ICYO

YOUTH INFORMATION

                           No: 2008/10

(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.

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

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.

-  Second SAARC Youth Camp held in Chennai.

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Newsletter from Indian Committee of Youth Organizations

Youth Information  No. 2008/8

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ICYO - Platform of 350 Youth Organizations in India.          

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

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Second SAARC Youth Camp held in Chennai

The Second youth camp (but less published) of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) brought over 60 delegates from across south Asia to Chennai at the start on 12 January of the five-day summit hosted by India.

The SAARC Youth meet was launched as mandated by the resolutions adopted at
the 14th SAARC summit in April 2007, and aimed to increasing communication, understanding and cooperation among the youth in member countries.

Representatives from all SAARC countries except Pakistan and Bhutan attended the camp.

In inaugural address, Anna University Vice-Chancellor D. Viswanathan, stressed the role the youth should play in addressing social issues, eliminating evil customs, contributing to economic development, participating in public life and protecting the environment.

"Youth development programmes," he said, "should engage youth as resources in the community and create leadership opportunities for young people." Project-based and experiential learning in collaboration with business, labour and industry was also important. These programmes should also be able to respond effectively while respecting the culture of the person being served. "In this respect, youth development practitioners may have to increase their knowledge of different cultures," he said.

He stressed the importance of training rural youth in vocational skills covering manufacturing and services, and developing programmes to bridge the urban-rural divide. He urged participants to develop emotional intelligence, including the qualities of self-awareness, self-motivation
and empathy.

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

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.

Vaccancy in World Assembly of Youth (WAY)

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ICYO

YOUTH INFORMATION

                           No: 2008/7

(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.

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

World Assembly of Youth (WAY) Looking for New Secretary General

The post of the Secretary-General of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) has fallen vacant and President of WAY invite the application.

Founded in 1949, WAY is the international coordinating body of national youth councils and organizations with 110 members from countries all over the world including ICYO.

The WAY Secretariat is currently based in the historic city of Melaka, Malaysia. Among the chief responsibilities of the Secretary-General are:-

1.                    Management, supervision and coordination of the WAY Secretariat’s daily operations;

2.                    Implementation, supervision and monitoring of WAY’s project and programs including preparation and submission of projects and program reports;

3.                    Promote research and development of youth related programs;

4.                    Prepare working papers, work programs and project proposals related to youth development at national and international levels;

5.                    Draft project proposals for funding from international agencies;

6.                    Liaise with national and international non-governmental organizations in developing and fostering linkages and networking;

7.                    Raise funds for WAY’s programs via fund raising activities.

To ensure the proper discharging of responsibilities as the Secretary-General of WAY, certain pre-requisites are required of the person assuming the post. The pre-requisites are:-

·         University degree with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of youth work supported by relevant professional qualifications and work experience in youth related work;

·         Fluency in English with excellent communication and writing skills relevant to management and drafting of project and program proposals;

·         Good interpersonal abilities and analytical skills;

·         Capable to work under pressure and willing to travel extensively;

·         Knowledge of other languages with be an added advantage.

The post comes with an attractive remuneration package. If you are interested in taking up the challenge, please submit a detailed resume and a brief draft on how to raise funds from international agencies for WAY. To be included are a passport sized photograph, current and expected salaries and contact telephone numbers and email address.

Applications are to be made via postal address or email to:-

            c/o            The Office of the Chief Minister of Melaka

                        Level 4, Blok Bendahara

                        Kompleks Seri Negeri

                        75450 Ayer Keroh

                        Melaka

                        MALAYSIA

                        Fax: +60-6-232 8400   Email :  alirustam@...

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

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

                           No: 2008/6

(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.

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

Red Ribbon Award

We are pleased to announce the second call for nominations for the biennial Red Ribbon Award: Celebrating Community Leadership and Action on AIDS. This initiative is a partnership between the UNAIDS family and the Leadership and Community Programme Committees of the XVII International AIDS Conference. The award, which was launched on World AIDS Day by Kemal Dervis and Peter Piot, will honour exceptional grassroots leadership in responding to the AIDS epidemic, and will be presented at the AIDS Conference in Mexico City in August 2008.

Nominations for the award will be accepted in the following categories:

- Providing access to care, treatment and support for people living with HIV

- Promoting human rights and addressing social injustices such as homophobia, sexism and any other forms of stigma and discrimination
- Empowering women and girls and addressing gender inequalities that fuel the spread of HIV

- Providing support to children orphaned by AIDS and other vulnerable children
- Promoting HIV prevention programmes and services

Twenty-five community organizations will be selected as award finalists, with the opportunity to showcase their work at the Mexico AIDS Conference. The finalists will receive $5,000 each, and five of the organizations will be awarded a special recognition and an additional $15,000. More detailed information on the award and the nomination process can be found at www.redribbonaward.org.

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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.

Ř      President of India meets youth participant of 8^th KNOW INDIA programme.

PRESIDENT OF INDIA MEETS PARTICIPANTS OF 8TH KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil met participants of the 8th Know India Programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India has been organising this programme with the objective of familiarising the younger generation of the Indian Diaspora with India.

The programme involves a three-week stay in India by the participants in the age group of 20 to 28 years. The Government of Tamil Nadu and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are partners with the Government of India.

The President had a very lively interaction with the more than 30 participants who came from Canada, Fiji, Guyana, Israel, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Reunion Islands, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

During the interaction Smt. Patil said, on return to their countries the participants would become ambassadors for India and was happy that the programme allows youth of Indian origin to meet with Indian youth to create long lasting contacts. The President was keen to know about the impressions of the participants about India before and after participating in the programme. The President was also very keen to know about social work being done by some of the participants. The participants said after visiting both rural and urban areas, they were struck by the India's rising economic power, high level of motivation of the people, the intelligence of its people, the country's globalised nature, its vibrancy, love and hospitality of the people despite progress, advances in urban infrastructure and the progress of its women.

The President told the group that India was indeed on the path of fast economic growth, with GDP growth at more than 9 percent for the past three years and a projection of 10 percent per annum GDP growth in the latter part of the 11th Five Year Plan. 55 percent of the economy was made up of the service sector, with IT and IT enabled services doing well, industrial growth on the pick-up and foreign investment being attracted to the country because of its growth, she added. She also spoke about the higher education system and measures taken by the Late Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi to amend the Constitution to reserve one-third of the seats in local elected bodies for women, so that women could be empowered.

Smt. Patil also mentioned the problem areas and challenges faced by India, such as poverty and illiteracy, reduction of which is being focused on by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Programme of the Government of India.

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

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

                           No: 2008/79

(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.

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

IAVE World Youth Conference

Youth Volunteering for Solidarity and Equity

31 March, 1, 2 April 2008. Panamá city.

 Hotel Avalon Resort, Las Cumbres.

Do you want to participate in the IAVE World Youth Volunteer Conference?

In the framework of the XX IAVE World Volunteer Conference Volunteering for Human Development, More Solidarity Less Poverty, to take place in Panama City from the 2^nd  to the 5^th of April 2008, from the 31^st of March to the 2^nd of April 2008, the IAVE World Volunteer Youth Conference will be held in Panama.

Do you want to share your experiences with young volunteers from all over the world?

In Panama city, in the Hotel Avalon Resort,in Las Cumbres, under the title Youth Volunteering for Solidarity and Equity, the IAVE World Youth Volunteer Conference will create a get-together space dedicated to visualize the volunteer as a factor of human development among young people. 200 participants from all over the world:  young volunteers, young representatives of volunteer organisations and young professionals, aged between 15 and 30 years, will have the chance to share their views and experiences, to exchange information and knowledge and to get to know better the situation of youth volunteering world wide.

Now, in order that this event will be a success...

We want to know your opinion!!!

We want you to share your experience!!!

Or, in other words,

We want you to participate!!!!!!!!!!!

To participate in the Youth Conference and to benefit from this excellent opportunity:

Thanks to the support of the First Lady Office of the Republic of Panama, Miss  Vivian Fernández de Torrijos, the registration of the IAVE Youth Conference is free of charge for selected participants. Conference registration covers accomodation costs, meals and materials during the Conference.

Selected participants will have to pay for their travel expenses.

There are only 100 vacancies for international participants, so we suggest you to register as soon as possible.

 Hosted and organised by:     First Lady Office.  ‘Contigo Juventud’ Programe.

                                               International Association for Volunteer Effort/ IAVE.

                                               YMCA Panamá.

                                               IAVE Youth Office in Catalonia.

Participants:                            200 Young people, volunteers and professionals from   15 to 30 years old.

Objectives:

-          To create a space to exchange experience and information about the situation of youth volunteering world wide.

-          To strenghten and to promote new programs and activities of youth volunteering, in Panama and all across the world. 

-          To get to know innovative approaches to answer the actual challenges that young volunteers and volunteer organisations are facing in their communities from a global perspective.

Youth Conference will focus on the next 4 topics :

• Youth Volunteering for Solidarity and Equity.
• Global impact of Youth Volunteering.
• Features of human development in Youth Volunteering. 
• Innovative programs and new fields of action of Youth Volunteering.

Topics will be developed by expert panels and by group discussions led and facilitated by young people with expertise in youth volunteering from all the world regions, according to the needs and expectations of participants and the topics found more relevant by participant themselves.

To participate is necessary to follow next requirements:

• To have from 15 to 30 years (inclusive).
• To be actively involved, as a volunteer or as a profesional, in a volunteer project/ organisation. 
• To complete the online registration.
• To be responsible for getting the VISA.
• To take care of arranging the health and travel insurance.
• Once application form is fulfilled, to send it by email to the next 2 adresses: IAVEyouthconference@... and jcordoba@...

Registration deadline is the 29th of February 2008. Due to the limited vacancies, we suggest you to complete and to send us your application form as soon as possible.

NOTE: Everyone willing to participate in the XX IAVE World Volunteer Conference Volunteering for Human Development: More Solidarity Less Poverty, from 2 to 5 April in Panama City, can also register now. Participants on this Conference have to pay registration, travel and accommodation costs. Participants in the Youth Conference can take advantage of a discount for their registration.

Visiti the web of Iave http://www.iave.org/NewsView.asp?newsID=144 for more information

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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

                           No: 2008/3

(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.

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

Soon, one definition for ‘child’

New Delhi: The government will soon come out with a uniform definition of ‘child’. A committee set up by the National Commission for Child Rights is likely to go by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says, ‘‘A child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law... majority is attained earlier’’.

As of now, different age limits are followed. While juvenile justice considers boys till 16 and girls till 18 to be children, for education, the uniform limit is 16.

Employing boys and girls below 14 is child labour but for prevention of child marriages, the limit is 18 for girls and 21 for boys

Panel to decide upper age limit of childhood

New Delhi: When does childhood end? At 18, when a girl can marry; 16, when she can give consent for sex; or 14, when a person can work in hazardous jobs? These legal ambiguities may soon be history, with moves afoot to hammer out a uniform definition of ‘‘child’’ in India.

The National Commission for Child Rights (NCPCR) has constituted a committee, comprising representatives from ministries of HRD, labour and women and child development, to redefine the upper age limit of childhood in the country. The committee, chaired by NCPCR member Deepa Dikshit, will place its final suggestions by March this year. And, it’s likely to follow the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child while arriving at a common age, after which a person should not be legally regarded as a child.

According to Article 1 of UNCRC, ‘‘a child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier’’. The Article, however, grants individual countries the discretion to determine by law whether childhood ceases at 12, 14, 16 or whatever age is found appropriate. Being a signatory to UNCRC, NCPCR in its preamble, vows to protect the rights of anyone under the age of 18.

Having a single definition of childhood age will have farreaching consequences. ‘‘There are multiple variations in India about the definition of a child. NCPCR believes that UNCRC’s definition of a child should be universally accepted by the government for right to education, prevention of child labour, booking anyone under criminal law or any other purpose. This would certainly be a step forward for protection of child rights in education, as lakhs of children in the age group of 15-18 years will then be able to avail of government schemes of free and compulsory education. Currently, the right to education is restricted to the age of 14, when a child is in Class VIII or IX. There should be compulsory education till 18 years, when they can at least study till Class XII,’’ NCPCR chairperson Shantha Sinha told TOI.

There are wide variations regarding the definition of a child in India. For purposes of legal protection against kidnapping and related offences, it’s 16 years for boys and 18 for girls. But for special treatment under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000, the age is 18 for both boys and girls. And the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 defines a child as any person below the age of 18, and includes an adopted step or foster child.

‘‘Article 21 A of the Constitution of India says that the state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children within the ages of six and 14, while Article 45 specifies that the state shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six,’’ Sinha said. (Times of India)

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

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.

- National Youth Awards in India

ICYO

YOUTH INFORMATION

                           No: 2008/78

(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.

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

National Youth Awarded to

Youth Leaders on eve of

‘National Youth Day’ in India

Exhorting the youth to play a key role in the nation building process, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr M. Karunanidhi said that Youth must play a key role in nation building and they should help spread the message of national spirit across the country.

Inaugurating the 13th edition of the National Youth Festival in Chennai on 12 January 2008, he enumerated steps taken by his government for encouraging sportspersons by way of cash award and other honour.

He gave away the National Youth awards.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was the guest of honour in inaugural function of National Youth Fesitval and National Youth Award Ceremony, said over 2,500 delegates from several States and Union Territories were participating in the mega event.

Union Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr S.K. Arora, outlining the objectives of the festival, said the main theme was ‘youth for progress and excellence.’ There were participants from SAARC and Commonwealth countries.

State Minister for Environment and Sports, T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, said as part of the festival, 38 youths and two voluntary organizations were given National Youth awards in recognition of their social activities.

Name of the Awardees for 2006-2007

1.  Smt. Kanday Rao Sudarani, H.No.6-5-328, P S, New Bhoiguda, Secundrabad, A.P

2.  Shri Chakravarthi Bethala, 7-E-2/3-27, 28th Ward, Eluru-534 001, WG Dt. Andhra Pradesh  

3.  Shri Henry Davaid Teran, Pamahi P.O. Gorehuk., Distt. Kamrup Guwahati, Assam.

4.  Sri Rajib Das, Vill-Nizjuluki, P.O. Barama, Distt. Baksa, Assam-800 023. 

5.  Ms. Puja, Flat No.438/800, Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar, Patna, Bihar-800 023.

6.  Ms. Priya, H.No.15/1 Sector 41 A Chandigarh-160 036. 

7.  Shri Pritpal Singh, No.172, Vill. Khuda Lahora, Chandigarh. 

8.  Shri Naveen Kumar Kotiya, RZ-7, Lokesh Park, Najafgarh Village, New Delhi-110 043

9.  Shri Sanjay Rajta, Village-Taprog, PO-Khunni, Rampur, Distt-Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. 

10.  Shri Sanjeev Kumar Garg, H.No.01, Dayanand Colony, Gate, Kaithal-136 027, Haryana.. 

11.  Ms. Leelawati, VPO-Pahnawa, Distt-Kaithal-136 200, Haryana.   

12.  Ms. Mamta Rani, H.No.2530/5, Mohalla Shekhan Wala, Kurukshetra, Haryana-136 118. 

13.  Shri Andanayya S.Hiremath, Post Sambhapur Tq & District Gadag, Bangalore, Karnataka. 

14.  Shri V.S.Lokesh, Shruthi Mansion, M.G. Road, Tumkur, Bangalore, Karnataka 

15.  Ms. Fousiya Yoonus, T.C.27/73, Swagath, MRA-46, Thiruvananthapuram-695 035, Kerala. 

16.  Ms. C.Ambika, Kodoth (PO), Anandasramam (Via), Kasaragod District-671 531, Kerala. 

17.  Shri Tonjam Gandhi Singh, Lilong Chajing Awang Leikai, Imphal  Manipur,   

18.  Shri Rajesh Kumar Mohanty, Narendra Kona, P.O. Puri, Distt. Puri-752 001, Orissa,   

19.  Shri Jasdeep Singh Badhan, 742/13, New Santokhpura, Jalandhar, Punjab-144 004,

20.  Ms. Anju Verma, Pratap Surpanch Ke Kothi Ke Pass, Neem Da Gate, Bharatpur, Rajasthan 

21.  Shri Bhupendra Singh, S-4, Anandpuri, Opp-Naila House, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302 004. 

22.  Ms. Santosh Gupta, Near State Bank of India, New Katla, Dansa, Rajasthan-303 303.

23.  Shri Sita Ram Khatik, Vill. Kanchhekala, Tehsil – Shahpura, Zila – Bhilwara, Rajasthan   

24.  Shri Indra Kumar Pradhan, Lower Changeylakha, PO-Rongli, East Sikkim.   

25.  Ms. Anjali Chandrasekhar, 122-F, Railway Officers Flats, Chennai-600 034

26.  Shri P.Sivakumar, 8, EB Nagar, Sellankuppam, Cuddalore-607 003 Tamil Nadu. 

27.  Shri V.Ramesh (PH), 1/121, Adaikanur Village, Salem District-636 011 Tamil Nadu. 

28.  Shri K.Jayakannan, 3/86, Mayuranathapuram Village, Nenmani Virudhunagar  Tamil Nadu. 

29.  Shri Shubrata Biswas, Vill. East Jogendranagar, PO Aralia, Dist-West Tripura

30.  Shri Hemant Kumar Yadav, Village-Cahhittupur Post-BHU, Distt-Varanasi-221 005, UP 

31.  Ms. Swaraj Vidwan, Vill: Gevla, PO-Brahamkhan, Te-Dunda, Uttrakhand. 

32.  Shri Gurumale Singh, Village Laxmipur, Post Khera Vikasnagar, Uttarkhand.  

33.  Shri Shukanta Kumar Paul , PO-Tajpur, Block-Amta-II, Distt-Howra, West Bengal-711 413

34.  Ms. Poonam Srinivastava, New Subhash Nagar Colony, Sehore-466 001, Madhya Pradesh. 

35.  Shri Jay Prakash Suryawanshi, AT-Marai, PO-Mother, Distt.Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh

36.  Shri Navin Ramchandra Lade, 82, Prakasha Wadi, Andheri-Kurla Road, Mumbai-400 092 

37.  Shri Pranab Pariat, Chalice, Upper Nongtnymnai, Shillong – 793 014 Maghalaya 

38.  Shri Puneet Pradhan (Punnu), 149, Sec-1, Gangyal Jammu-180 010 Jammu & Kashmir

Organizational Awards

39.  National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activities, Karnal.

40.  Parents Association of Mentally Handicapped of Jamshedpur (PAMHJ),  Jamshedpur

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

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.

-  National Youth Award announced

-  National Youth Festival is open today evening in Chennai

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Newsletter from Indian Committee of Youth Organizations

Youth Information January 2008 Issue 77
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ICYO - Platform of 350 Youth Organizations in India.          

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

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National Youth Awards to be given away in National Youth Festival at Chennai

The National Youth Awards for the year 2006-07 will be given away at the 13th National Youth Festival, schedule to be held in Chennai from January 12 to 16, 2007

Mr Naveen Kumar Kotiya, President of AISS and the youth leader from Delhi will also be receiving the National Youth Award on 12 January 2007 in Chennai. He is actively associated with Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) last many years and also with National Youth Project, Najafgarh unit.

These awards are conferred on youth who have demonstrably excelled in different fields of developmental activities and social service. The award to individual comprises a medal, a scroll and Rs 20,000/-. The award of one voluntary organization comprises a trophy, a scroll and Rs. 1,00,000/-.

The theme for the 13^th National Youth Festival is “YOUTH FOR PROGRESS AND EXCELLENCE.”

National Youth Festival

The National Youth Festival is a mega National Integration Camp. The theme for the 13^th National Youth Festival is “YOUTH FOR PROGRESS AND EXCELLENCE.”

 About 4000 youth from all over India will participate in the Festival.  Each State/UT administration is expected to send a contingent of participants for competing in designated events and also participating in other activities.  Variety of cultural programmes (both competitive and non-competitive), Youth Convention, Suvichar and Exhibition etc. will be organized to show the talent and creative energy of our youth.

        The Festival will conclude on 16^th January, 2008.  His excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu will be the Chief Guest on this occasion and he will also give away Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Awards.

The Department of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, introduced the scheme of Yuva Utsava (youth festivals) in 1994 to be organized at the Block, istrict, State and National levels with a view to acquainting them with the beauty and diversity of Indian music, dance and other art forms, as also to foster the concept of a mosaic of Indian ethos and culture which cements the feeling of oneness and gi es pride in the nation's diversity. Since then, three Rashtriya Yuva Utsavas at Bhopal, Calcutta and Ahmedabad have been successfully organized.

            The National Youth Festival is held annually since than from 12^th to 16^th January in one of the States willing to host the Festival to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.  The 12^th January, being the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand is also observed as National Youth Day.

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

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

No 2007/76

(E - newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)

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

New Manual on Sex Education to be out by January

New Delhi: The controversial UNICEF-NACO manual on sex education is expected to come out with necessary changes by January 2008. The manual, however, will be put for field-testing before being distributed to the teachers for training in classrooms. The Rajya Sabha Committee of Petitions headed by M Venkaiah Naidu decided in a meeting on Thursday that National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) should work jointly with CBSE to come up with the revised manual.

‘‘The review of the earlier manual is being carried out and the revised module will be out by January. However, we will put it for field testing to get the feedback of teachers and parents before publishing it,’’ said NACO chief K Sujatha Rao. Views and opinions of teachers and parents will be registered on the NACO website.

‘‘There is a support and concern about these issues in the committee but it was felt that the manual could have been less explicit and obvious. The same issues will be addressed but the pedagogy and strategy would be different and better. We stand by the commitment that the adolescent issues need to be projected correctly but they will now be done in a subtle manner,’’ said Rao.

The Naidu panel seized the issue on the basis of two petitions that Rajya Sabha had received from the public in which introduction of sex education at primary and secondary level for creating awareness about HIV\AIDS was claimed to be an absolutely ill-advised step. Petitioners from Maharastra had also stated that the available literature published by UNICEF itself was not worthy of being used for teaching the students.

In this high profile meeting attended by CBSE chief Ashok Ganguly, joint secretary of Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) SC Khuntia and Expressions India chief Jitendra Nagpal, it was also discussed on having only one manual for adolescent education. ‘‘It was discussed that there shouldn’t be too many manuals for adolescent education. We would work with CBSE and Expressions India to bring out the revised manual,’’ said Rao.

Recently, the CBSE-UNFPA manual, which had first come out in 2005, was also revised after receiving feedback from teachers. Words like masturbation, arousal and sexual intercourse were deleted besides few colourful diagrams describing the journey from puberty to young adulthood. A couple of new topics on gender sensitivity were also incorporated in the revised version, like how to enhance the respect for opposite sex, how to look at the perspective of life-skills, how to cope with the stress and the role of teachers and counsellors in preventing substance-abuse among schoolchildren.

This manual, monitored by NCERT and supported by the UNFPA so far, has trained around 4000 teachers in CBSEaffiliated public schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

Initially, it was designed according to various life-skill education programmes practised worldwide. Some parts of it was adapted from the controversial NACO-UNICEF’s training manual on sex education. After the recent uproar by Rashtriya Syamasevak Sangh (RSS) and the Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti demanding a ban on the UNICEF manual, which was introduced in schools by MHRD in 2004, a need to revise the NAEP was also felt in the ministry.

The UNICEF-NACO manual was introduced in state boards in 11 states, who rejected the same, calling it explicit. The petitions committee has been visiting various states including TN and AP and discussing the manual with representatives from NGOs, teachers and principals.

Those interested in joining the debate were asked to submit memoranda to Rajya Sabha Secretariat Joint Director J Sundrial. So far, it has received around 40,000 representatives on the matter. (Times of India)

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

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  December 2007             

  (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.

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

Young People in South Asia

Demand Better Protection from

Trafficking & Sexual Exploitation

Young people from Nepal, Bangladesh and India today called on their governments to better protect children from commercial sexual exploitation [CSE] and trafficking.

Following a three-day regional consultation of the Youth Partnership Project South Asia [YPP] held in Katmandu, vulnerable children and survivors of trafficking presented their own recommendations to Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Ms. Sahana Pradhan.

Ten youth representatives then presented their recommendations to the Prime Minister of Nepal at State House. The Prime Minister was keen to see a regional coordination mechanism in place to ensure that the recommendations are implemented and also made a commitment to contact the Prime Minister’s of India and Bangladesh and to follow-up with his own Ministers.

As well as calling on the government to ensure that existing laws on trafficking are upheld and perpetrators punished, the young delegates asked for new legislation and called upon religious leaders from all faiths to work with them on this issue.

Shompa, a 15-year-old YPP peer supporter from Bangladesh, says: ‘Today is a very important day for us. We have been discussing these recommendations for a long time and we feel we are experts on these issues. Now we want the people in power in all three countries [Bangladesh, Nepal and India] to listen – but more importantly – act on what we say.’

Research suggests that the number of children and young people who are trafficked and exploited for sexual and commercial purposes is growing, with estimates as high as 350,000 in India, 40,000 in Nepal and 29,000 in Bangladesh.

The YPP is a unique initiative, which is managed by ECPAT [End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes] and funded by Comic Relief and Christian Aid.

Maiti Nepal in Kathmandu, Aparajeyo-Bangladesh in Dhaka and SANLAAP in Kolkata are implementing the project at the national level. Through these organizations, young people who are at-risk or who have experience of CSE, take the lead in supporting one another, offering help to children in dangerous red-light and border areas, organizing awareness campaigns and advocating for changes to the law to prevent these forms of abuse. So far the YPP has reached out to over 50,000 children.

The Director of ECPAT International Ms. Carmen Madrinan says: ‘Every child has the right to live free from trafficking for sexual purposes and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. The YPP demonstrates that young people can effectively reach out to other child survivors and at-risk youth. And not only that, today’s meeting with government, NGOs and media, shows that young people are uniquely placed to lead the fight against commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.’

The YPP delegates will also highlight the vital need for survivors of trafficking to be given legal identity cards, and call on SAARC [South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation] and the UN to suspend the membership of countries, which fail to uphold existing agreements to protect children from these abuses.

YPP representatives from Bangladesh and India will make the same recommendations to ministers upon their return to Dhaka and Kolkata.

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

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.

Campaign against

Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth

ICYO - Youth Information   ICYO to End CSEC

(To raise the voice against Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth and Human Trafficking for sexual purpose)

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Desperate Bachelors; India's skewed sex ratio is forcing men to scour faraway places and even orphanages for brides 

Date: Sunday, December 16, 2007

YOUNG men not far from Delhi are paying a price for their society's traditional preference for boys. There are few girls for them to marry.

The rampant disposal of female foetuses in neighbouring Haryana state has badly skewed the sex ratio. There are 861 girls for every 1,000 boys, compared to the normal ratio of 1,000 females for every 1,030 to 1,050 males.

The shortage of girls of marriageable age has prompted desperate men from the state to scour far-off places and orphanages in search of prospective wives.

Sociologists and local social activists say that trafficking in women has become a big business in some villages where nearly 60 per cent of the men remain single because they cannot find women to marry.

In some cases, poor women are bought from far-away states such as West Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand and across the border from Nepal and Bangladesh. The rate for a 'bride' ranges from 3,000 rupees ($110S) to 30,000 rupees.

Others have turned to orphanages for a bride.

'The parents of boys come and plead with us for a girl, but we don't have many girls in the orphanage. They are desperate to get their sons married,' said Mr Mohan Madhav Godbole, head of Bal Ashram, an orphanage run by an independent trust in the Sonepat district of Haryana.

Mr Godbole, 59, told The Sunday Times that an average of 100-200 parents approach the orphanage every year, seeking brides for their sons. Many prospective grooms also come looking for partners at the orphanage.

'Men from all walks of life come to us,' he said. 'They come from conservative families, but are not bothered about the caste or creed of the girls. They are just eager to get married.'

Because getting girls from nearby villages has become almost impossible, some men are travelling all the way to Kerala, a southern Indian state 3,000km away, in search of brides.

Kerala, the most literate state in the country, is said to have the best sex ratio in the country - 1,036 females for every 1,000 males.

A United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) report in 1997 pointed out that if Kerala's sex ratio was taken as a yardstick, across India there would be close to 32 million to 48 million 'missing women' - the victims of female foeticide.

The report declared Haryana as being in a 'state of emergency' with regard to its sex ratio.

News reports say that despite linguistic and cultural differences, about 150 men from Haryana have married girls from Kerala in recent years. This has happened even though it takes a long time for the Malayalam-language-speaking bride and the Hindi-speaking groom to begin to speak to each other.

Ms Sudha, 31, of Kannur, a town in north Kerala, who has married a farmer in Haryana, was quoted in The Indian Express newspaper as saying: 'I'm old and no one would marry me back home. One has to pay too much money to marry there. Here I have a house and a husband, and it is not too difficult to get used to the different ways of this state.'

To prevent the practice of child marriages, particularly in rural areas, the Indian government has fixed 18 as the minimum marrying age for females and 21 for males. But a growing number of women are putting off marriage till they are 25 or more to pursue higher education and careers.

Ms Sudha, who passed the higher secondary school examination, married Mr Bijender, a school dropout, about a year and half ago and now lives with her husband's family in Hansi town, about 175km west of Delhi.

Like most men in rural Haryana, Mr Bijender uses a single name.

The couple have a three-month-old daughter but Mr Bijender, 42, in spite of the difficulty he had in finding a wife, wants to have a son.

While most couples manage to overcome their cultural and linguistic differences, there have been cases where the marriages did not work and the girls returned home.

Ms Jagmati Sangwan, state president of Janwadi Mahila Samity, an organisation working to advance women's rights, said that when the trend started nearly a decade ago, many women were sexually exploited and physically abused.

'But things are changing,' she said. 'The numbers of women from other states are increasing and those who came before give the new arrivals a sense of security and confidence.'

Dr Ravinder Kaur, associate professor of sociology at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi told The Times of India: 'It is an alien world for these girls and the first few years of marriage can prove to be tough.'

She said she had come across over 40 cases of 'across-region' marriages in a survey of five districts of Haryana.

Mr M.D. Nair, chairman of Payyannur municipality in north Kerala that has seen dozens of its women marrying men from Haryana, attributed the phenomenon to poverty and the demands for dowry by grooms in Kerala, the paper said.

In the village of Sorkhi, also in Haryana, 33-year-old farmer Rambir's neighbour married a woman from Kerala. The woman showed Mr Rambir a photograph of her girlfriend back home.

He liked what he saw and he and his family visited her in Kerala. They got married early this year.

Mr Rambir's mother, Mrs Sunita, was quoted in The Times of India as saying: 'There is no question of asking for a dowry now or being choosy about caste. We are happy so long as a daughter-in-law comes into the house.'

Earlier, only older men or those who needed a second wife would seek a bride from outside the community, she said. 'Today, even young men from Haryana's neighbouring states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are seeking brides from Kerala and other states,' said Dr Kaur.

The dearth of women and shrinking landholdings have also resulted in polyandry in some rural areas of Punjab, where brothers share a wife, brought over from other regions.

'There are three to four cases in every village, and in some areas the number goes up to 10 or 15,' said Mr Kuldip Singh Deep, a Punjab social activist.

'The problem is a Hydra-headed thing,' sociologist Vasanthi Raman, a fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, told The Sunday Times, referring to the many-headed monster in Greek mythology.

'The devaluation of the girl child and 'masculination' of the society will have long-term consequences,' she said, referring to the increased proportion of males in society.

Other experts warn that the situation will only get worse. 'The few women that are left can be subjected to violence, widows may be forced to remarry within the family, and families may push for polyandrous unions without the consent of the woman,' Dr Kaur said. (PUSH Journal)

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

This newsletter distributed 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: info.icyo@... / icyo@...

Web:  www.icyo.in

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

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is the network organization, committed for capacity building and developing mutual cooperation and understanding amongs youth organizations, youth groups. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth organizations with working area in South Asia.a.

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY);

Full Member of Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Member: CRIN, ATSEC-DELHI,
Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand; 

AIDS Battle Must be Won, Asserts Sonia Gandhi

"IT IS a battle that can and must be won," said UPA chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as she flagged off the Red Ribbon Express in New Delhi that will carry AIDS messages over 27,000 km across 24 states within the next one year.

UNAIDS-backed data released this year said the estimated HIV-infected population in India was 2.5 million, half of last year's estimate of 5.2 million.

"It continues to be a major public health concern. No single thing has such an impact in the world. Men and women in the prime of their youth have been lost to this disease," she said.

Drugs to treat AIDS are available free under the government programme, but less than one lakh people are registered, largely because of the stigma attached. If treated, a person infected with the AIDS virus can lead a healthy life for many years.

Second-line AIDS drugs for people who develop resistance will be provided free under the government programme in Mumbai and Chennai. These drugs are expensive and beyond the reach of thousands of HIV/AIDs victims in India," said Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss. He said the scheme, which is expected to benefit over 2,000 people in its initial phase, would be extended to the rest of the country by April 1, 2007.

At the flagging off at New Delhi's Safdarjang Railway Station, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yaday said that the government will make another train available for AIDS awareness. "The Indian Railway network is the ideal route to rollout a mass mobilization initiative intended to reach every nook and corner of the nation," he said.

A collaboration between NACO, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Indian Railways and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, the train will become the platform for interactions, plays, films and poster exhibitions in what is being projected as the biggest AIDS awareness campaign in the country.

IAPPD’s National Inter-University Debate Competition held

3^rd National Inter-University Debate Competition 2007-08 was held in New Delhi from November 16-17, 2007 and twenty-six universities were participated. They debated on topic “Urbanization Improves Environment”.  The debate was conducted first at University level (inter-college) and then at National level. 

The debate “For and Against” the above topic was very inspiring and thought provoking and interesting.  The participants were, no doubt, talented and prepared the topic very well.  University of Mumbai was declared Winner Team and the Runner-up Team was M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara and individual prizes were given as under:- First Prize Mr.Aseem Naphade, Mumbai University; Second Prize Ms.Resham Pandit, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara and Third Prize Mr.Nachiket Kulkarni, Mumbai Univeristy, Mumbai.

Mr Prem Singh, Speaker, Legislative Assembly Delhi inaugurated the debate on 16 November 2007 at SatPal Mittal Centre for Parliamentians. Mr. B.K. Prasad, Joint Secretary, MOH&FW was guest of honour, Mr. Sat Mahajan, Development Minister, Himachal Pradesh and Chairman, IAPPD presided the debate.  Prof.P.J. Kurien, MP and Chairman of IAPPD Standing Committee,  Mr Virendra Kataria, Vice-Chairman, IAPPD and Sh.Manmohan Sharma, Executive Secretary, IAPPD were on the dias.

Members of the jury were Dr.D.K. Banerjee from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); Mr.K.M. Sathyanarayana, UNFPA; Mr.K.S. Sebastian, IPPF; Mr.R.S. Meena (Kalky); Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOH&FW); Dr.(Mrs.) Sudesh Nangia from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as Chairperson and Dr.Kusum Premi was the Observer.

Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD) organized the Inter-University Debate Competition, which is an annual feature.

Alliance of Civilizations Annual Forum, Spain

The AoC Annual Forum is a high-level event that will bring together key stakeholders to explore ways to promote cross-cultural understanding globally and will be held 14-16 January 2008 in Spain.

Youth participation is critical to help frame the discussion, identify solutions in order to achieve greater understanding and tolerance between cultures and to carry the work forward after the forum. 

A pre-forum orientation session will be arranged on January 14, 2008, for youth participants to get to know each other and to better understand the forum’s objectives. From 15-16 January, youth will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive dialogue with noted world leaders during parallel working sessions.

ICYO will attend the Forum.

UNESCO Policy Paper on
Peer-Group Monitoring and Evaluation

Providing adolescent girls with the learning opportunities they need to develop their full potential was the fundamental motivation for the launch of the 2002 UNESCO pilot project "Breaking the Poverty Cycle of Women".

From its early stages, the project addressed the multidimensional nature of poverty through its broad-based capacity-building programme and work with young people as peer monitors and evaluators. Based on the experience of the peer-group monitoring and evaluation component of the project, the UNESCO Section for Youth, Sport and Physical Education has just published
a policy paper on Peer Group Monitoring and Evaluation entitled "Assessing Youth Empowerment through Peer-Group Monitoring and Evaluation: lessons learned and Perspectives for Replication".

This campaign aims to develop and implement global HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in collaboration with national youth councils, as well as to launch an international media campaign with messages targeting youth around the world.

Hostel of WYF Inaugurated

The World Youth Foundation (WYF) launched it hostel on 19^th November 2007. The hostel is milestone for the Foundation.

The WYF Hostel is located within the Foundation Complex building. The WYF Hostel has a total of 39 apartment units that consist of three room apartments, a management office, a volleyball court and a prayer room. The hostel will start working from15^th December 2007.

WHO Developing
an Integrated Approach to Adolescent Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a treasure-trove of useful guidance on individual and public health, but is it organized in a fashion to address adolescent health issues in countries?

This was the challenge that WHO's Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (CAH) rose to meet over the summer. While many departments within the organization work with "children" (defined as under 18), they do not necessarily specify actions for adolescents. The aim of the initiative was to provide better, more comprehensive support to countries by developing a portal to the breadth of resources that WHO has to offer on adolescents' health. CAH will use this as a basis to explore how WHO country offices can use such technical resources to address the health of adolescents in a more integrated manner.

Globalization has not created many real opportunities in South Asia: Report on the World Social Situation.

UNFPA UN Interagency Task Force on Adolescent Girls

From 28-29 November, the UN Interagency Task Force on Adolescent Girls convened a meeting at UNFPA to discuss three main objectives:  (1) formalizing the task force and reaching agreement on its purpose and modalities for working together; (2) developing a joint programming framework for reaching marginalized adolescent girls; and (3) planning for joint programming through fundraising and partnership opportunities. During the meeting, the Task Force defined the essential elements for the joint programming framework and brainstormed on the potential for leveraging and driving resources for more targeted, strategic efforts aimed at marginalized girls as part of national development plans.

Additionally, the Coalition for Adolescent Girls, a public-private initiative spearheaded by the UN Foundation and Nike Foundation to create lasting change in the developing world by driving investments to adolescent girls, launched a draft version of its Impact Girls Report.

This seminal report, is the first of its kind that brings together the evidence base from the economics and social sciences perspectives and makes the case for the key role adolescent girls play in development.

New UN 2007 Report on the World Social Situation Launched

The "Report on the World Social Situation 2007: The Employment Imperative” focuses on the key role of productive employment and decent work in reducing poverty and promoting social development. The report states that in countries that have profited from globalization, adaptable and mobile young people have benefited. However, for countless others in Africa, South Asia and Latin America, globalization has not created many real opportunities. The report urges governments to place productive employment for all, rather than economic growth, or even simply creating jobs, at the centre of economic and social policy making.

For more information, log on http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/rwss/index.html#2007

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Announcement

ICYO start new e-newsletter on “Campaign against Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth” which covered the wide range of news, reports, activities on issue related to Commercial Sexual Abuse children (CESC) and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth. ICYO- Youth Information welcome the related materials for the newsletter.

To receive the newsletters write to icyoindia@...

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Upcoming events:

National Integration Youth Camp in
West Bengal, India

National Youth Project will organize the National Integration Youth Camp at Bainchigram, Dist Hoogly in West Bengal from December 22-29, 2007.

The camp is open for Indian Youth age between 18 to 30 years. For more detail and participation contact NYP at nypindia@... 

Int. Young Professional Summit on MDGs

The third International Young Professionals Summit, IYPS 2008, will be held from 19th to 22nd August 2008 in Manchester, England and will have the theme "How young professionals can help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals".

The aim of the Summit is to bring together young professionals for networking, capacity building and information sharing around this core theme and specific topics covered will include: Governance, economy and education; Women and gender equality; Healthcare and HIV / AIDS; Environmental sustainability.

For more information, log on http://www.iyps.org.

CIVICUS Youth Assembly the 2008

“People, Participation and Power...”

Building on the success of last year's CIVICUS Youth Assembly the 2008 event will offer an execeptional opportunity to meet and work with other young women and men who are really making changes to things that matter.

The Youth Assembly will offer young delegates a programme and a space to develop and commit to action internationally. The theme of participation in civil society will be explored over the course of the event and delegates will learn about issues that effect billions of people worldwide. The programme will develop not only delegate’s knowledge, but also build personal capacity through a series of workshops and skills development sessions. Participation is key and all delegates will be fully engaged in a programme

Delegates will also have the opportunity to meet a number of Young Scots who are involved nationwide in social justice programmes. These opportunities will help build global linkages and offer both delegates and young Scots opportunities to understand issues from a global perspective.

The age limit is 25 years old. For application information, log on http://www.rnw.org.uk/apply_now.aspx

UN Student Conference to Recognize
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

10th Annual United Nations Student Conference on Human Rights (UNSCHR) will take place from 5-7 December 2007 at United Nations Headquarters.

The theme of this year’s Conference, "Recognizing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples", will support the goals of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, which aims to strengthen cooperation for finding solutions to problems faced by indigenous peoples. The participants of the Conference will work to raise awareness about indigenous people and their contributions to society globally, highlighting the significance of this action towards achieving a just and non-discriminatory international human rights policy.

For more information, log on http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/student/2007/about.asp.

UN Special Session/World Fit for Children + 5

The year 2007 marks the mid decade point for the Plan of Action of the “A World Fit for Children". The main events include the Children's Forum on 9-10 December, the commemorative high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly and Roundtable discussions on 11 and 12 December 2007 in New York.

For more information, log on http://www.unicef.org/worldfitforchildren 

On 4 December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly will convene an informal meeting to discuss ongoing and future activities of Member States and the United Nations system for the implementation of the UN's Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

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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-india.org

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

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 2007/74

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

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ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

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

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World AIDS Day 2007

Theme of the Year “Leadership”

Messages on WAD

Message from Secretary General, ICYO

HIV/AIDS has become a disease of young people, with young adults aged 15-24 accounting for half of the new cases of HIV infection worldwide each year. Yet young people often lack the information, skills and services they need to protect themselves from HIV infection. Providing these is crucial to turning back the epidemic.

Young people have a vital role in the prevention and control of HIV infection. Their role extends from protecting themselves, protecting their peers to protecting their families and their community.

ICYO beliefs promotion of Leadership amongs the young people is timely needed. They become the peer educator, role model or they lead and guild not only youth but also all community.

The Youth leaders can spread knowledge on human sexuality and better human relationship, which help to avert health problems and create more mature and responsible attitudes in young people.

Lets Join hands to develop the Leadership in Youth to protect them from HIV/AIDS.

Ravi Narayan

Secretary General,

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations, India

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Message from Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, United Nations

The theme of this World AIDS Day is leadership. Without it, we will never get ahead of the epidemic.

AIDS is a disease unlike any other. It is a social issue, a human rights issue, an economic issue. It targets young adults just as they should be contributing to economic development, intellectual growth, and bringing up young children. It is taking a disproportionate toll on women. It has made millions of children orphans. It does to society what HIV does to the human body -- reduces resilience and weakens capacity, hampers development and threatens stability.

This does not need to happen. We have the means to prevent young adults from becoming infected. We have the means to treat those who are infected. We have the means to provide care and support.

We have made tangible and remarkable progress on all these fronts. But we must do more. Although new data shows that global HIV prevalence has levelled off, the numbers are still staggering. It is our crucial mission to ensure that everyone can access HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. This includes migrants, sex workers, injecting drug users, and men who have sex with men. It includes people who work in Government, banks, legal offices, schools, and international organizations. It includes all people -- wherever they live, whatever they do.

Overcoming stigma remains one of our biggest challenges. It is still the single biggest barrier to public action on AIDS. It is one of the reasons why the epidemic continues to wreak its devastation around the world.

Today, I call for renewed leadership in eradicating stigma associated with HIV. I applaud the brave individuals who live openly with HIV, who advocate tirelessly for the rights of the HIV-positive, who educate others about AIDS. I call for leadership among Governments in fully understanding the epidemic, so that resources go where they are most needed. And I call for leadership at all levels to step up the work to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 – as pledged by all Governments last year. We have only two years left until that target date.

We need to show leadership now.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, United Nations

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Message from Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS

Today, millions of people around the globe are marking the 20th World AIDS Day. For some, this may be the only day in the year they think about AIDS. For many, however, AIDS is part of daily life.

Since the first World AIDS Day in 1988, when the World Health Organization called on everyone to “Join the Worldwide Effort”, AIDS has become one of the defining issues of our time.

The epidemic has globalized – and feminized. In 1988, most recorded cases of HIV were still in the United States, and most were among men. Today, HIV is present in every country in the world, and half those living with HIV are women.

The response has globalized also. Last year, UN Member States committed to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. More than 2.5 million people in developing countries are now receiving life-lengthening antiretroviral drugs. HIV infections, in many countries, are declining.

The challenge now is sustain this leadership, to keep AIDS at the top of the agenda, and to accelerate action at national and local level. Any slackening of leadership would be fatal.

The epidemic reached global proportions precisely because it took so long for the world to act. And although we are beginning to make progress, there remains a long way to go.

There is still a serious shortfall in resources for AIDS, and stigma and discrimination around AIDS continue to prevail. As a result, two-thirds of those who require antiretroviral treatment are unable to access it. Less than one in ten people at risk of HIV infection have the means to protect themselves.

Sustaining leadership and accelerating action on AIDS isn’t something just for politicians. It involves religious leaders, community, youth and council leaders, chief executives and trade union leaders. It involves people living with HIV, and their families and friends. It involves you, me – each and every one of us – taking the lead to eliminate stigma and discrimination, to advocate for more resources to tackle AIDS.

And it requires us all to focus on AIDS every day of the year. Only then can we hope to achieve the global goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS

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Message from Mr Koďchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

AIDS, a disease which was not even known a quarter of a century ago, is now the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Today, approximately 40 million people are living with HIV, and in every region of the world, the proportion of women among those who are becoming newly infected with HIV is increasing. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of this global epidemic, with life expectancy in the hardest hit countries shortened by more than 20 years. And, despite significant efforts by governments, civil society, and international development partners, young people between the ages of 15 and 25 comprise around half of new HIV infections.

AIDS remains a disease of inequality. Gender inequality, driven largely by the highly disadvantaged social and economic status of women compared to men, compounds women’s biological vulnerability to HIV. Social inequality, fuelled by stigma and discrimination, prejudice and human rights violations, affects the ability of key populations including injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, and sex workers, to access HIV prevention, treatment and care services. Young people, because of their age and other socio-cultural barriers, are often denied access to the full range of information and services required to prevent HIV infection and to meet their treatment, care and other support needs. Finally, economic inequalities can lead to abuses of power and increased sexual risk-taking, as evidenced by those engaging in transactional sex to procure food or other basic needs for themselves and their children.

This year, World AIDS Day is dedicated to the theme of ‘leadership’. It is a theme that recognizes the need for a strategic vision, for focused and sustained action, for empowerment and motivation, and for accountability. It is a theme that should resonate for all of us – as leadership is required by everyone including governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society, communities and individuals in order to prevent the spread of HIV, to build capacity to respond to the impact of AIDS, and to overcome inequalities that have greatly impeded our response to date.

As we move into the second quarter-century of the AIDS response, leadership will require reflection and actions based on important lessons we have learned on what needs to be done. We understand now the importance of “knowing your epidemic”, including the nature, dynamics and characteristics of the epidemic at the country level, to ensure that strategies are adapted and fit local conditions. We know that HIV prevention is most effective when delivered through a comprehensive programme that addresses not only risk but also vulnerabilities and that builds on synergies between prevention, treatment, care and support. We know that our actions must be informed by evidence and experience on what is known and proven to be effective. Finally, more than ever, we are aware that we cannot be complacent in our efforts, but rather display unwavering determination and a strong will over the long term, drawing on the strengths and contributions of all partners.

These lessons are reflected in UNESCO’s work and its revised Strategy for Responding to HIV and AIDS. The revised strategy gives priority to fulfilling UNESCO’s responsibilities under the UNAIDS division of labour, including as the lead organization for HIV prevention with young people in educational institutions.

UNESCO is also the lead agency of EDUCAIDS, the UNAIDS Global Initiative on Education and HIV & AIDS, which provides an important partnership framework for Member States to move forward in implementing comprehensive education sector responses to HIV and AIDS. At the same time, drawing upon its multisectoral expertise, UNESCO supports and partners with other UNAIDS Cosponsors in areas of intervention that they lead.

At the global level, increased political commitment and leadership on AIDS are greatly enhancing the potential to act. In June 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted a new Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS in which world leaders committed to work together towards the provision of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programmes by 2010, an effort strongly supported by recent G8 pledges.

Leadership is also in evidence through the increased financing for AIDS, not only from governments and international bodies, but also from major foundations and philanthropists. But many more resources will be needed urgently if the 2010 target is to be met.

The progress made to date is a tribute to leadership at all levels but, as recent history has demonstrated, we must continue to intensify our efforts, adapt our actions to the epidemiological and social situations on the ground, and mobilize sufficient financial resources for the AIDS response in the time to come. I urge everyone to use the occasion of this year’s World AIDS Day to deepen their personal and professional leadership. I pledge UNESCO’s firm commitment to fulfilling its role in the global response to HIV and AIDS.

Koďchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

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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

                           No: 2007/72

(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.

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

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

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.

In this issue of Youth Information:

Ř      AYC Urges Youth to Venture into Entrepreneurship

Ř      Tribals no strangers to female foeticide 

Ř      Europe: Youth mainstreaming is a challenge for youth organizations

Ř      Youth issues at the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly

Ř      UN-GAID Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development

Ř      UNFPA launches publication on adolescent pregnancies

Upcoming events:

Ř      National Integration Youth Camp in West Bengal, India

Ř      Commonwealth Youth Forum

Ř      Asian Young Leaders Climate Forum

Ř      Int. Seminar On Youth Organizations as A Non formal Learning Institution

Ř      UNFPA Global Youth Advisory Panel

Ř      Africa-Europe Youth Summit

Ř      World AIDS Day (1 December)

Ř      UN Special Session/World Fit for Children + 5