The Asian Youth Council alongwith All China Youth
Federation and ILO is organizing the Asian Youth Forum on
Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship and will held from 2nd November to
4th November in Beijing, China.
The Executing Committee meeting of Asian
Youth Council will also be held alongwith the Forum.
The Organizer will provide the
local hospitalities. The participant or nominating organization will bear the
other expenses including the cost international airfare. The participant must
be below or age of 35 years.
Interested organization from
India may contact ICYO secretariat for participation.
In just 18 days, millions of people
around the world will STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against poverty and inequality and
for the Millennium Development Goals.
On October 16th and 17th we want you to
join millions of other people as we tell world leaders that their promises to
end poverty and inequality must be kept. Last year more than 23 million people
took part and set a new Guinness World Record. This year we want you to help
break this record so the message rings even louder.
To make the biggest political impact we need energetic and
committed people to organise events in communities, schools, workplaces and
just about anywhere where people gather. Anyone can organize an event. There
are no 'experts' needed, just creative, concerned people like you who want to
take a stand against poverty.
·You can join an existing event by looking up what is
going on in your country Find
Events Now!
Or
·You can create your own event! There are many ways to
host a STAND UP and SPEAK OUT event. Host a concert, organise a school debate,
show a video clip, or simply ask your colleagues and friends to join you for a
STAND UP moment. There is a ton of material available to help you plan your
event - brochures, posters, video clips and more - available at www.standagainstpoverty.org/materials
.
·The important thing is to register your event online at www.StandAgainstPoverty.org
and to be creative - everyone can participate!
Struggle of Tribal People for their
Livelihood and Rights on Land: Need Your Support
Invitation to join the people’s movement “Janadesh 2007 (People’s
verdict)”.
The organizer of Janadesh 2007
(People’s Verdict 2007) invites you to join the massive people’s movement Janadesh 2007 for land
and livelihood rights of the deprived community and farmers.
Janadesh 2007 is being organized by Ekta
Parishad and other like-minded organizations endeavoring to address
the numerous problems and issues, particularly around land and livelihood,
faced by Dalit, Adivasis and farmers in rural India. There has been ample
lip-service given by successive governments to resolving these problems.
Unfortunately, in practice little has changed – people are now fed-up with
empty promises, and consequently some are turning to violence.
According to
organizers they offer people an alternative to violence, through a mass
non-violent action of civil disobedience in the Gandhian tradition. To this
end, we are currently organizing Janadesh 2007
where 25,000 landless Adivasis, Dalits and farmers will march on foot from Mela
Ground in Gwalior on the 2nd October 2007, and follow the National
Highway all the way to Delhi, arriving there on the 29th October
2007 (please see belowfor full schedule
and route plan).
The aim is simple – through the
sheer size of this action the people will force the government to focus
seriously on the issues faced by them. The three specific demands to the
government are:
Establishment of a National Land Authority to provide a clear
statement of land utilization in India, identify the lands available for
redistribution and strengthen pro-poor laws;
Establishment of fast track courts to settle past and future
conflicts related to land;
Establishment of a single window system so that farmers can
resolve easily and freely the land issues, without wasting time, money and
energy.
The organizer urge for support and
invite you to join the March. If you cannot join the march for the whole
duration of the march, than consider joining for a few days whenever convenient
– the organizer will be able to assist you with making arrangements for joining
the march en route.
Please send the information to join to March to Dr Ran Singh
Parmar, National Convener at ektaparishad@... or
Phone no 91 755 4223821.
If you need further information and
or assistance, may contact ICYO secretariat icyoindia@... or icyo@...
--- ==---
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: icyo@... / icyoindia@...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 354 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from
different corners of India.
Will India be the
first—possibly the only—country ever to have 2 billion people? The Population
Reference Bureau tackled this question in a new projection series. The
answer depends on the course of events in each of India 35 states and Union
territories. The total will almost certainly near 1.8 billion by 2050 and may
exceed 2.0 billion by 2100 unless fertility rates decline more rapidly in
India's largest and poorest states.
India passed the 1 billion
population benchmark in 2000, and stands at 1.1 billion in 2007. The government
has long been concerned about population growth outpacing economic growth, and
India was the first country to adopt a policy to slow population growth. Since
the policy was first stated in 1952, the country's total fertility rate (TFR)
has declined from about six children per woman to about three, but fertility
levels vary greatly throughout India's vast territory.
Fertility Decline
in the South
The TFR decline has been much
greater in its southern states, which have long had much higher rates of
literacy and education than northern states. The southern states of Kerala and
Tamil Nadu now have TFRs below two children per woman, lower than the U.S.
rate. To reduce the national TFR, fertility decline will have to occur in other
parts of India, a fact well known to the government and to family planning
experts.
Northern States
Drive Growth
The large states of the north,
the "Hindi Belt," are key to the future size of India's population.
About 40 percent of Indians live in this region. Two northern states, Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh, with about 93 million and 188 million people, respectively, are
already larger than most of the world's countries. Both states currently have a
TFR of about 4.3 children per woman.
Projecting State
Populations
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will
grow much more quickly than Kerala and the low-fertility states because of
their higher fertility. Their statistical "weight" in India's total
population will increase. To account for the growing share of the
high-fertility states, we projected each state individually and derived the
national total from those results.
The state and Union territory
populations were projected under two scenarios. One assumed that states with a
current TFR above "two children" would decrease to 2.1 and then
remain constant. The other assumed the TFR decline would continue until it
reached 1.85 children per woman.
This state-based projection
series differs from projections that use national fertility rates and age
structures, and we believe it provides a more realistic scenario. The
population projected for Uttar Pradesh ranges from 353 million to 364 million
by 2051, and between 414 million and 480 million by 2101. The projected
2101 total for India ranges from 1.9 billion to 2.2 billion, depending on the
assumptions for each state.
Will India's population reach 2
billion? It is a real possibility over the long term if fertility does not
decline at a faster rate in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and the other poor states
that make up a growing share of the nation's population. (Population
Reference Bureau)
Compensation for family planning hiked
NEW DELHI: Concerned over a decline of 4.3 per cent in sterilisation
performance in the country, the Union Health and Family Welfare
Ministry has further increased the compensation package for the loss
of wages to people who adopt family planning methods. The
compensation has been nearly doubled for men undergoing vasectomy to
boost male participation in family planning.
This is the second revision within a year as the compensation package
was revised on October 31 last. But despite this, sterilisation saw a
further fall of 4.3 per cent during 2006-07 as compared to the
previous year.
According to the new package, the compensation for vasectomy has been
increased to Rs. 1,500 from Rs. 800 and tubectomy to Rs. 1,000 from
Rs. 800 in public facilities and to Rs. 1,500 for both these
interventions in accredited private health facilities to all
categories of people in high focus States and those below the poverty
line, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the non-high
focus States.
In 2006, the Ministry enhanced the compensation package from Rs. 400
to Rs.800 for people of all categories in the high-focus States and
from Rs. 300 to Rs.800 for tubectomy and Rs.200 to Rs.800 for
vasectomy in non-high focus states for BPL acceptors only.
In the 18 high focus States where the facility is provided in the
public institutions, the acceptor (individual) receives Rs. 1,100,
motivator Rs. 200 and the remaining is to be kept aside for other
expenses accrued. Those going in for tubectomy will get Rs. 600 and
the motivator Rs. 150.
In the non-high focus 17 States and Union Territories, an individual
gets Rs. 1,100 for vasectomy while the BPL, the SC and the ST
categories opting for tubectomy will be paid Rs. 600.
The motivator in the first case receives Rs. 200 and Rs. 150 in the
second category. Amounts of Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 have been kept aside
for drugs in the two categories while the surgeon gets Rs. 100 and
Rs. 75.
Similarly, the compensation for tubectomy for those above poverty
line people in non-high focus States has gone up from Rs. 300 to Rs.
650 where the acceptor will now get Rs. 250 in the non-high focus
States.
- Independence Day Celebration with a difference: Int. Conf. on Youth & Democracy in S. Asia
- Youths to make voices heard: UNFPA.
- "We Are One" Dialogue on Culture diversity chalk-out the POA.
- Delhi Govt. Started the toll free ‘Youth Phone service’.
- European Commission Communication on Youth and Youth Policy
- Int. Youth Day: Young people everywhere are called upon………
Upcoming events:
- Regional Workshop on Trafficking of Girls.
- Tunza International Children's Conference on the Environment.
- Human Rights Watch Fellowship for Young Journalists.
- Youth and ICT: Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development.
- Int. UNESCO Youth Forum.
- Janadesh 2007.
- Conference on Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods.
- 7th TREAT Asia Annual Network Meeting.
ICYO – Youth Information Newsletter
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations
No. 2007/60
Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India
India’s largest network of urban and rural youth
International Conference of Youth & Democracy in S. Asia
Independence Day Celebration with a difference
“Unless we make the lives of our 300 million, who people below poverty line, comfortable, independence has no relevance. Progress and growth should go hand to hand with social justice” said Mr Mohan Dharia, freedom fighter and former Dy. Chairperson of Planning Commission while inaugurating the International Conference of Youth and Democracy in South Asia.
The International Conference of Youth and Democracy in South Asia held in Pune, Maharastra from August 11-15, 2007 and organized by CYDA.
Earlier Mr Mathew Matham, CEO of CYDA welcome the delegates and guest and give the brief detail of the objective of the Conference, said “this conference is an attempt to celebrate Independence Day with a difference; by coming to together to exchange our views to enhance youth participation in strengthening democracy.”
Mr Faroque Shaikh, film actor said that Democracy and Secularism as pillar of India and appealed youth to reaffirm their faith in them.
Milin Bokil, Oxfam said ‘Youth cannot be mute spectators in democracy, they have t otake control by taking parti in social activities.Thus youth can be contribute not only to sustain but also strengthen democracy.’ He was chairing the session on ‘Role of youth in sustaining democracies’.
In the session of ‘Role of Young Parliamentarians in Democracy’ on 12 August 2007 Ms supriya Sule, Member of Parliament said that the MPs today are below age of 45 and most of them see politiecs as a place to voice their concern and and pursue their vision. Th foremost challenge they should take is to recover people trust upon the system.
On speaking on Globaliziation and Gandhi, Mr Suhas Palekar, a Gandhian Scholar said “Today we are driven not driven by political power but by economic power, which is hard to fight.”
In the Youth in Action section, case studies by organization were presented includes case study by Dr Anita Patil Deshmukh of PUKAR, Kanita Sinha from Pravah, Vinay Panjvani spoke on Yuva unstoppable.
Ms Yasmin Sayed presented the case study of ‘Youth4Change’ is a youth run organizations supported by CYDA.
The last working day (14 August) was devoted to Youth Policies. In the plenary session on “Youth Policies: Situation and Challenges in South Asia”, Dr Rajan Welukar, Vice Chancellor, Yashwantrao Open University, Nasik gave key address. He gave the emphasis to developed the ‘Youth Development Indicators’ for India for better involvement of youth in development as well as effective policy making for young people.
Mr Ravi Narayan, Secretary General, Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO), while chairing the session said that youth policies may be play vital role in youth development in South Asia if implementation mechanism is strong and effective.
He also agreed with Dr Welukar of need of Indian own Youth Development Indicators. Dr (Mrs) Sarumathy from Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development inform during the Q&A session that her institute is working on this issue.
In another panel discussion on ‘Youth Policies in shaping future of South Asia’ four presenters made the presentation. The session is Chaired by Mr Ravi Narayan, Secretary General of ICYO.
Dr (Mrs) Sarumathy from Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development presented the comparative study of youth policies in South Asian countries including the Brunai, Singapor and Malaysia.
Dr. Anant Bhan, Independent Researcher spoke on ‘Youth Suicide’. He gave the fact and figure about problem and work done on this issue.
Mr Rabi Aryal from Asian Student’s Association (ASA) presented various views on about against youth going on around the world.
In his chair remark Mr Narayan said that youth Policies in South Asian countries still have to come in shape. According to Mr Narayan, may south Asian Countries still to draft youth policy. Sri Lanka recently announce the youth policy which is very bulky documents and rejected by most of the youth organizations, Pakistan withdrawn the youth policy which was adopted by them in 1993. There is long way to go for implementation of these policies.
Mr Vishwajit Kadam, Secretary, Bharat Vidyapeeth was the chief Guest and key note address delivered by Mr Pravind Pardeshi, PMC Commissioner. The participants drafted the commitments and decided to organize this conference every in different countries. The delegates from Bhutan and Sri Lanka offer to host the 2008 conference. The delegates also received the memento and certificate from dignitaries in the function.
Youths to Make Voices Heard: UNFPA
Young people need to be given due importance and allowed to play an active role in formulating national programmes for youth development, said a top UNFPA official stationed in Dhaka.‘ Young people are very important group in our agenda,’ said Arthur Erken, UNFPA representative in Bangladesh on eve of International Youth Day. The UN population fund has special programmes for the youth in Bangladesh spending about two million dollars for their development. Reproductive health, campaigns against early marriage and dowry are some of the interventions where youths are directly involved in the national programme being implemented by the government’s Department of Youth Development.
Arthur stressed on an interview with New Age on the eve of International Youth Day being observed worldwide today for more pro-active role of the gatekeepers like parents and religious leaders to break the social taboos.
" We Are One" Dialogue Chalk-out the POA on Culture Diversity
The World Youth Foundation hosted the “We are One” Dialogue on Culture Diversity for Youth of Asia and Europe, from 30th June – 4th July 2007 at Melaka in Malaysia. The 88 participants from 25 countries from Asia and Europe attended this five-day dialogue. The Dialogue was constructed around the notion of ‘Cultural Diversity’, and provided young people with exciting opportunities to experience first hand living experience of multicultural Malaysians.
A Keynote Address on “Cultural Diversity, Civilizations and the Challenge for Peace: Obstacles and Opportunities” was delivered by Hon. Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia.Participants of the Dialogue shared their experiences about programmes undertaken by non-government organizations on cultural diversity and inter-ethnic education in their host countries.
The Plan of Action was chalk-out in the Dialogue further work on Culture Diversity.
Delhi Govt. Started the toll free ‘Youth Phone service’
The Government of Delhi running the ‘youth’ helpline named Yuva Phone line in Delhi.The counsellors are available round the clock on toll free no 1800116888.
The helpline is specially for students.
EC Communication on Youth and Youth Policy
According to European Youth Forum (YFJ), they welcomes the adoption of the European Commission Communication “Promoting young people’s full participation in education, employment and society”, and sees it as the cross-sector approach detailed in the Communication as a very positive step which responds to demands which the YFJ has been voicing for several years. A genuine European Youth Policy is thus about to take root.
“This communication recognises the role of youth organisations, the European Youth Forum, and its partners, in the entire process of designing, implementing and monitoring youth policy,” said Bettina Schwarzmayr, President of the European Youth Forum. “Therefore, we call upon EU Member States to get inspired and we welcome the future steps to be implemented on the structured dialogue with youth. However, with no grand vision or coherent strategy on volunteering, we duly call upon the European Council to be more ambitious in their resolution.”
Young people everywhere are called upon to participate in the life of society and in decision-making
The world’s 1.2 billion young people are being called upon to stand up and make their voices heard on International Youth Day, which is celebrated on 12 August. The observance is a reminder to youth that their contribution to the development dialogue is valuable, and that their participation matters. To participate means not only to have a seat at the political table, but to play an active role in development by contributing their skills and energy to the improvement of their communities.
ICT: power tool of the young
Many of the initiatives led by youth take advantage of information and communication technologies, which young people tend to use with ease. These are becoming “truly hubs for the communication and social networking of youth,” explains Ms. Stephens. A presentation on using the internet for youth-led development will be delivered at the International Youth Day in New York. The event will provide examples from an international youth-led network empowered by technology to show how youth can use the internet to take action in their local and global communities.
As a positive note, the fact youth are for the most part technologically savvy increases their chances of harnessing the benefits of globalization. In addition to access to knowledge, ICT is opening up new options education such as e-learning and distance education. The World Youth Report 2007, scheduled for release in October, will show how ICT has improved access to schooling in several Asian countries. In China, for example, there are more than 2,700 radio and television universities offering 18,000 classes. Provisional statistics from UNDP suggest that there may be up to 10 million graduates of these universities.
While globalization may have facilitated the spread of technology, too many youths are on the wrong side of the digital divide, according to the Secretary-General report, and therefore fail to unable to reap the benefits of technology access.
Beti Bachhao Aandolan (Protect the Daughter movement) is going to organize a regional workshop in Patna, Bihar from September 23 - 24, 2007. The workshop is aimed at coordination between different stakeholders working against trafficking of girls and joint hands to flight against the alarming situation.
The agenda of the workshop includes; analysis of the present situation related to trafficking and to discuss the root causes of the increasing trafficking in light of socio-economic situation, rehabilitation, repatriation, social rehabilitation of victims and community policing. The workshop will also discuss on preparation of memorandum for the joint collaboration on the issue of human trafficking.
For further detail contact Mr Arun Kumar Singh, Director, Beti Bachhao Aandolan at Mobile09835411981 or telephone 0612-3299790
Tunza International Children's Conference on the Environment
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be organizing Tunza International Children's Conference on the Environment inStavanger, Norway from17 to 21 June2008.The organizer will bring together 1,000 children aged 10 to 14 years in 2008 conference. The theme of the conference will be ‘A Climate for change ‘.
Human Rights Watch Fellowship for Young Journalists
Recent graduates worldwide have the chance to apply for an international fellowship with Human Rights Watch. Deadline: October 5.
The Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship is open to any eligible candidate, regardless of nationality. Fellows work full-time for one year with Human Rights Watch in New York, Washington, D.C., or London. Tasks include monitoring human rights developments in various countries, conducting on-site investigations, and drafting reports on human rights conditions.
Youth and ICT: Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development
The Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) is organizing ‘Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development’ from September 24-26, 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of Forum is “Youth and ICT as Agents of Change”.
The Forum aims at actively engaging youth in debates and discussions with their peers, policy makers, the private sector and technology experts in exploring ways to empower their communities through the appropriate and responsible use of ICT.
UNESCO will organize the 5th International Youth Forum in Paris. France from October 12-13, 2007. Every two years the Forum gives young people (nominated by governments) the opportunity to share their experiences, identify common concerns.
The 2007 Youth Forum will examine the results and recommendations from a series of Regional UNESCO Youth Forums held in 2006 and 2007 on the theme of ‘Young People and the Dialogue among Civilizations, Cultures and Peoples’.
National Peace and Harmony Youth Camp
The above youth camp will be held in New Delhi from October 22 to 28, 2007, organized by National Youth Project with the support from Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The 500 youth from all over will be participating in week long camp. For further information, contact ICYO secretariat.
Janadesh 2007
Janadesh 2007 will start from Gwalior from Delhi on 2nd October 2007. More than 25,000 preparing to peaceful foot march for 26 days to press for their demand of livelihood and right on land. These tribal and deprived people (non violence) fighting for their demand since December 2005 when they decided to make final attempt in People’s parliament held on 10 December 2005 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
ICYO supporting the event and provides the update regularly in YI. On 2nd October 2007,diffirent organizations organizing the solidarity programme in 400 districts of India.
ICYO all upon all the developmental organization to participate in these event and give all kind of support for moral busting of foot-marchers.
Conference on Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods
The Commonwealth Youth Programme is hosting a one-day conference, entitled “Investing in youth: unleashing the potential of young entrepreneurs” on 10 September 2007 at Marlborough House, Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. The objective of the conference is to strengthen youth enterprise by providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to gain access to finance, markets, and skills. For more information log on http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/166531/130707investingyouth.htm
Event: 7th TREAT Asia Annual Network Meeting
Place: Hanoi, Vietnam
Date: September 7 – 10, 2007
Organizer: Therapeutics Research Education AIDS Training (TREAT) Asia
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
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Increasing female foeticide
in India could spark a demographic crisis where fewer women in society will
result in a rise in sexual violence and child abuse as well as wife-sharing,
the United Nations warned.
Despite laws banning tests to determine the sex of
an unborn child, the killing of female foetuses is common in some regions of
India where a preference for sons runs deep.
As a result, the United Nations says an estimated
2,000 unborn girls are illegally aborted every day in India.
This has led to skewed sex ratios in regions like
Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as well as the capital, New
Delhi, where a census in 2001 showed there are less than 800 girls for every
1,000 boys.
"The 2001 census was a wake-up call for all of
us and much public awareness have been created on female foeticide since
then," Ena Singh, assistant representative for the United Nations
Population Fund in India told Reuters.
"But initial figures show sex ratios are still
declining as female foeticide is becoming more widespread across the country
and it is likely to be worse in the next census in 2011."
In most parts of India, sons are viewed as
breadwinners who will look after their parents and carry on the family name,
but daughters are viewed as financial liabilities for whom they will have to
pay substantial dowries to get married off.
Activists say female foeticide is rising because of
the availability of technologies like ultrasonography and amniocentesis to
determine the gender of foetuses at the request of the parents.
If the foetus is found to be a girl, it is aborted.
As a result, the government says around 10 million
girls have been killed by their parents -- either before or immediately after
birth -- over the past 20 years.
Experts warn that fewer women will spark a
demographic crisis in many parts of country.
"There already is this phenomenon all over the
country where there is a lot of sexual violence and abuse against women and
children across the country," said Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre
for Social Research, a New Delhi based think-tank.
"But when there are less women in the
population and more men of the same age group, there is certainly going to be
much more demand for women for marriage, for sex and this pressure will
certainly increase violence against women."
Experts say practices such as polyandry -- where
several men, often brothers, share the same wife are already emerging in areas
where there are fewer women.
Brides are also now being sold and trafficked by
their parents to areas like Haryana and Punjab where bachelors are being forced
to look beyond their own culture, caste and social grouping to find a wife.
Activists say these women have to adapt to an alien
culture with a different language, diet, and social norms and are often treated
as second-class citizens by the community who view their value based on their
ability to produce male off-spring.
"There is this myth that fewer women will give
them better status in society but this is a fallacy," said activist Sabu
George.
"Women in India are already being treated as
commodities to be bought and sold and their plight will worsen as sex ratios
continue to decline."
(E
- newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)
-----------------------------
Law
ministry rejects bill for child protection
Chetan Chauhan,
New Delhi (HT EXCLUSIVE / Hindustan Times/Delhi/4.9.2007)
IN A major
setback to the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry, the Law Ministry has
rejected the Offences Against Children Bill, saying the bill is just a
repetition of provisions in other laws. The Law Ministry has told WCD that most
provisions for child protection already exist in different laws and therefore,
there is no need for a separate enactment of legislation. The legal affairs
department of the ministry said offences of sexual or physical abuse against
chil- dren are covered under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The ministry also said the Evidence Act also
covers child protection in a comprehensive manner Following criticism from the
Supreme Court on the Domestic Violence Act, the Law Ministry was doubly
cautious this time. The apex court had termed the Act a poorly drafted
legislation. In the wake of the court's observations, the law ministry said the
child offences law would only duplicate the work for law enforcement agencies.
The WCD ministry has touted the Offences Against Children bill as a major
weapon to prevent incidents like Nithari and said that it would be introduced
in Parliament in the monsoon session. After receiving a drubbing from the Law
Ministry, the WCD ministry officials, said they were examining the draft bill
in a bid to convince the Law Ministry about its utility The WCD ministry had
covered all types of offences against child including corporal punishment,
emotional abuse by parents or teachers and different types of sexual abuse.
Stringent punishment for offences against child was prescribed. The ministry
had also said that the bill would bring India at par with the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
IN A major setback to the Women and Child Devel- opment (WCD) Ministry,
the Law Ministry has re- jected the Offences Against Children Bill, saying the
bill is just a repetition of provisions in other laws. The Law Ministry has
told WCD that most provi- sions for child protection already exist in different
laws and therefore, there is no need for a separate enactment of legislation.
The legal affairs department of the ministry said offences of sexual or
physical abuse against chil- dren are covered under different sections of the
Indian Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The ministry also said
the Evi- dence Act also covers child protec- tion in a comprehensive manner
Following criticism from the Supreme Court on the Domestic Violence Act, the
Law Ministry was doubly cautious this time. The apex court had termed the Act a
poorly drafted legislation. In the wake of the court's observations, the law
ministry said the child offences law would only duplicate the work for law
enforcement agencies. The WCD ministry has touted the Offences Against Children
bill as a major weapon to prevent incidents like Nithari and said that it would
be in- troduced in Parliament in the monsoon session. Af- ter receiving a
drubbing from the Law Ministry, the WCD ministry officials, said they were
examining the draft bill in a bid to convince the Law Ministry about its
utility The WCD ministry had covered all types of of- fences against child
including corporal punish- ment, emotional abuse by parents or teachers and
different types of sexual abuse. Stringent punish- ment for offences against
child was prescribed. The ministry had also said that the bill would bring In-
dia at par with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
chetan@...
Food security is vital for people living with HIV By, Clementine Mumba, HDN key correspondent in Zambia, June 11, 2007
Many people living with HIV (PLHIV) are too poor to take care of their health properly. Even among those people with access to free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, many cannot afford to maintain the balanced diet they need to compliment the drugs. Supporting these people would require a well thought out policy, promoting the self-sufficiency of people living with disease. In 2004, an organization that I belong to called the Network of ARV Users lodged a Project Proposal with the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) for a chicken-rearing programme that would generate income for people living with HIV. The idea was well articulated and looked good on paper so the project was approved by ZNAN and was launched in January 2005. more...
Feature Story
ARVs and food security in Zambia By, William Chilufya, HDN Key Correspondent in Zambia, June 26, 2007
For people living with HIV (PLHIV), good nutrition is essential for continued good health. Yet, for too many PLHIV in Zambia, especially in rural areas, getting enough to eat adds enormously to life?s daily challenges. ?I have no money to buy food and am on ARVs [antiretroviral drugs],? said Lillian, a mother with one child. Lillian?s husband died from AIDS-related complications three years ago. ?My son and I sometimes spend the whole day without eating anything ? I feel dizzy and weak if I do not eat when I take the drugs, and then I can?t do anything.? more...
Burundi: Food cuts for HIV-positive people worry NGOs By, IRIN PlusNews, August 15, 2007
AIDS advocacy groups in Burundi are worried that a decision by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to cut special feeding programmes next year for HIV-positive people will harm their long-term health. Drought, crop disease, endemic poverty and more than a decade of instability mean Burundi suffers from serious food insecurity. WFP is expected to feed an estimated 874,000 Burundians by the end of 2006, including particularly vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons, school children and HIV-positive people. However, the agency's new policy means that feeding programmes for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS will come to an end in December 2006 and will not be renewed. more...
Homespun technology provides HIV-free breastmilk By, Michael Malakata, Science and Development Network, May 25, 2007
Researchers have devised a simple and cost-effective method of preventing breastmilk transmission of HIV from mother-to-child by 'flash-heating' infected milk to inactivate the free-floating HIV virus. A study, published online in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (21 May), provides hope that breastfeeding in developing nations could become safer. more...
Spotlight
Lesotho: Hungry for assistance By, IRIN Plus News, July 18, 2007
In the wake of the most severe drought in 30 years, the kingdom of Lesotho has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international assistance for over 400,000 people in need of urgent food aid. "Food assessments conducted by local and international institutions and organisations, including the [government's] Disaster Management Authority, the [UN] Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), ... all confirm a food crisis," Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili said in a recent statement. more...
ACW Alert
South Africa: New report confirms nutrition no substitute for treatment By, IRIN PlusNews, August 22, 2007
There is no evidence that better nutrition can substitute for antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, a new report has found. These findings might seem unremarkable anywhere else in the world, but not in South Africa, where the issue of nutrition has been tainted by a damaging debate that has tended to frame it as an alternative to ARVs. Statements by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, suggesting that eating garlic, beetroot and olive oil, could delay the need to take ARVs, have created widespread confusion in the country with the world's highest HIV caseload. more...
Real Speak
A call for assistance with self-sufficient food security in Zambia By, Bright M Mweemba, HDN key correspondent in Zambia, August 8, 2007
The food security of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Zambia needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The food supplements that some people get are not a long term solution. Just as antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) are considered a lifelong necessity, so should food security. The solution lies in finding ways of empowering PLHIV. I suggest that a policy of voluntary resettlement to productive farming areas should be put in place in Zambia. The government needs to set up a revolving fund for this purpose. more...
Regional Study on Anti Trafficking
Legal Frameworks Released in Kathmandu
The Regional Study for the
Harmonization of Anti Trafficking Legal Framework in India, Bangladesh, and
Nepal with International Standards was released in press meet organized on 16
August 2007 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Prof. Dr. Kamal Krishna Joshi,
Chairperson, University Grant Commission, Nepal unveiled the Regional Study for
the purpose of official release. Prof. Dr. Nomita Aggarwal, President SALS
Forum (Chief Consultant of the Regional Study); Mr. Stefano Ellero, Regional
Coordinator of the project- Developing a Right Based Approach for Anti
Trafficking Action in South Asia; Mr. Joseph Aguettant, Delegate, Tdh Nepal;
Mr. Ferenc Weigl, Delegate for the European Commission to Nepal; Mr. Kailash
Prasad Subedi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary
Affairs, Nepal delivered remarks as Special Guests for the program.
Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula, Executive
Director of KSL, applauded the vigorous efforts made by consultants and
researchers of India, Nepal and Bangladesh to successfully accomplish the
unparalleled Regional Study on Anti Trafficking Legal Frameworks. He then made
highlights on the findings and recommendations of the Regional Study that was
conducted under the project entitled Developing Rights Based Approach for Anti
Trafficking Actions in South Asia. He recalled that numerous activities have
been conducted in name of anti trafficking but many of them are guided from
activists' perspective thus creating misunderstanding of the trafficking as
only a problem of women and prostitution. He added that problem of human
trafficking should not be limited within the purview of women and prostitution
otherwise it will not address the issues of victims and trafficking as slavery
like practices.
"While commencing the concept
of the project, it was thought on how to punish culprit, rehabilitate the
victims and protect human rights of victims. The Regional Study is grounded on
such rights based approach and makes recommendations for collaborative efforts
of three countries in protecting and promoting rights of the victims of
trafficking", he added. He also mentioned that 24 laws schools of India,
Nepal and Bangladesh have been collaborating to adopt the rights based anti
trafficking curriculum introducing the Regional Study as Course Book for the
same. Lastly, he urged the donors to acknowledge the potentiality of academic
institutions and not to limit their access and support to NGOs only.
Mr. Joseph Aguettant, Delegate,
Tdh Nepal highlighted that the Regional Study is unprecedented for different
reasons as it brings legal frameworks of three countries together, and acts as
watershed for the future programs and interventions in the field of human
trafficking. He said that trafficking is being proliferated as an organized
crime and industry of placement. Traffickers are seen more active and cautious
and victims are being revictimised.
Citing a case study of a
twenty-five years old trafficking survivor form Calcutta to Kathmandu, he
further added that rights based approach has two components: rights holders and
duty bearers. Any victim of trafficking deserves the right to be protected and
law enforcement agencies are the duty bearers. Those duty bearers should be
willing to listen what victims have to say and maintain high standard of
confidentiality. He also mentioned about the 'Power Girl Project', a pilot
project for providing training to survivors being conducted in Calcutta, and
added that such framework of legal awareness to survivors should also be
incorporated in rights based approach.Trafficking is not only cause of the violation but also a consequence,
he concluded.
Prof. Dr. Nomita Aggarwal,
President, SALS Forum said that the Regional Study is only the beginning step
as trafficking is the ongoing problem and consistent efforts should be made for
at least few years to achieve the concrete results. She highlighted that the
Regional Study has made crucial recommendations and it is the governments of
the respective countries to address the identified lacunas and implement the
recommendations if they are seriously motivated to eliminate the 'social evil'.
Prof. Aggarwal said that the Regional
Study has made effort to think of alternatives to address the problem and SALS
Forum believes in 'no border' because interventions are necessary beyond
borders and no social and legal issues can be studied without human rights
perspective. She also ensured that the university teachers, professors from law
and non law schools can do excellent research as it has been proved by the
Regional Study. Contributions of academic institutions would be useful and
productive for progressive social transformation. She said that even no project
is given, the activities will not be halted and above 50,000 students will be
taught and trained on rights based anti trafficking issues. SALS Forum is
making the horizon wider and broad to intervene in the issues.
Prof. Aggarwal also presented the
objectives and interventions made by the SALS Forum. SALS Forum is constituted
to strengthen the quality of legal education and promote exchange of ideas and
experiences among South Asian Law Schools and similar institutions in matters
of legal education in general and human rights studies in particular. In this
respect, the forum is coordinating with 24 law schools in three countries and
abroad to provide orientation on rights based approach to anti trafficking
actions and adopt the rights based anti trafficking curriculum. Concluding her
remarks she, on her capacity as a Chief Consultant, also appealed everyone to
feel free to provide any comments or feedbacks on the Regional Study.
Mr. Stefano Ellero, Regional
Coordinator of the project said that the Regional Study is milestone of the
project, which is multi layered and not limited to border. "We are working
with local partners of India, Bangladesh and Nepal to fight against the evil of
society and the Regional Study would serve as a foundation to head further
programs and interventions at grassroots levels. Standard Manual to evaluate
and monitor human rights measures will be developed for law enforcement
agencies as next activity on the basis of the Regional Study", he added.
Mr. Ferenc Weigl, Delegate for the European Commission to
Nepal thanked the scholars, students and researchers involved in the Regional
Study. He said that the Regional Study is an outcome of effective coordination.
The findings and recommendations of the Study would benefit all working in the
related sectors such as donor agencies, policy makers and government etc.
He added that the government must
be able to address the problem and protect its citizens. Human beings cannot be
subjected to tricks of perpetrators. He said that international donor
communities may support well with technical assistance and other supports but
it is the concerned government to actually bring such assistance in practice.
He hoped that the recommendations would be followed by the actions in which key
hands would be of concern authority.
Mr. Kailash Prasad Subedi, Under
Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Nepal expressed
thanks for the genuine efforts being made in producing the Regional Study. Government
of Nepal has recently enacted a new Human Trafficking and Transportation
Control Act in line with the organized crime convention and their international
instruments. He added that the new Act has incorporated important issues such
as compensation to victim, right to self defense, access to camera court etc.
After releasing the Study, Chief
Guest, Prof. Dr. Kamal Krishna Joshi expressed his gratitude to KSL and SALS
Forum for promoting culture of undertaking such significant research study for
the progressive change of the society. He believed that the study will help
bringing common issues in academic courses in the South Asian region. He
emphasized that human trafficking is an epidemic and requires effective
medicine. Hence, strong legal measures with wider education can only curb the
problem.
The program was concluded with
vote of thanks by Assoc. Prof. Prakash K.C of KSL and dissemination of the
Regional Study to the distinguish guests and participants. (KSL E-Bulletin 85)
Indian
Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit,
non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual
cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth
groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in
India.
ICYO
functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family
consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different
corners of India.
Our goal: To improve and extend the youth work and services through
Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the
development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in
their programmes and activities
Affiliation:
Consultative
(Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN), Member of Indian Network for Combating Trafficking
(INCT)
Affiliate
group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign; Steering Committee member of World Bank's
YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia
E-newsletter from Indian Committee of Youth
Organizations
ICYO
– organization, dedicated to youth
2nd General Conference of Pacific
Parliamentarians
Parliamentarians
Prioritized Youth Issues in the Pacific
The 2nd General Conference of the Pacific
Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD), held on May 21-25
in Apia, Samoa, was organized by the Samoan Legislative Assembly, UNFPA,
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and AFPPD.
Safeguarding Pacific Youth Through Partnership with
Parliamentarians
Parliamentarians, resource
persons and guests at the meeting
The conference gathered parliamentarians from Pacific countries to
discuss matters of the assembly, to revisit its goals and operations, and to
strengthen its vision and functions in the region.
Alongside the general conference, a thematic conference titled,
“Safeguarding Pacific Youth: Accelerating Actions Through Partnership with
Pacific Parliamentarians”, was also organized to discuss and focus on youth
issues in the Pacific. The conference engaged the parliamentarians in the
discussion of priority youth issues, and provided them an opportunity to
respond to these issues to develop plans to work with development partners and
agencies to strengthen youth initiatives in the Pacific.
Mr. Totofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua, Speaker of Samoa and Chair
of PPAPD, opened the conference, together with Mr. Tuilaepa Sailele
Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, and Ms. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister
for Community and Voluntary Sector of New Zealand. The vote of thanks was given
by Mr. Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of SPC.
A need for dialogue on
complex and sensitive issues faced by the youth
-Mr. Najib Assifi,
Representative, UNFPA-Fiji
Left
to right: Mr. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, Mr.
Najib Assifi, Representative of UNFPA-Fiji, and Ms. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban,
Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector of New Zealand
Mr. Najib Assifi, Representative of UNFPA-Fiji, urged the Pacific
parliamentarians to pledge their outmost support, dedication and solidarity to
safeguard the youth of the Pacific. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Assifi said
that those gathered are to be active champions for the young people. “If we do
not work together, we will short-change ourselves and jeopardize our chances of
success. There is a real need for dialogue and greater understanding among
parents, families, communities, and governments about the complex and sensitive
situations faced by young people. By taking concerted actions to address these
challenges, governments can meet their commitments to young people and
international goals, and give hope to the world’s largest generation of young
people. Five of the MDGs cover areas in which young people are directly
involved and the goals will not be achieved unless we focus on the youth”, he
said.
AFPPD
experiences
Mr. Shiv Khare Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD, shared
AFPPD’s experiences in working with parliamentarians in supporting youth
programmes and he provided guidance for parliamentarian advocacy in the
Pacific. The role of parliamentarians in supporting youth development was
further discussed by Mr. Peter Kenilorea, Speaker of Solomon Islands.
Progress in the
Implementation of the 2004 Suva Declaration
Left to right: Mr. Gary
Rogers, Deputy Section Head of the HIV and STI Section of SPC, Mr.
Totofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua, Speaker of Samoa and Chair of PPAPD, Mr.
Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of SPC, and Mr. Tim Sladden, Advisor of
UNFPA-Fiji
Mr. Gary Rogers, Deputy Section Head of the HIV and STI Section of
SPC, provided an overview of the regional strategy on HIV/AIDS and its linkages
to the 2004 Suva Declaration. The progress in the implementation of the
declaration was discussed by Mr. Tim Sladden, Advisor of UNFPA-Fiji.
Young
people must be part of the solutions and be consulted on future policy
considerations
-Ms. Steve Chadwick Chair of the Standing Committee on Women of AFPPD and Chair of
NZPPD
Ms. Steve Chadwick
A report from New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population
and Development (NZPPD) titled, “Youth Sexual Health: Our Heath, Our Issue”,
was presented to the conference by Ms. Steve Chadwick, Chair of the Standing
Committee on Women of AFPPD and Chair of NZPPD. The report was the result of an
open hearing held in December last year which gave ministries, NGOs and health
professionals an opportunity to speak frankly to MPs about youth sexual and
reproductive health (SRH) issues in New Zealand. The report calls for a
cross-government approach to improve the SRH by developing a teenage pregnancy
strategy and establishing a ministerial taskforce. “Young people must be part
of the solutions and be consulted on future policy considerations”, she said.
Youth development issues
A session to highlight youth development issues from perspectives
of the Pacific youth and to engage parliamentarians’ responses to youth issues
in their respective countries was facilitated by Mr. Iseye Ndombi,
Representative of UNICEF. A panel presentation from young members of the
Pacific Youth Council (PYC) followed.
Ms. Jacqueline Koroi
Active citizenship where young people are actively involved
-Ms.
Jacqueline Koroi (Fiji) President of PYC
Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Jacqueline Koroi from Fiji, President
of PYC, highlighted the concept of active citizenship where young people are
actively involved in influencing decision making that affect their lives.
“Paramount to good governance is the principle of inclusiveness where the
voices, views and aspirations of all people are taken into action. Both are
ways of engaging young people as central actors in the development of their
communities and country”, she said.
Left to right: Mr. Sydney
Faasau, Assistant CEO of the Ministry of Women, Mr. Peter Kenilorea, Speaker
of Solomon Islands, Mr. Tangata Vainerere, Youth Development Advisor of SPC,
and Ms. Mereia Carling, Child Protection Officer of UNICEF-Fiji
“The quality of education is one particular aspect of education
that is of great importance. One should question the kind of education he
receives. What we need is quality education that makes us think critically and
provides with competency-based skills”, said Mr. Reginald Kipe from Vanuatu,
Executive Member of PYC. He further emphasized that state and non-state actors
should work together to provide relevant education for the marginalized youth.
Top (Left to right): Ms.
Seletuta Visesio (Samoa), Vice President of PYC and Mr. Jasper Anisi (Solomon
Islands), Executive Member of PYC; Bottom (Left to right): Mr. Iseye Ndombi,
Representative of UNICEF, and Mr. Reginald Kipe (Vanuatu), Executive Member
of PYC
Traditional culture needs to be protected by the leaders
-Mr.
Jasper Anisi (Solomon Islands)
Executive Member of PYC
Mr. Jasper Anisi from Solomon Islands, Executive Member of PYC,
emphasized that the youth have a role to play in the promotion and propagation
of cultural diversity. He suggested that this could be done by legislating for
the protection and preservation of traditional knowledge and customs, and
establishing and strengthening programmes to educate and generate young
people’s interest in reviving and fostering their culture and tradition. “Young
people need guidance and encouragement from leaders of parliament to preserve
their traditional cultures and customs. Our traditional culture needs to be
protected by our leaders and peace promotion is something that the leaders and
young people can be partners in”, he said.
Responding to youth issues
Ms. Rufina Latu
Mr. Tangata Vainerere, Youth Development Advisor of SPC, spoke in
the session on responding to the youth issues in the Pacific. The session
focused to inform the meeting of youth programmes in the Pacific, and to engage
parliamentarians in supporting existing and innovative youth programmes. Mr.
Vainerere discussed on the vision and plans for 2010’s Pacific youth strategy.
Meanwhile, examples of youth programmes like Adolescent Health and
Development (AHD), Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), Talavou Project, and
Protection of Children and Young People were discussed by Ms. Rufina Latu,
Adolescent Health and Development Advisor for Joint UNFPA/UNICEF/SPC Projects;
Ms. Afu Billy, Regional Director of CYP; Mr. Sydney Faasau, Assistant CEO of
the Ministry of Women; and Ms. Mereia Carling, Child Protection Officer of
UNICEF-Fiji - respectively.
Roles
of key stakeholders
The roles of key stakeholders in youth development and
strengthening of the partnership among stakeholders to further support youth
development were discussed by Ms. Luagalau Foisagaasina Eteuati Shon, CEO of
the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development; Mr. Sanele Lavatai,
Youth Director of the Methodist Church; Mr. Seumanutafa Semi Epati, Assistant
CEO for Sports of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture; and Mr. Apulu
Lance Polu, Managing Editor of Talamua Media.
A greater need for partnership and united actions for the development
of future leaders of tomorrow
-Mr. Sanele Lavatai, Youth Director of the Methodist Church
Mr. Sanele Lavatai
Mr. Sanele Lavatai, Youth Director of the Methodist Church, spoke
on the role of faith-based organizations in youth development. He said, “The
challenge for faith-based organizations is to work with other stakeholders for
the community. In a world torn apart by division and anxiety, there is a
greater need for partnership and united actions for the development of future
leaders of tomorrow”.
PPAPD’s framework for action on youth
initiatives in the Pacific was endorsed at the closing session. A media
interview with parliamentarians and a meeting of PPAPD Executive Committee took
place afterwards.
(Credit: Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Pop. & Dev.)
Indian
Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit,
non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual
cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth
groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in
India.
ICYO
functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family
consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different
corners of India.
Our goal: To improve and extend the youth work and services through
Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the
development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in
their programmes and activities
Affiliation:
Consultative
(Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN), Member of Indian Network for Combating Trafficking
(INCT)
Affiliate group of ECPAT International,
Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign; Steering Committee member of World Bank's
YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia
> Hi,
>
> I am writing to forward the news and pictures (attached) of:
>
> After lited in Greece on 9 August, the Global Human Rights Torch Relay
> (HRTR), arrived in
> Berlin Germen on 18 August.
> Next Stop: MUNICH, GERMANY, Saturday, August 25 2007
> Please search humanrightstorch for more infor.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mr. Huges Hill
Certificate Course on Resource Mobilization and Communication by Resource Alliance
A comprehensive 160-hour course starting in Delhi, September 2007
Despite
a growing need to capitalize on locally available resources, non-profit
organizations in India are still heavily dependent on international funds for
sustainability, with few venturing into the field of local fundraising.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and the Resource Alliance seek to address this need
by offering a 20-day Certificate Course in Resource Mobilization and
Communication, which will teach non-profits to mobilize a diverse range of
financial and non-financial resources for their organization.
By the end of the 20-day
Certificate Course the students will be able to:
Øunderstand the major trends in the legal
issues and social/political environment in which they operate
Øcritically analyze the strengths and
weaknesses of the organization’s existing resource base
Øformulate a simple plan on how to diversify the
resource base
Øidentify main funding sources and appropriate
techniques to secure them
Øunderstand why communication is a prerequisite to
fundraising
Øset-up effective systems for reporting and
communicating with donors
For more details of the course and
to download a registration form, please log on to
http://www.resource-alliance.org/training/courses/40.asp
Youth Network Organizations Initiative for
JANADESH
Call for Unified Action: To Demonstrate
Commitment
TOWARDS
NON-VIOLENCE AND PEACE INITIATIVES FOR RIGHT OF LIVELIHOOD
(by tribal and deprived
people)
Dear colleagues,
Greetings,
On the International Day for
non-violence on 2nd October 2007 the world will witness this historic event.
Noted Gandhian and Sarvoday leader and ICYO Chairman, Dr.S.N.Subbarao,
Mr.P.V.Rajgopal, Founder of Ekta Parishad, Dr Ran Singh Parmar, Convener of
Janadesh and Treasurer of ICYO, have taken lead in mobilizing marginalized
communities.25000 marginalized people including tribals, dalits and other
people will undertake foot march (Pad Yatra) Satyagraha known as Janadesh 2007
from Gwalior to Delhi from October 2, 2007 to press for demand for livelihood
right and right on land. Other nationals and international organizations are
supporting from outside.
Janadesh success depends on
how much pressure we can build up on the Government so that it is compelled to
listen. We, the civil society organizations have to show the solidarity and
support to these marching satyagrahi. We need to raise their voice at same time
at our constituencies of working.
We would like that network
organizations and civil societies efforts are consolidated into unified action.
On this October 2, the world is observing International Day for Non-violence
first time. Janadesh gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment by
supporting Janadesh.
We should think fast and act fast. Small decisive
actions can help to mobilize the public opinion in the favour of these
marginalized communities and show the solidarity with them.
ØOne way of doing is spreading the message of
Janadesh among people in our own language.
ØSend your organization support on
your Letter Head to us in writing to Delhi or Gwalior office
ØParticipate in the post card campaign by writing
simple one or two sentences in your language in support of Janadesh to the
Prime Minister of India.
ØShowing national solidarity on Oct 2,
2007 with marginalized community, who for the first time in post independence
have raised their voice and undertaking foot march.
This can be done by lending our support for this non-violence
action of Janadesh from our respective places. This can be in the form of
rallies, Dharna and such other things.
Is it possible to organize
district level programmes on 2nd October 2007? The programme can take any shape
in the form of Rally, Dharna, meeting, press conference etc. We all can you use
our own networks, groups or our respective organization / institutional
banners. We need to tell Government that there are twenty five thousand adivasi
walking towards Delhi for their livelihood and 2500 organizations are
supporting this non-violent movement. Government should take decisive action so
that poor people can get means of livelihood to life with dignity.(for more information write to Mr.Vijay Bharatiya at email
janadesh2007@...)
ICYO appeal all youth
organizations, youth groups and civil society organizations in India to support
the Janadesh by organizing event on 2nd October 2007.
Please plan the event and let us
know about your action plan.We
shall help you to get the publicity and recognition.
The theme of this year’s
International Youth Day is ‘Be Seen, Be
Heard: Youth Participation for Development’. It is a powerful
reminder of the critical importance of the social, economic and political
participation of youth in the progress and sustainable development of our
societies.
In
recent years, there has been increasing recognition that today’s younger
generations are not merely the leaders of the future, but key partners of the
present. Young people bring unique perspectives, make invaluable intellectual
contributions, and have an unrivalled ability to mobilize support for action at
all levels. This is exemplified in countless initiatives all over the world,
where young people themselves have developed and implemented active solutions
to development challenges faced by their communities. And many successful efforts
by governments to engage youth leave no doubt that youth participation in
decision-making leads to more effective policies and programmes.
However, concerted efforts are
needed to ensure that youth participation for development is effectively practiced
and not confined to ad-hoc approaches. This implies that young people are
provided with the kind of information, skills and training that enables them to
make a difference. It also requires that governments and other partners
scale-up investments in youth and promote changes in organizational structures
to accommodate young people’s voices.
For UNESCO, the imperative of
youth participation has been a long-standing one. It is embodied in the
institutionalization of the Youth Forum as an integral part of all sessions of
the General Conference, UNESCO’s highest decision-making body. It is also
reflected in the Organization’s firm commitment to involve youth in all
initiatives aimed at promoting education for all, poverty eradication and
intercultural and interfaith dialogue, a quest, which lies at the core of our
mandate. Many inspiring examples of youth-led action resulting from a series of
UNESCO Regional Youth Forums related to the promotion of dialogue confirm the
benefits of meaningful youth participation.
On the occasion of International
Youth Day 2007, I therefore call on governments, civil society and development
partners to intensify efforts to facilitate the participation of young people
in core aspects of social structures, institutions and decision-making
processes. And I encourage all young people to make their voices heard and to
channel their commitment and creativity into our shared cause of building a
world of inclusion.
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
(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in
India)
No. 2007/ 51
========================================
ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.
ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural
youth.
========================================
UN Secretary General Message for International Youth Day
Give Young People Fair, Full Stake in
Society’s Success
-Mr. Ban Ki-moon Secretary
General, United Nations
International
Youth Day is an annual opportunity to recognize the world’s 1.2 billion young
people, to celebrate their achievements and to push for their participation in
all areas of society.
This year’s
commemoration -- Be Seen, Be Heard: Youth Participation for Development --
focuses on the enormous contributions young women and men everywhere can and do
make towards national uplift. They are valuable and committed partners in
the global effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the
overarching goal of cutting poverty and hunger in half by 2015. They
remain at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS. And they bring
fresh, innovative thinking to longstanding development concerns.
Approaching the
midpoint of the race to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, we need their
participation more than ever. Their energy and idealism can help make up
for lost ground and achieve our development goals in full and on time.
In
turn, we must fulfill our obligations to youth. The World Programme of
Action for Youth asks Governments to consider the contributions of young
persons on all policies affecting them. Governments must honour this
commitment. They must also increase the financial, education and
technical support made available to young people and help them realize their
potential.
Despite growing
recognition of their needs, young people in many parts of the world continue to
be marginalized and ignored. Their status as a group experiencing
disproportionate levels of poverty and unemployment is frequently
overlooked. As a result, the young are three times more likely than
adults to lack jobs. In fact, while they constitute one fourth of the
world’s labour force, young people make up almost half of its unemployed.
It is high time
that we stopped viewing our young people as part of the problem and started
cultivating their promise and potential. On this International Youth Day,
let us all resolve to invest in and protect our most valuable resource, and
give young men and women a fair and full stake in our society and in its success.
---------------------------------
Youth Information is published by
Indian
Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO), 194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang
Enclave, New Delhi 110029, India. Phone: 91 9811729093 / 91 11 26183978
Fax 91 11 26198423 Email: icyoindia@...
/ icyo@...Web:www.icyo.in
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Indian Committee
of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental
network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and
understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and
individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. ICYO
functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family
consists of over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from
different corners of India.
Affiliation:
Consultative
(Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC); Youth
for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth; Environment
Network (SAYEN); ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Network for Combating Trafficking;
Affiliate with ECPAT International,
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 Project and Arvindo Ashram will organize the Youth Leadership training
Camp from16 to 23 September 2007 at Ramgarh, Uttaranchal Pradesh. The
training camp will cover the all the aspect became the youth leader.
The
training is open for youth age 18 to 35 year. There is no fee for training but
committed young people from youth organizations will give the priority.
There
is some travel grant/railway concession also available for selected youth.
Interested
youth contact with full detail about him/her self to ICYO secretariat at email icyoindia@...
-----------------------
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: icyo@... / icyoindia@...
The India Monitoring Report on status of action against commercial
sexual exploitation of children (which is part of Global Monitoring Report) was
released in Delhi on 30 July 2007. We are glad to provide you the summary of
the Report.
If you interested to receive full report (pdf format) please do write
to us.
LtoR: Ms Indrani Singh, Sanlaap, Kolkatta; Mrs Carmen Madriñán,
Executive Director, ECPAT International, Bangkok; Mrs. Vidya, Equations,
Banglore; Ravi Narayan, SecretaryGeneral, Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) in launching
function.
Summary
By
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)
194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang Enclave, New Delhi 110029, India.
ECPAT India report is in the
context making review of ten years have passed since the First World Congress
against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) was held in 1996 in
Stockholm, Sweden. The report reminds that the Stockholm Congress was a
landmark event, providing testimony that convinced the world that sexual
violations against children exist in all nations, irrespective of cultural
differences or geographic location. It marked the first public recognition by
governments of the existence of CSEC and resulted in a commitment to a global
Declaration and Agenda for Action, which was formally adopted by governments
across the globe, including India as a guide to the specific measures that must
be taken for counteraction.
The Agenda for Action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children provides a detailed framework and categories of actions to be taken by
governments in partnership with civil society organizations and other relevant
actors for combating commercial sexual crimes against children. Broadly, these
actions are focused on: 1) Coordination and Cooperation; 2) Prevention; 3)
Protection; 4) Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reintegration; and 5) Child
Participation.
Since
1996, many actors around the world have focused their efforts around this
common Agenda for Action and more government and non-government entities have
linked, to ensure positive change for children and to protect their right to
live free from sexual exploitation. ECPAT, Indian Report says that the Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking
and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children was developed as a
direct consequence of a July 1997 Supreme Court decision that mandated India to
undertake such a plan.
Objective of this report
This
report aims to provide a baseline of information on actions taken and remaining
gaps for addressing CSEC in each country, based on the framework of the Agenda
for Action, to enable more systematic assessment of progress on implementation
of this commitment.
It
also seeks to contribute to other international mechanisms that exist to
protect children’s rights; the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child
pornography so as to strengthen the implementation and action
against commercial sexual exploitation of children at all levels.
Another
important objective of these reports is to stimulate the exchange of experience
and knowledge among countries and different actors to create a dialogue that
can further work against CSEC. While much has been achieved over the last 10
years, many gaps still remain. The implementation of the Agenda for Action is
urgently required, for as the reports clearly illustrate, there is a compelling
need for global action to protect children from these inhuman violations.
Over
the years the various alliances has made progress in improving protection for
children from commercial sexual exploitation. However, the increasing
sophistication of resources available to those who seek to exploit children
have grown in equal measure. Responding to these challenges requires far more
coordinated and targeted work to be undertaken to avoid retrogression.
Experience
demonstrates that the level of responsibility and role that a government takes
to set and uphold standards of protection, like the lead taken for protecting
children’s rights, determines the nature, quantity and quality of what the
country achieves for its children. Governments can and have accelerated
progress for implementation of the Agenda for Action, often opening new and
important channels for such work. Nevertheless, their actions have not been
uniform and, as these country profiles attest, far more urgent work must be
done to protect children from such heinous violations, as these are still
perpetrated with impunity in many countries.
The
India report features: (i) an overview of the main CSEC manifestations
affecting the country; (ii) analysis of the country’s National Plan of Action
(NPA) against CSEC and its implementation (or the absence of an NPA); (iii)
overview and analysis of coordination and cooperation efforts during the period
under review; (iv) overview and analysis of prevention efforts; (v) overview
and analysis of protection efforts, which includes detailed information on
national legislation related to CSEC (see www.ecpat.net for further details);
and (vi) priority actions required.
Major Findings of the Report
The report highlights
that there is lack of information in the areas of Recovery, Rehabilitation and
Reintegration; and Child Participation. There is need for generating more data
on it.
Currently
the land and livelihood have emerged as a major concern world over. Quoting statistics it says, more than
40,000 tribal women and children (mostly from the States of Orissa and Bihar)
were forced into economic and sexual exploitation due to their marginalisation
and lack of access to resources. Thus landlessness are one of the main causes of high
incidence of trafficking/migration.
The Central
Advisory Committee on Child Prostitution monitors the overall NPA
implementation, while State Advisory Committees have been constituted to do so
at state level. However, State Advisory Committees do not yet function in all
states.
Child
protection still not prioritized, in the union budgetary allocation is mere 0.034% (2005-2006)
Unclear
legal definitions limit the protection of children against child Pornography
India does not have extraterritorial
legislation that can be used to prosecute Indian nationals who commit crimes
related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children outside of India.
The Juvenile Justice Act provided for the establishment of a
special Juvenile Police Unit authorized to deal with children, but these units
have not been formed in most States. Every police station should have at least
one specially-trained officer designated as the ‘juvenile or child welfare
officer responsible for handling cases involving children in need of care and
protection or in conflict with the law. While special police officers have been
assigned, they have not received the necessary training or infrastructural
support to properly deal with cases involving commercially sexually exploited
children.
There
appears to be a lack of awareness about commercial sexual exploitation within
law enforcement agencies and how the laws can be applied to better protect
children. Judges also handle massive caseloads with little or no support, such
as assistance with researching laws and legal procedures, and often do not have
the time or opportunity to learn about the latest developments on national and
international laws and legal procedures that can be applied in cases involving
sexual crimes against children. Furthermore, the investigating and prosecuting
agencies lack good coordination to effectively bring perpetrators to justice.
Priority
Actions Required
vState Advisory
Committees must be made functional in all States to allow for the effective
implementation of India’s Plan of Action to
Combat Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children.
Action planning at state level should also be expedited. The budget allocated
for NPA implementation at both levels must be increased.
vThe Children’s
Commission should be immediately formed at national level (the related bill is
currently pending). State counterparts should be institutionalised and their
staff trained as soon as possible. Channels for child participation should be
ensured in all such institutions/commissions.
vA larger number of Child
Welfare Committees need to be set up at district level, with properly trained
staff who are equipped to deal with CSEC cases; their coordination with law
enforcers as well as with the State and the Central Advisory Committees must be
enhanced.
vReligious and
culturally-sanctioned prostitution of children, particularly among scheduled
tribes and castes, must be systematically combated: the government’s Tribal
Development Programme must foster partnerships with civil society organizations
to continuously implement programmes that sensitise such communities, and
rescue and support prostituted children - particularly in areas such as Bihar,
MP, UP and Rajasthan.
vMore in-depth studies on
the commercial sexual exploitation of boys are needed to support effective
campaigns and interventions against this phenomenon. A national level
network/forum on prostitution of boys should also be established as the
foundation for adequate responses, exchange of information and programme
intervention.
vState action plans
should include provisions to tackle boys’ prostitution, whenever enough
information about the phenomenon is already available, such as in the states of
Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh.
vCare facilities and
human resources should be made available to adequately support sexually
exploited boys. These services must be based on minimum standards of care,
which are yet to be developed. Moreover, greater access to viable alternative
livelihood options must be made available to sexually exploited boys.
vTo prevent
re-trafficking and further exploitation of CSEC victims, reintegration
programmes such as the Kishori Shakti Yojna, initiated by the Ministry of Women
and Child Development, should be widely replicated in the most affected state
districts, including UP, MP, Rajasthan, Bihar and Haryana.
vPartnerships must be
developed between the Panchayats (elected bodies responsible for administration
at district level, usually in charge of local development issues), police and
NGOs to improve collection of evidence, expediting cases and effecting
successful prosecutions in CSEC cases. In addition, community-based
organisations must work more closely with the police to provide legal
assistance to victims and also to ensure that the police systematically lodges
each FIR with the relevant details and actively pursues cases.
vEfforts must be made to
actively involve the Panchayats in monitoring the situation in their areas,
including checking children who come into and leave villages. A system for
record keeping must be created and more awareness raising programmes must be
conducted at the Panchayat level The Gramsabhas (groups formed by NGOs and
district authorities to identify traffickers and missing children) should be
institutionalised in all key states.
vAn enhanced system for
the rescue and repatriation of children trafficked from Bangladesh to India
must be urgently established, possibly based on the model proposed in a recent
UNICEF study.
vIndia must ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking
in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Trafficking Protocol) and
ILO Convention No. 182.
vIndian law on
prostitution must be amended to specifically address children, clearly define
which activities and types of remuneration are prohibited, and criminalise all
acts of obtaining, procuring or providing a child for prostitution, as required
under the Optional Protocol. In
addition, legal protection against sexual exploitation must be granted to boys.
A ‘child’ should be defined as a person up to 18 years of age, as required by
the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
vThe Penal Code provisions on child trafficking
must include all the activities that constitute trafficking as per the Trafficking Protocol. The law should be
amended to also provide protection for Indian girls (not only foreign girls, as
is currently the case) and boys (who have no legal protection). In addition,
the legislation should be reviewed to criminalise trafficking in children for
any purposes and not only for prostitution.
vThe proposed amendments
to the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act should
be enacted into law as soon as possible.
vIndia’s laws on child
pornography must be amended to clearly define and prohibit child pornography
according to the standards set forth in the Optional
Protocol, which India has ratified. The scope of the laws must
extend beyond visual representations and cover audio materials and simulated
images. Further, boys must be granted legal protection against child
pornography.
vThe Information Technology Act must be amended
to criminalise all acts of producing child pornography for the purpose of
offering, making available, distributing, transmitting through a computer
system; using computer systems and other information technologies to groom
children; as well as possessing child pornography on a computer system. As one
of the leading nations in the development of new technology, India can no
longer ignore the abuse of children that information and communication
technology (ICT) is facilitating.
vIn the states of Punjab,
Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, sex selective abortions are rampant, resulting in
a dangerous sex ratio that causes many women and children from less affluent
states to be trafficked to these regions for marriage. Thus, the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 2000 should
be enforced more stringently in such states to prevent female foeticide;
moreover, the Prevention of Child Marriage
Bill 2004, already tabled in the Parliament, should be passed with
immediate effect.
vSystematic training of
police officers assigned to deal with crimes against children must be put in
place so that they gain expertise on how to conduct their interventions to
protect the best interests of the child: that is, collect evidence for
effective prosecutions, work with vulnerable children, communicate with and
support child victims of crime.
vEfforts to increase
birth and marriage registration nationwide must be prioritised, as these are
valuable protective mechanisms against CSEC.
vCapacity building of the
police, government departments and local NGOs to address child pornography
would be highly recommended, as there is a lack of such expertise in India and
the problem is escalating.
ICYO
----------------
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered
non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing
areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary
agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth
welfare in India. ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs
in India. It's family consists of over 356 organizations spread in 122
districts of 22 states from different corners of India.
Affiliation:
Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN),
Affiliate with ECPAT International, Thailand;
Member- Indian Network for Combating Trafficking (INCT); 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 on Population
& Development (IAPPD); International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations
(IMPO); Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.
(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)
No. 2007/ 47
========================================
ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.
ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.
========================================
‘Parent nod must for minors’ check-up’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: As a reaction to the controversial medical check-up of students in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury has said that parental consent is mandatory while dealing with minors.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a child rights body under the ministry, had instituted an inquiry into the medical check-up and recommended that the school should issue a public apology and the students be compensated.
Chowdhury on Tuesday said: ‘‘Medical check-up of minor children cannot be done without the permission of their parents. There are laws in this regard. The guidelines are quite clear on this. Even their photographs cannot be published without their permission.’’
The NCPCR’s probe also recommended that strict action be taken against the doctors who conducted the tests. Chowdhury said: ‘‘The health ministry has to take action against them. We will just give suggestions,’’she said.
With the protection of children high on its priority, the government has prepared an action plan to implement the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). Under the scheme, all states and districts will have child protection units with a budget of over Rs 2,000 crore.
The scheme is expected to be implemented in a phased manner with the pilot project in five states — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Andhra Pradesh — costing Rs 90 crore.
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.
Affiliation:
Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations; Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development; Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC); Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth; Environment Network (SAYEN); ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Network for Combating Trafficking; Affiliate with ECPAT International, 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
(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)
No. 2007/ 45
========================================
ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.
ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.
========================================
Report Launching
India Monitoring Report of ECPAT International on
Status of ‘Action against CSEC’ to be release in New Delhi
The ECPAT International’s will launch the “India Monitoring Report on the Status of Action against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children” on 30th July 2007 in New Delhi.
This year’s report, commemorates the 10th anniversary of the first World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation, by assessing the progress of implementation on action against commercial sexual exploitation of children in India and globally.
This report is India report is part of more than 50 country reports that make up the global monitoring reports, that provide information and analysis on specific country situations and an assessment of the efforts made and still needed, to protect children from sexual exploitation, in each country. The information gathered represents the inputs of a large number of grassroots organizations, and government and other agencies that work directly to counteract these grave violations against children.
The report is also included the recommendations for further strengthen the work to stop commercial sexual exploitation of children in India.
The organization working on issue of commercial sexual exploitation/abuse of children and human trafficking are welcome in this launching function on 20 July 2007.
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO), 194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang Enclave, New Delhi 110029, India. Phone: 91 9811729093 / 91 11 26183978 Fax 91 11 26198423 Email: icyoindia@... / icyo@...Web:www.icyo.in
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.
Affiliation:
Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations; Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development; Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC); Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth; Environment Network (SAYEN); ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Network for Combating Trafficking; Affiliate with ECPAT International, 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
First UNESCO Asian Youth Forum held in South
Korea
Plan of Action Formulate with Commitment to Work for
Promotion of Peace through intercultural Dialogue
The 1st
UNESCO Asian Youth Forum endorsed the ‘Jeju Island Resolution’ on last day of the Forum. The
participants also chalk out the action plan on each sub-themes.
The participants of the Forum
have decided to work towards putting into practice the actions recommended in
Jeju Island Resolution.
34 participants from 20 countries including
the Ms Shivangi Patel of ICYO, India and 13 observers were attended Forum from June 25-29, 2007 held in
Jeju Island of Republic of Korea (South Korea) and organized by Section
for Youth, Sport and Physical Education, UNESCO alongwith Korean National Commission for UNESCO. The Forum theme was ‘Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue to Ensure
Peace.
The five-day event is full of activities including the
discussions on themes and sub-themes, group activities and outdoor activities.
Jeju
Island Resolution
The following action plans of each sub-themes should
be promoted and implemented to advocate, develop and elaborate
capacity-building activities and other programmes aimed at reaching our main
theme “Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue to Ensure Peace” at all levels.
Sub-Theme I.
Intercultural and Interfaith Education to Ensure Peace
1.Advocate and develop
capacity-building programmes among policy-makers, researchers, teachers and youth for intercultural and
interfaith dialogue to ensure peace.
2.Collaborate
with partners, youth
groups and networks to promote intercultural exchange programmes and activities.
3.Analyze
the cultural diversity ofeach country to gain a better
understanding of the situation and to promote intercultural and interfaith
dialogue
among its people.
4.Build partnerships with educational
and training institutions to mobilize resources to fund fellowships, scholarships and grants for
΄cultural exposure΄ programmes.
5.Involve UNESCO
field offices in the Asian region to educate and train young people in utilizing ICT tools and
platforms so as to
foster intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
6.Disseminate knowledgeabout intercultural and
interfaith dialogue through various media channels.
7.Organize youth leadership training programmes on intercultural and interfaith
discussion.
8.Incite exchangeamong academics, experts
and leaders to encourage
support for
and commitment to the development of basic guidelines for intercultural and
interfaith dialogue.
9.Introduce
interculturaland
interfaith
dialogue as a theme of ΄World Peace Day.'
10.Explore avenues for proposing to youth-related Ministries the incorporation of intercultural and interfaith
studies in school curricula.
11.Encourage all educational establishments to
upgrade or expand information on
cultural diversity in their cultural collections (i.e., books, CDs and DVDs).
12.Advocate for the provision of additional amenities for students (i.e.,
internet facilities, etc.) to enable interaction with other
international students.
13.Encourage teachers
to equip themselves with awareness, knowledge and skills on
intercultural and
interfaith issues.
14.Propose to youth organizations that they cooperatewith
UNESCO National Commissions in organizing educational sessions with parents and
teachers
on the promotion
of intercultural
and interfaith dialogue.
15.Suggest the establishment of
literacy/training centres for young people so as to incorporate intercultural and interfaith
studies
and/or training into their school curricula.
16.Create National
Discovery Programmes that provide
opportunities for participants to discover their country’s cultural diversity.
17.Encourage existing youth
exchange programmes to incorporate intercultural and interfaith
issues.
18.Organize sub-regional
youth forums on intercultural and interfaithissues focusing
on the actual needs of youth in a particular region.
19.Organize socially-inclusive events that promote intercultural and interfaith
dialogue in local communities
and at educational
institutions.
Sub-Theme II. Combating Discrimination
and Promoting Cultural Diversity
1.Use official forms that exclude race, gender, religion and age categories.
2.Agree to guarantee equal opportunities.
3.Promote cultural diversity in celebration and observance of ΄Intercultural and Interfaith
Day΄ through performances, public forums, immersion
programmes, etc.
4.Gather youth leaders of diverse backgrounds to share, understand and agree upon commonalities, and to
take up the role of peer educators.
5.Encourage and promote celebrations of cultural diversity (i.e., cultural performances).
6.Organize an awareness-raising campaign on cultural
diversity among youth.
7.Promote and conduct various intercultural and interfaith youth exchange
programmes such as festivals, exhibitions, studying competitions, etc.
8.Encourage youth leaders to work together toward accentuating diversity within their
communities.
9.Ensure the freedom to practice one’s own religion
among young people.
10.Set up intercultural and interfaith study centres in
each country.
11.Promote indigenous cultures via the exchange of
experiences at folk villages.
Sub-Theme III. The Media’s
Role in the Promotion of
Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue and Peace
1.Develop programmes and activities to encourage a more socially responsible media with regard to intercultural and interfaith issues.
2.Work in partnership with the organisers of existing media awards to include an ΄Intercultural and Interfaith Award΄ category for those who
display exemplary media social responsibility.
3.Encourage
the media to promoteevents related
to intercultural
and interfaith issues.
4.Establish partnerships between youth organisations and the media in organising a ‘Youth & Media Week’ to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue; the programme should include exhibitions,
cultural performances, live interactive talk shows and workshops.
5.Conduct
exchange programmes for young reporters that focus on the
promotion of peace through responsible media coverage.
6.Establish
a networklinking
university newsletters.
7.Promote
peace by training young journalists in intercultural and interfaith sensitivity.
8.Maximise
use of free electronic media to publicise the message of intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
9.Encourage young people
to create interactive blogs and online forums, and involve diverse stakeholders
to provide them with the necessary support.
10.Organise
campaigns to promote the dissemination of intercultural and interfaith information through the media.
11.Encourage
young people todeliver intercultural and interfaith messagesvia postcards (e.g.,through pen-pal project initiatives).
12.Cooperate with relevant
organisations and networks (e.g., the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network
(ASPnet) and the AEC-NET of the Asia-Europe Foundation) on integrating media-relations into school curricula.
13.Establish a UNESCO Asian Youth Forum alumni
network by keeping the ‘listserv’ open
so that participants can continue to interact, exchange ideas, and share effective practices.
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:
vTo improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth
Organizations;
vTo enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
vTo promote effective youth programmmes;
vTo organize network of civil society organizations working towards
the development of youth work;
vTo organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
vTo 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); ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Network for Combating Trafficking;
Affiliate with ECPAT International,
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.
- UN Secretary General Report on World Youth Programme.
- Youth Mobilization for Janadesh 2007 Preparation.
- Handbook by UNICEF to Help Lawmakers to Combat Violence Against Children.
- ‘Youth for New Nepal’ Conference Held.
- Indonesian Youth Forum Urged for Legislation on Tobacco Control
- Be seen, be heard: youth participation in development – theme for Int. Youth Day.
- Guide to Implementation of the WPAY
Upcoming events:
- Int. Camp in Korea: August 9-19, 2007
- Int. Eco-leadership Youth Camp in Korea: August 13-15, 2007
- Int. Training: Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People
- Int. Conference on Youth and Democracy in South Asia –Pune, India August 12-15, 2007
- Youth Micro-enterprise Conference in Washington: September 10-11, 2007
- Commonwealth Human Rights Essay Competition 2007 for youth.
- Youth Bridging the Gap: Reaching Out to the Roma: IAPSS Int. Seminar from July 22-28, 2007
- Training: Make a Difference in Sustainable Agricultural Development
- World Toilet Summit 2007
ICYO – Youth Information Newsletter
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations
No. 2007/43
Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India
India’s largest network of urban and rural youth
United Nations World Youth Report 2007 to be release on Int. Youth Day
World Youth Report 2007 will examine the challenges and opportunities existing for the roughly 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the world.
The Report will provide a regional overview summarizing the major youth development trends in the fifteen priority areas of the World Programme of Action for Youth. The report will explore major issues of concern to youth development, including employment, education, health, poverty and violence. At the same time, it will highlight youth as positive forces for development and provide recommendations for supporting their essential contributions.
The report is schedule to launch on International Youth Day (12 August 2007) by United Nations.
UN Secretary General Report on World Youth Programme
The report of the Secretary-General of United Nations on the ‘Follow up to the World Programme of Action for Youth’ is now available.
The UN Secretary-General’s report addresses two areas: the progress achieved and the constraints that young people face in relation to their participation in the global economy; the progress achieved by the Secretary General’s Youth Employment Network and an update on the status of national action plans for youth employment, which was prepared by the Youth Employment Network (YEN) Secretariat.
The Janadesh 2007 is the mass movement of Adivasi and deprived people for their land rights and right to livelihood. Dr Ran Singh Parmar, National Convenor of Janadesh 2007 told ‘Youth Information’, twenty five thousand indigenous and deprived people will walk from Gwalior to Delhi from 2nd October 2007 to press for their demand. The support of youth is very important for organizer, he added that, the Janadesh getting the full support from young people and they are front-liner in providing the logistic support on route.
To mobilize and trained the youth, two youth camps were organized on the proposed route.One was held in Morena (Madhya Pradesh) from 22-24 February 2007 and second one was held Dhoulpur (Rajasthan) from 28-30 March 2007. All the participants of both the camps were briefly about the aims, objectives and trained to understand the decentralized management system for Janadesh.
Handbook by UNICEF to Help Lawmakers to Combat Violence Against Children
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on May 2, 2007 launched a joint handbook for lawmakers to help them devise the necessary strategies, from introducing legislation to allocating public funds, to protect children from violence.
“Parliamentarians can and should be among the foremost champions of child protection,” said Toshi Niwa, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, during today’s launch in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian island of Bali, where the annual IPU Assembly is being held.
“They can legislate, oversee government activity, allocate financial resources and, as leaders within their nations, advocate for change.” he said.
‘Youth for New Nepal’ Conference Held
Youth Society for Peace (YSP) organized the one day Youth Conference on “Youth for New Nepal” at Shanti Sewa Ashram in Nepal on April 7, 2007.
The programme was inaugurated Dr. Chintamani Yogi by lighting a ‘peace lamp’ followed by peace prayer by the children of Seeds of Peace (SOP)
Mr. Binod Thapa (Youth Educationalist) spoke on "Envisioning New Nepal". He said that Education for knowledge, Education for power, Education for economy and Education for skill development is need of new Nepal.
In session "Sharing and Caring" Dr. Chintamani Yogi outlined five necessary qualities that the youths of new Nepal need, are Karmashil: active; Sirjansil: creative; Chhamashil: forgiving; Chintanshil: thoughtful and Sushil: gentle.
The conference also discussed the "Youth for New Nepal" and "Nepalese Culture in Modern Era".
Mrs Ambika K.C, a senior member of SSA said in her closing remark that the youth need to be hopeful and work steadily towards the better cause of society.
Indonesian Youth Forum Urged for Legislation on Tobacco Control
A youth seminar on tobacco control legislation with the theme, "Young Generation as Main Target of Tobacco Aggressive Marketing: Do They Need Protection?" was opened by the Speaker of the Parliament in Indonesia on March 28,2007 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD) petitioned and asked MPs for protection in several matters such as: tobacco aggressive marketing, prohibition on purchase of cigarettes in single stick and to minors, increase of tobacco products' price and tax, and establishment of smoke-free areas.
The requests in the petition were covered in one draft bill on controlling the impact of tobacco products on health, which had been finalized by IFPPD in the end of 2005. The said draft bill was supported by 224 MPs and was submitted to the legislation, but had not yet been listed in the National Legislation Plan.
12 August 2007: International Youth Day 2007:
Be seen, be heard: youth participation in development
The United Nations marked 12th August as International Youth Day. The theme for this year International Youth Day 2007 (IYD) is “Be seen, be heard: youth participation in development”.
This the time to start planning and to organize, celebrate and take action. The Day presents a great opportunity to create awareness of the importance of youth participation and inclusion in the societies in which they live. It is also a time to rally the support of Governments, non-Governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses, and young people to focus on what must be done to further youth issues through the World Programme of Action for Youth. Use the media, hold public forums and discussions, organize youth rallies and street fairs to further encourage the participation of youth in the processes and decisions that affect their lives. For more information log on http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm
If planning any event in India, please send the detail toicyoindia@...
Guide to Implementation of the WPAY
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) is prepared the guide, which focuses on what Governments can do to fulfill the vision in the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY).
It highlights the need for new momentum to be generated towards the design and implementation of youth policies and programmes.
Each section of the guide examines the concept of priority areas, of which one is employment. It looks at mechanisms and specific policies that may enhance the political, cultural and socio-economic opportunities for youth. The recommendations and ideas contained in the book are inspired by analyses, case studies, lessons learned and good practices documented by a wide range of sources.
Copy available at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/wpay_guide.pdf
Up-coming Events:
International Youth Camp in Korea
The 42nd International Youth Camp will be held from August 9-19, 2007 at Korean UNESCO Peace Center in Icheon, South Korea. The camp will be organized by Korean National Commission for UNESCO and supported by Kia Motors.
The camp is for 90 international and 30 Korean youth of age between 18 to 27 years. The camp will focus on the ‘change’ that youth can bring in society.
The Indian youth may get the further information from ICYO secretariat..
The 5th International Eco-leadership Youth Camp
"Stop! Global Warming by the Youth ”
The Consumers Korea and PAN AP will be organizing "The 5th International Eco-leadership Youth Camp" from 13– 15 August 2007 in Seoul, Korea. The titled of the camp is "Stop! Global Warming by the Youth” and theme will be the “Global Warming and roll of youth”.
The camp will focus on the issues arising from the seriousness of Global Warming, and identify the challenges and opportunities for the youth to support the shift towards sustainable consumption lifestyle.
Int. Training: Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People
The Swedish Int. Development Cooperation Agency (CIDA) will organize the advance training Programme on Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People and will take place in New Delhi.
The objective of the training is to promote a better regional understanding of young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights through experience sharing in the context of South and South East Asian countries; to enhance the capacities of individuals/institutions to work and network effectively, to address, act and advocate for young people’s SRH with a rights perspective.
The date of training is September 15-30, 2007 and application is closed.
International Conference on Youth and Democracy in South Asia
The Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) in association with others will be organized “International Conference on Youth & Democracy in South Asia” in Pune, India from August 12-15, 2007.
The objective of this programme is to bring together, young people, youth activists and academicians from different walks of life and deliberate on concerns and issues of democracy in the context of young people.
The Conference will aim at discussing on various dimensions that youth can and must play not only on issues that concern them but also in the formulations of policies that affect them.
Topics for the conference includes - Youth, Democracy and globalization; Educating youth on Democracies and Diversity; Role of young parliamentarian in democracies; Youth Participation in Civic Society; Youth Policies in South Asian countries; Promoting Youth participation in Decision-making; The future of Student politics in democracy; Role youth play and can play in shaping democracies; Case Studies involving youth in Democratic; Women’ Participation in South Asian countries; Youth Movement in sustaining Democracies.
The Youth Microenterprise Conference will be held September 10-11, 2007 in Washington, D.C and bring together international development practitioners, policy makers, members of the private sector, youth, and experienced professionals in the fields of education, global health, microenterprise creation, and youth entrepreneurship to explore and discuss: The Role of Youth Microenterprise in the 21st Century: Facing the Challenge of Youth Unemployment and Vulnerability;Strategies to Address the Needs of Youth Entrepreneurs; How to Build Partnerships and Advance Youth Microenterprise to Support Social and Economic Development.
For more information log on www.ymeconference.org
Commonwealth Human Rights Essay Competition, 2007
The Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat organizes the Essay Competition for Young People and topic of the Competition is ‘Promoting Human Rights for Fostering Respect and Understanding in our Communities’.
There will be 4 best entrants adjudged from the four regions making up the Commonwealth: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific. Each regional winner will receive £100 and a certificate, and the runners up Commonwealth certificates of recognition signed by the Commonwealth Secretary General.
To enter the Competition you must be between the ages of 12 – 16; submit full name, home address, email address, and proof of date of birth; submit one essay (not more than 1,000 words) on the topic described above and send the entry by email not later than 1 August 2007 to Jarvis Matiya at j.matiya@... . The Winners will be required to provide proof of their date of birth.
IAPSS International Seminar 2007
Youth Bridging the Gap: Reaching Out to the Roma.
The International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) will organize the seminar “Youth Bridging the Gap: Reaching Out to the Roma” from July 22-28, 2007 at Ljubljana in Solvenia.
This international seminar is dedicated to increase the level of acceptance of the Roma as a minority group and of the Roma culture among youth. Participants coming from both Roma and non- Roma cultures will have the opportunity to experience one week of real- life, face-to-face, constructive dialogue and become familiarize with the particularities and differences of each others’ cultures.
For more detail long on http://roma.iapss.org
Make a Difference in Sustainable Agricultural Development
The capacity enhancement training programme “Make a Difference in Sustainable Agricultural Development” (MAD in SAD) will be held in New Delhi on July 14-15, 2007 and organized by Responsenet. For more information contact E- mail: capacities@...
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
The world is undergoing the largest wave of urban growth
in its history. The 3 billion population of towns and cities in 2005 will
increase by 1.8 billion by 2030.1 The
urban population of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa will double in less than a
generation. The fastest growth will be in the poorer urban areas. For example,
the slum population of Dhaka has more than doubled in a decade, from 1.5
million in 1996 to 3.4 million in 2006.
Most urban growth comes from natural increase (more births
than deaths). The urban poor have higher fertility rates than other urbanites:
women have less education and less autonomy; they know little about sexual and
reproductive health services, and have little access to them. Rural-urban
migration also contributes to urban growth. Young people under 25 already make
up half the urban population and young people from poor families will be a big
part of the urban wave. The future of cities depends on what cities do now to
help them, in particular to exercise their rights to education, health,
employment, and civic participation.
Investment in young people is the key to ending
generations of poverty. In particular it is the key to reaching the Millennium
Development Goals and halving poverty by 2015.
Young People in the Cities Today
Most urban young people were born in the cities. Others
arrive on packed buses or trains, bringing with them few possessions, great
expectations, and an eagerness to engage fully in a better life. They come with
the hope of a good education, adequate health services, and a society with
plenty of jobs to choose from: a plan for escaping the poverty in which their
parents are trapped.
Urban centres attract economic investments, and offer a
high concentration of jobs and public services. Political power is concentrated
in national, state or district capitals, and secondary schools, higher
education institutions, and health care centres are better and more accessible
in urban areas.
The high
disparity in the rates of school attendance among urban and rural youth
illustrates the “urban advantage”: rural boys’ and girls’ school attendance
rates are, respectively 26 and 38 per cent lower than their urban
counterparts’.
A
vanishing dream?
At the beginning of the 21st century, the best recipe for
a life without poverty is still to grow up urban; but young people’s dream of
moving beyond their parents’ poverty is quickly vanishing.
Although cities offer better jobs, housing, education,
health care, and opportunities are unevenly distributed. Most people in the
poorest countries, including the young, have little access to the amenities of
urban life.
Although school attendance is higher in cities than in rural
areas, many young people in poor areas, especially girls, never start school, or drop out before
finishing secondary level.
In urban centres, young people are faced with higher unemployment rates than adults; work is
more likely to be in the unregulated “informal sector” where they are often
exposed to abuse and exploitation.
Housing for the urban
poor is most likely to be in slums –
crowded homes and poorly-built neighbourhoods with little or no infrastructure like paved roads, electricity,
gas, piped water or sanitation. In some cities this applies to more than half
the population.In most
African cities, for instance, only ten per cent of the population is connected
to sewers, and many have no sewers at all. Many young women and men grow up
resenting their exclusion from the promise of city life. Extreme poverty,
family conflict, violence and neglect, alcoholism or drug abuse in the home, or
the illness and death of parents, may drive young people to live on their own. In some countries a
high proportion of urban adolescents do not live with their parents, for
instance 30 per cent of Ethiopian girls aged 10 to 14.6 In Benin 14.3 per cent of a sample
of children up to age 14 in urban areas lived with neither parent, though both
were alive, compared with 8.9 per cent of rural children.
Some children live in the streets.
For young people brought up in poverty with low-quality
education, health care and housing, and few prospects for steady work, things
can go very wrong.
Young people are often the risk takers and experimenters:
they are regularly reminded of their unequal
state and lack of opportunities – luxury cars in the streets; smart
houses in safe neighbourhoods; opulent lifestyles in the mass media and on the
Internet. Exclusion and frustration can lead to crime and violence.
Many young women leave their villages to avoid marrying
young or dropping out of school early. But slum life can be particularly
dangerous for young women. Pervasive gender
discrimination puts them at risk of sexual exploitation and
violence. Poverty may force them to work long hours in unsafe and distant
places, returning home alone on dark and dangerous streets.
Having no knowledge or power to protect themselves, and poor health services, they are at
increased risk ofunwanted
pregnancy, and childbirth without skilled care. Many teenage mothers have no
support from their families or the fathers of their children. They may have to
turn to transactional sex work to survive.
Positive
signs
The creation of safe spaces for adolescent girls and young
women can help turn urban life into a positive experience through which they
may find autonomy, access to resources, and self-control.
By design, the city brings people closer. Youth urban culture adds music, dance, and
sports shaped by global and local issues. Information and communication
technologies such as the Internet and mobile phones have changed the way young
people in cities relate to one another, and to their counterparts in other
countries. They have introduced and spread globalized aspirations and patterns
of consumption
The future of young people in the cities
The future of cities depends on the future of young
people. In particular, it depends on what policymakers can do to equip young
people to break the cycle of poverty. This in turn depends on involving young
people in the decisions that affect them. This report draws attention to some
challenges and possibilities, and suggests some actions that will help young
people live up to their potential.
The wave of urban growth, and the consequent increase in
the supply of labour, has the potential to stimulate economic growth – if local
and municipal governments in developing countries can improve the quality of
governance, and develop the institutional capacity to provide infrastructure
and services. Services include universal access to education and health care,
essential elements in the formation of human capital.
Governments must do four key things over the next 25
years to cope with change, reduce poverty, and create a stable environment for
young people’s active participation in the urban transformation:
• Support young people
to stay in school longer, so they are better educated and have access to
technological innovations, information, and the life skills needed to enter
changing labour markets.
• Support young people’s
ability to exercise their right to health, including sexual and reproductive
health, so they can stay healthy and free of sexually-transmitted diseases and
HIV infection; avoid early pregnancy, postpone starting their families until
they are ready, and have their children safely.
• Attract new
investments to cities to create jobs and allow young people some
economic security before they start their families.
• Encourage
organizations of young people, to facilitate their leadership and
participation in local decision-making, and act as a positive force for better
governance.
As UNFPA’s State of
World Population Report says, the wave of urbanization means that
the battle for the Millennium Development Goals is being fought in the cities
of developing countries. Young people will be in the forefront. Success depends
on how well cities, countries and the international community strengthen and
support them.
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
The
thousands of landless and deprived tribals and dalits are preparation for their
final act to demand for their livelihood in India. They raised their concern on
25 June 2007 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. They reminded that only hundred-day
left to act to fill their demands for that they are campaigning since December
2005.
On 2nd
October 2007, twenty five thousand tribals and dalits will foot-march from
Gwalior to Delhi and sit on (dharna) in Delhi till their demand is not fulfill.
The
event held on 25th June to mark the countdown the clock as only 100
days left for government to act to prevent the Delhi on seize.
At
Jantar Mantar, large number of tribal gather comes from all over India and
‘protest fast’ organized which converted on march to ward Indian Parliament to
give the memorandum to Prime Minister of India. The marchers were stopped at
Parliament Street by police and allow the two representatives of the Marchers
to go further.
Mr P V
Rajagopalan, leader of Ekta Parishad told that this is not our demand but this
people verdict and government to act positively.
He
reminded to government to act immediately on these points:
1. Constitute the National Land Authority 2. Those already have the ‘title of
Land’ (Patta) should give the possession over the land 3. Right on land to the
tribal/deprived peoples whom they are living from generations and traditionally
cultivating the land.
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
First Asian Youth Forum of UNESCO to be held
in South Korea
The UNESCO (Section for Youth, Sport and Physical Education) is
organizing the first Asian Youth Forum from June 25 to 29, 2007 in Jeju Island
of Republic of Korea. This regional forum being organizes on the basis of the
recommendations of 33rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference.
The Indian Committee of Youth Organizations asked to
nominate the youth for the Forum, ICYO nominated Ms Shivangi Patel from
Ahemdabad and she will attend the Forum.
Ms Patel is the only participant to
represent India in the Forum.
The theme of the Forum will be “Young
People and the Dialogue among Civilizations, Cultures and Peoples”.This Regional Youth Forum
allows youth participants to address regional issues by making recommendations
for action, and by designing concrete initiatives, by and for young people. In
this regard, the Forum also provide for the development of new partnerships,
and for the consolidation of networks between young people, youth
organizations, UNESCO and other partners.
Under this theme, the Youth Forum Report has recommended two
sub-themes as specific foci of the regional youth forums: “‘Education for sustainable development’ and ‘Intercultural and
interfaith dialogue to ensure peace’.”
The main objectives of this 1st Asian Youth Forum is to prepare for the UNESCO
Youth Forum in October 2007; to allow participants of the Forum to elaborate
specific themes, and related recommendations for action, regarding a dialogue
of regional (sub-regional) concerns by and for young people; to consolidate and
encourage networks and partnerships among young people, youth organizations,
UNESCO and other partners concerned with youth, and dialogue in the region.
In the preparation for the Forum organizer created the listserv
about two month ago for the E-dialogue among the participants. The online
discussion already fills the energy for participation in the Forum.
The Expected Outcomes: Youth Forum should adopt a report
outlining the salient discussions and recommendations from the Forum. The
report will be widely disseminated as part of the follow-up, and will be
included in the framework preparations for the UNESCO Youth Forum to be held at
the 34th session of the General Conference; in addition, the 1st Asian Youth Forum on the theme of Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue to Ensure Peace
will serve to highlight youth-led, best practices for promoting
dialogue among cultures and peoples at all levels.
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
Adopting a text on the
International Day of Non-Violence, contained in document A/61/L.62, the United
Nations General Assembly decided on 15 June 2007 in its 103rd
Plenary meeting, to
observe the International Day, with effect from the sixty-second session, on 2
October each year. Bearing in mind that non-violence,
tolerance, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,
democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect of diversity, are
interlinked and mutually reinforcing, it invited all Member States, United
Nations organizations, regional and non-governmental organizations and
individuals to commemorate the International Day in an appropriate manner and
to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and
public awareness. It further requested the Secretary-General to recommend
ways and means by which the United Nations system and the Secretariat could,
within existing resources, assist Member States in organizing activities to
commemorate the Day.
Introducing the text, Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of State for External
Affairs, said the idea of promoting the resolution originated from the
Declaration adopted at the “International Conference on Peace, Non-Violence and
Empowerment -– Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century”,
which articulated a collective yearning to address hunger and poverty. He
said the wide co-sponsorship of the draft resolution reflected the universal
respect that Mahatma Gandhi commanded, noting that his mode of non-violence
brought down colonialism and inspired leaders such as Badshah
Khan. The draft was simple but significant, reaffirming the universal
relevance of the principle of non-violence. Promoting non-violence in
such a manner would significantly contribute to the realization of the goals
set out in the 1999 United Nations Declaration and Programme of Action on a
Culture of Peace.
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
Illegal registration fees, academic fraud, embezzlement, rigged calls for tender, and many other corrupt practices are seriously undermining education systems around the world according to a UNESCO report released today.
“Corrupt schools, corrupt universities: What can be done” is the result of several years of research into ethics and corruption undertaken by UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP). The Report assesses the nature and extent of the problem, how much it is costing societies and how it can be addressed. It refers to the experience of over 60 countries, using information from ministries, development agencies and national research institutes.
“This important study calls us to action,” said the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura. “Such widespread corruption not only costs societies billions of dollars, it also seriously undermines the vital effort to provide education for all. It prevents poorer parents from sending their children to school, robs schools and pupils of equipment, lowers teaching standards and thus education standards generally, and compromises the future of our youth. We cannot let it go unchecked.”
Several case studies from all regions of the world are presented in the Report, showing the great variety of corrupt practices in both rich and poor countries. According to the Report, leakage of funds from education ministries to schools can represent up to 80 per cent of the total sum of non-salary expenditures in some countries. It finds that bribes and payoffs in teacher recruitment and promotion tend to lower the quality of teachers, while illegal payments for school entrance and other hidden costs contribute to low enrolment and high drop-out rates. Recent surveys have shown that ghost teachers on school payrolls represent five per cent of the payroll in Honduras and 15 per cent in Papua New Guinea.
According to the Report, corruption in tertiary education takes the form of fraud in transborder education, fake universities and bogus degrees and accreditation fraud. The number of fake universities on the Internet that offer bogus degrees increased from 200 to 800 between 2000 and 2004. In the Ukraine, high officials from private universities revealed in 2005 that most successful licensing or accreditation applications—which are obligatory for the country’s 175 private universities—required some form of bribery.
The authors, Jacques Hallak and Muriel Poisson, look at several places where the introduction of simple measures has all but stamped out corrupt practices. In the early 1990s in Uganda, for example, only 13 per cent of the annual amount granted to schools per student actually got there. The rest was captured by local officials for purposes unrelated to education. A national campaign to inform local communities about where the funds were going has led to a complete reversal of the situation with some 85 per cent of allocated funds reaching their rightful destination as a result.
The authors of the report argue that leadership and political will at the highest level of governments is essential. Furthermore, more transparent regulatory systems, stronger management capacities for greater accountability, and greater ownership of the management process can help free educational systems from corruption. They make a number of recommendations on how the problem of corruption can be dealt with, most notably:
• Establishing clear norms and regulations, transparent procedures and an explicit policy framework that specify the respective responsibilities of different stakeholders in the allocation, distribution and use of educational resources.
• Improving management, accounting, monitoring and audit skills for administrative staff and other stakeholders, including Parent-Teacher Associations, unions and other relevant civil society organizations;
• Providing access to information to build participation, ownership and social control. Those closest to the point of delivery – the schools – must be sufficiently well informed not only to be able to detect fraud, but also to claim what they are entitled to receive.
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
The International Youth Forum,
entitled ‘Youth Speak - We Listen! Voices of Peace’ will be held from September
1-2, 2007 in Egypt and organized by Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace
Movement in collaboration of World Bank.e
Youth groups, committed to
building peace, will have the opportunity by participating in the Forum, to
utilize their skills and experiences in creating a stimulating environment from
which they can consolidate their efforts in finding ways to best service their
respective communities and societies.
The Forum will emphasize five
principle themes, composed of several sessions. These sessions focus on the
power of youth in promoting peace, social entrepreneur for peace, health, and
no to exclusion! and investing in young women’s economic security, environment,
and sports, to name but a few.
The organizer invited the
nominations to participate. In terms of expenses, the organizer will be
covering all expenses from arrival in the Cairo Airport, including air fair to
Sharm El-Sheikh, accommodation. The air fair coverage from home countries are
very limited.
ICYO invites the nominations from its member organizations from India.
The nominations are also welcome
from youth organizations from Asian countries. Please note that participants
must be under 25 year of age and gender balance should be maintain.
For more detail contact ICYO
secretariat (icyoindia@...) with full detail about the participant.
Workshop
on Developing International Young Leaders
The International Youth
Centre (IYC), Kuala Lumpur is organizing the Workshop On Developing
International Young Leaders from 1-8 July 2007, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The workshop will be
organized in cooperation with the University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Ministry of
Youth and Sports Malaysia, Asian Youth Council (AYC), Committee for ASEAN Youth
Cooperation (CAYC) and the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC).
For more detail contact
ICYO secretariat at icyoindia@...
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
Offline 
Send Email
