Fellowships ' programme for meritorious by needy and deserving students in the first year of thier undergraduate, graduate, vocational training and higher education like C.A/Law/Management/ Medicine/ Engineering for the academic session 2006-'07. One important eligibility criterion is that the candidate's family income should not exceed 96,000/- per annum.

The last date to apply is 7th December 2007, application forms can be downloaded from Udayan Care web: www.udayancare.org  For more detail, contact Vaidehi Krishnan, Phone no. 011-32603837

###############################

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

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.

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION November 2006  - IX

(E - newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)

===============================================================

Situation and Needs of

Adolescents and Youth in India are

Poorly Understood

New Evidence on Young People from the Population Council, India

The brief updates present findings from research conducted by the Population Council and collaborating partner organizations over the last five years. The situation and needs of adolescents and youth in India are poorly understood and interventions intended to address their needs have not always been well-tested. In an effort to learn more about the situation and needs of adolescents and youth and about promising interventions to address these needs, the Population Council and collaborating organizations have conducted several qualitative and quantitative studies related to different aspects of young people's lives in various parts of India. The updates give final to preliminary results from formative research projects addressing issues ranging from the sexual risk taking behaviours of adolescent and young women and men to the perspectives of parents and other gate-keepers on the socialization of adolescents; they also contain results from intervention research projects addressing experiences in building agency among unmarried adolescent girls and addressing the vulnerabilities of recently married adolescent girls. The Population Council hopes that this evidence will provide the opportunity to re-examine the issue from a variety of perspectives and to elicit discussion on new approaches for addressing the needs of young people in India.

The for more detail log on  http://www.popcouncil.org/ta/IndiaUpdates_List.html

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Parliamentarians should Build Bridges with Women and Youth

Ms Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund emphasized for building the bridges with women and youth while speaking in opening session of 3^rd International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action held in Bangkok from November 21 & 22, 2006, organized by Asian Forum of Parliamentarian on Population and Development (AFPPD) with UNFPA. .

Mr Obaid said in her statement, ‘At this juncture, I would like to encourage you to work closely with women and youth, to support their participation in policy debates. They possess the ideas, energy, and ambition to accelerate effective action to reduce poverty and combat HIV/AIDS’.

She further added “Parliaments in every region would benefit from having a youth perspective on the various issues that they examine because decisions made today impact on the lives of young people now and in the future. I encourage you to establish mechanisms for intergenerational dialogue between you and young people who can help us adopt policies and legislations that reflect their needs. By supporting youth leadership and participation and by mentoring youth parliamentarians elected in your national assemblies at different levels, we will be able to promote greater social and economic progress, and ensure solidarity between generations”.

More than 200 elected representatives of 170 countries and officials of UN agencies attended the Conference.

###############################

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

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.

----------------------------

Race Against AIDS

----------------------------

Pune Marathon is going to be on 26th November 2006. This year also the theme is "Race Against AIDS". ‘CYDA’ being working on the issues of HIV/AIDS, taking this opportunity bringing awareness among the people and the rights of PLHAs.

According to Mr Mathew Mattam of CYDA, aim of the event is to bring large number of people join this Marathon and also to use this opportunity as fund raising event to continue the good work we are doing with various NGOs in different parts of Maharashtra as well as Pune city.

This run is titled by us as " Run for the Rights of PLHAs" to demand equal opportunities. You can support us by encouraging more and more of your friends and colleagues to join this Marathon by registering with CYDA.

A token fee of Rs. 150/- is charged towards this cause. This includes, registration fee, special T-shirt from CYDA and badges on the occasion.

For information contact CYDA at 020-25533168 & 25530228 for registration.

----------------------------

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION November 2006 - VII

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

====================================================================

ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

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

====================================================================

Int. Parliamentarians’ Conference to review the

Implementation of ICPD Programme of Action

The preparation of third International Parliamentarians’ Conference on Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action 2006 (also known as IPCI ICPD) is in final phase. The Conference will be convened in Bangkok at the United Nations Conference Center from November 21 to 22, 2006 and organized by Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) and UNFPA with others.

The 2006 conference will review the progress made in parliamentary advocacy since the 2004 Strasbourg conference (2^nd Int. Parliamentarians Conference).

The Bangkok conference will focus on taking stock of the progress made so far by parliamentarians in advancing the ICPD agenda and coming up with a common strategy to take their collective efforts to a next level.  The conference is expected to produce a forward-looking declaration that would build on the Ottawa Commitment and provide a clear sense of direction for the ten years to come.

The primary objective of the conference, according to organizer, is to continue and further promote the dialogue among parliamentarians from all regions of the globe on the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. And encourage the parliamentarians for further commitment for collective action in the areas of resource mobilization and creation of an enabling policy environment for population and development. The conference will give special focus on taking stock of the progress made since Ottawa and coming up with a strategy for future action.

The conference will be inaugurate by Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 21 November 2006, Ms Thoraya A. Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA and Mr. Meechai Ruchuphan, President, Thai National Assembly will deliver the welcome notes. Apart from Ms Obaid other keynote speakers are Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, UNESCAP, Ms. Gill Greer, Director-General, IPPF.

About 300 parliamentarians are expected from all over the world to attend the conference.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO – Youth Information Update 

        (E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)           November 2006 - VI

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National Youth Consultation on

Millennium Development Goals

The National Youth Forum, Anubhav Shiksha Kendra and WNTA are jointly organizing the National Youth Consultation on Millennium Development Goals in Nagpur, on December 9 – 10, 2006.

The Governments are making efforts towards achieving Millennium Development Goals in their own way. The youth of this Nation also can contribute in a different way. Making their Governance accountable may be the one way that youth may take over.

With the objectives of raising the awareness and understanding of MDGs among the youth leaders, assisting them in identifying the local issues around the MDGs and fostering as encouraging environment in which youth can collectively plan actions at local as well as at National level.

For More details and participation contact: Datta Patil  at YUVA.

Email: patil.datta@... 

-----

About MDGs:

At United Nations Millennium Summit 2000, 189 Heads of the Government promised to end poverty by 2015. Indian is one of the signatory of Millennium Declaration,

Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

2. Achieve Universal Primary Education.

3. Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women.

4. Reduce Child Mortality.

5. Improve Maternal Health.

6. Combat HIV/AIDS Malaria and other Diseases.

7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability.

8. Develop Global partnership For Development.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

Release in India on 13^th November 2003

Development and the Next Generation: World Development Report 2007

The World Banks flagship publication ‘World Development Report’ titled "Development and the Next Generation" was released in September 2006 in Singapore during the World Bank and IMF Annual Meeting.  Now WDR 07 report is launching in India on November 13, 2006. The report will officially release by Francois J. Bourguignon, Sr. Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank in a seminar on “Development for the Next General”. 

According the WDR 07, in next five years, the world's population of 1.3 billion youth will be competing for 300 million jobs. The world's demographic makeup was changing rapidly, with population statistics showing more young people entering the workforce in the next five years than ever before, but without a corresponding increase in the number of jobs.

Systemic youth unemployment exacerbates the problem of poverty, which is a perennial problem afflicting many in our world. Youth from developing nations, especially those already toeing the poverty line, would be particularly vulnerable to structural unemployment.

According the World Bank's officials, the solution to this problem is the engagement of the youth sector when crafting policies and programmes for the future. It is critical to invest in young people in order to reduce poverty and boost growth, as a result, youth empowerment in partnership and participatory action has been selected as the key focus for the World Development Report 2007.

According report, the development of youth as "Agents of Change" within their own communities, giving youth access to education, healthcare and job opportunities are some of the ways, which the global community can help to ensure that youth today can be prevented from falling into the poverty trap.

South Asia in WDR07

According the Report, the WB’s investment climate surveys show that over a fifth of firms in developing countries rate inadequate skills and education of workers as a major or severe obstacle to their operation.

The most of the countries in the region focus on quantity in the education field like increase the number of enrollment, now WDR 07 strongly recommends for quality basic education. The resulted the young people are in school but performing poorly. The young people from poor families need help to finance their education and to offset opportunity costs; report recommends incentive-based schemes that the focus be on quality as well as quantity.

Among the other recommendations includes investment in maternal health care and family planning education; family planning and reproductive health campaigns should also target men; increase youth access to information; capacity building to make and act on decisions;

The report highlighted the need to improve opportunities for civic engagement among young people, to reduce the young peoples’ frustration which lead become violent which further lead to social and economic instability.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.

ICYO - Youth Information    November 2006 – IV

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

News and views from Indian Committee of Youth Organizations

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

 ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.          

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

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Youth Unemployment Rising, with Hundreds of Millions More Working but Living in Poverty: Finding of New ILO Study

The number of unemployed youth aged 15 to 24 rose over the past decade, while hundreds of millions more are working but living in poverty, according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO) released in Geneva. 

While the number of young unemployed increased from 74 million to 85 million, or by 14.8 per cent between 1995 and 2005, more than 300 million youth, or approximately 25 per cent of the youth population, were living below the US $2 per day poverty line.

The ILO report estimates that at least 400 million decent and productive employment opportunities - simply put, new and better jobs - will be needed in order to reach the full productive potential of today's youth. The report also says youth are more than three times as likely to be unemployed than adults and that the relative disadvantage is more pronounced in developing countries, where youth represent a significantly higher proportion of the labour force than in developed economies. 

"Despite increased economic growth, the inability of economies to create enough decent and productive jobs is hitting the world's young especially hard", said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia. "Not only are we seeing a growing deficit of decent work opportunities and high levels of economic uncertainty, but this worrying trend threatens to damage the future economic prospects of one of our worlds' greatest assets - our young men and women." 

The report emphasizes that today's youth face serious vulnerabilities in the world of work and warns that a lack of decent work, if experienced at an early age, may permanently compromise their future employment prospects. The report adds urgency to the UN call for development of strategies aimed at giving young people a chance to maximize their productive potential through decent employment. 

Key Findings:

o          Of the 1.1 billion young people aged 15 to 24 worldwide, one out of three is either seeking but unable to find work, has given up the job search entirely or is working but living on less than US$2 a day.

o          While the youth population grew by 13.2 per cent between 1995 and 2005, employment among young people grew by only 3.8 per cent to reach 548 million.

o          Unemployed youth make up 44 per cent of the world's total unemployed despite the fact that their share of the total working-age population aged 15 and over is only 25 per cent.

o          The youth unemployment rate was far higher than the adult unemployment rate of 4.6 per cent in 2005, rising from 12.3 per cent in 1995 to 13.5 per cent last year "Idle youth is a costly group", the report says, noting that an inability to find employment creates a sense of vulnerability, uselessness and redundancy.

There are costs, therefore, to youth themselves, but also to economies and societies as a whole, both in terms of lack of savings, loss of aggregate demand and less spending for investment as well as social costs for remedial services such as preventing crime and drug use. 

"All this is a threat to the development potential of economies", Mr. Somavia said. "Today, we are squandering the economic potential of an enormous percentage of our population, especially in developing countries which can least afford it. Focusing on youth, therefore, is a must for any country." 

 Job Crisis Hits Youth Hard Throughout the World

The highest regional youth unemployment rate was observed in the Middle East and North Africa at 25.7 per cent. Central and Eastern Europe (non-EU) and CIS had the second highest rate in the world with 19.9 per cent. Sub-Saharan Africa's rate was 18.1 per cent, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (16.6 per cent),

South East Asia and the Pacific (15.8 per cent), the developed economies and European Union (EU) (13.1 per cent), South Asia (10 per cent) and East Asia (7.8 per cent). 

The Developed Economies and EU region was the only grouping to show a considerable decrease in youth unemployment over the last 10 years. The report attributed this to a declining number of young people in the labour force rather than successful employment strategies. 

Young women face even greater challenges in the labour market, as far fewer women are likely to be working or looking for work. The gap in labour force participation rates between young men and women are larger in developing regions - for example, 35 percentage points difference in South Asia, 29 in the Middle East and North Africa, 19 in Latin America and the Caribbean and 16 in both South East Asia and Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa. Such gaps result from cultural traditions, lack of opportunities for young women to combine work and household duties, and a tendency of labour markets to shed young women more rapidly than men when fewer job opportunities are available. 

At the same time, even having a job today isn't enough to guarantee a young person's future economic sustainability. With the persistence of poverty among as many as 56 per cent of young workers - and the possibility that they may be facing long working hours, temporary and/or

informal contracts, with low pay, little or no social protection, minimal training and no voice at work - it becomes clear that having a job is not the same as having a decent job. 

The report also cited a "worrisome" increase in the number of young people who are neither in employment nor in education. Using limited country-level data, the report estimated that up to 34 per cent of youth in Central and Eastern Europe, for example, are neither in employment nor education. This share was 27 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, 21 per cent in Central and South America and 13 per cent in the developed economies and European Union. 

Beyond identifying the main labour market challenges facing youth, the report attempts to clarify common misconceptions regarding youth labour markets and finds that:

o          Access to education is still a problem for many young people and illiteracy remains a substantial challenge in many developing countries.

o          Higher educational attainments do not guarantee a path in finding employment, in particular decent employment.

o          Where there is little economic growth or a shrinking employment content of growth, job security often overrules job satisfaction as a motivator for young employees.

o          Youth unemployment rates only show the tip of the iceberg regarding the problems young people face in the labour market and don't give a complete picture of youth labour market challenges. Two groups, together, outnumber the unemployed: the discouraged youth and the

young working poor.

o          Youth are not a homogenous group; therefore, targeted interventions aimed at overcoming the specific disadvantages that some youth face in entering and remaining in the labour market will be warranted.

The agricultural sector, and thus rural areas, still accounts for more than 40 per cent of total employment in the world and is still the dominant employer in many regions of the world. Despite increasing rural to urban migration, therefore, employment creation in rural areas should still play a large role in youth employment strategies and overall poverty reduction strategies. In fact, improving wages and reducing poverty within the rural economy will go a long way toward stemming the tide of migration of young people into already crowded urban cities.

The report said a young person whose first experience in the labour market is one of long-term unemployment is likely to move between unemployment spells and low-wage employment throughout working life. The report calls for targeted and integrated national policies and programmes, fostered by international aid, to reach the most vulnerable youth and to bring them back into the fold of a civil society that can benefit from their participation. 

"It is an undeniable tenet - and now one that is recognized within the UN as well as other international organizations and governments - that only through decent employment opportunities can young people get the chance to work themselves out of poverty", Mr. Somavia said, "Youth employment strategies are a key contribution to meeting the Millennium Development Goals." 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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.