Vol. 5, No. 8, November/December 2008
This is the last issue for 2008. We wish you all the best for the New Year 2009!
WELCOME to the UN Youth Flash, a service of the United Nations Programme on Youth to keep you informed about the work of the UN on youth issues. You are encouraged to use and forward the information below to other networks. This update is prepared with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes. UN Youth Flash can also be read on-line at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/flash.htm.
In this issue:
FEATURE
Youth volunteers – an asset for peace and development
NEWS FROM UN OFFICES
UNFCCC – UN agencies work together for children and youth on climate change
You tell us! Youth voices in World Youth Report 2009
UNDSD – Pre-registration open for Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD17)
ECLAC – Regional conference on social policies for children’s rights
YEN – Identifying innovative approaches to youth employment in MRU
IOM – Youth-related activities implemented in Honduras
UN-DPI: 11th Annual Student Conference on Human Rights
UNEP – Survey on sustainable lifestyles among youth
UNFPA – Mainstreaming youth issues in growth and development strategies
UN-HABITAT - World Urban Youth Forum
UN-HABITAT – Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development
UNICEF – Working to end sexual exploitation of children and adolescents
UNODC – Legal Rave drug can seriously harm young people
WFP - A virtual wall to help fight hunger
WHO – National indicators to monitor and respond to the HIV epidemic
WHO – Health aspects of a training course on investing in youth development
WHO/PAHO - Strategy to benefit youth health in the Americas
YOUTH IN ACTION
Young people join forces at climate change conference in Poznan
New network to help young people affected by armed conflict
Young People in India Take the Lead on HIV
Youth Voices against Racism
Schools connect to promote the Millennium Development Goals
Short Survey on African Youth Day
Recognizing young environmentalists
PUBLICATIONS
Children and AIDS: Third Stocktaking Report, 2008
ECLAC – New demographic study available on youth in the Caribbean
IJJO - Conclusions, III IJJO International Conference (2008)
UNAIDS: AIDS Outlook
UNESCO - Education for All: Global Monitoring Report 2009
UNFPA- State of the World Population 2008 (and Youth supplement)
UN-NGLS - Human Rights System Handbook
WHO/UNICEF - World report on child injury prevention
FEATURE: Youth volunteers – an asset for peace and development
(Submitted by United Nations Volunteers - UNV)
A country's youth is one of its biggest assets for peace and development. Engaging youth through volunteerism is an excellent way to tap into that potential, benefiting both society at large and the young people themselves.
Building capacity for youth volunteerism is one of the key priorities of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, and we hope to show what a powerful force volunteerism can be to engage youth and to address youth issues. Events such as International Volunteer Day, celebrated on 5 December each year, focus attention on the contributions of volunteers. The year 2011 will mark the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, and we encourage everybody to use this opportunity to promote and support volunteerism even further.
Volunteerism is already making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. In Liberia, the Liberian National Youth Volunteer Service (NYVS) is training and assigning university graduates as youth volunteers to work on education, health, agriculture, peacebuilding and development. Run by the Liberian Ministry of Youth and Sport with support from UNV and UNDP, the scheme has engaged more than 200 university graduates to support schools, clinics, farms and Government ministries. They are also bridging the divide between city dwellers and rural people through sports events and clean-up campaigns, raising awareness of gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention. Pledging her continued support, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf highly commended the youth volunteers in October, noting that former volunteers are now more employable.
UNV is supporting similar national volunteer schemes in Niger and Burkina Faso. In Cape Verde and Ethiopia, youth volunteers are combating environmental degradation through a natural-resource management project run in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Youth volunteers work on integrated watershed management, stream and gully stabilization, and planting trees, as well as generate income through small-scale farming.
In Honduras, seven UN agencies cooperate in the programme “Support to Human Security”. Within this, UNV liaises with local volunteering organizations to get youth engaged in volunteering initiatives. Thus volunteerism can turn lives around and provide vulnerable youth with a sense of pride in their communities and a positive alternative to street life.
Volunteerism also aids social cohesion. With UNV's help, the Servicio Ignaciano de Voluntariado NGO and municipal institutions in Quito supported a volunteering scheme involving youth from across Ecuador's social strata. Hundreds of young volunteers interacted within social projects that benefited thousands.
As well as bringing together youth within countries, volunteerism can also help foster understanding across borders. With national partners and European Commission donor support, UNV assisted in the Regional Integration through Volunteer Exchanges for Reconciliation in South-Eastern Europe (RIVERSEE) programme which enabled 65 youth volunteers in the Balkan region to work in community-based organizations and governmental institutions. By working in other countries, volunteers have a valuable opportunity to cooperate with youth of other nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.
Youth volunteers can also help support other youth. In Benin, through the MDG Facility funds, and with UNV support, Boy Scout volunteers were trained to give HIV/AIDS sensitization sessions. Thousands of their fellow youth in the northern part of the country have benefited from their instruction.
For countries to empower youth and build development capacity through volunteerism, they need an enabling environment. In Kyrgyzstan, UNV and UNDP are working within the framework of a youth project to put in place policies to help empower and create opportunities for youth volunteering. A white paper has been drawn up, and a national network for youth organizations developed.
Achieving peace and development needs the involvement of everyone. Therefore, engaging youth through volunteerism can make a real difference. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development where it benefits both the society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming and mobilizing volunteers.
The above are only a few examples of the many ways youth volunteerism can make a difference to peace and development. For more, see: http://www.unvolunteers.org.
NEWS FROM UN OFFICES
UNFCCC – UN agencies work together for children and youth on climate change
At the invitation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, several UN agencies met in October 2008 to launch a Joint Programme Framework for Children & Youth and Climate Change entitled “Growing together in a changing climate”. Its goal is to facilitate more effective coordination and implementation of climate change initiatives for children and youth in their countries, and a greater engagement of children and youth in intergovernmental processes and related activities undertaken by the United Nations family. Earlier this month, UN agencies hosted a side event in Poznan, Poland, at the 14th session of the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP14), calling upon persons from all points on the generational spectrum to testify before an Intergenerational Inquiry on Climate Solutions. Information on the event is available at: http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop14/enbots/pdf/enbots1255e.pdf. Questions? Contact Laurence Pollier or Clarisse Kehler Siebert: growing.together@unfccc.int.
You tell us! Youth voices in World Youth Report 2009
In order to expand the scope and coverage of the World Youth Report 2009 (WYR09) which will focus on youth and climate change, the UN Programme on Youth is seeking information from experts in the field of youth and climate change, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as young people. The input submitted may be academic research, case studies, publications, best practices, effective interventions, as well as national youth policies currently being implemented. The chapters of the WYR09 will be organized as follows: Youth, climate change and the social development agenda; Climate change youth and their well-being; Indigenous youth and climate change; Addressing change at the roots: Youth consumption patterns; Reforming education for climate protection; Adapting to climate change: Is youth employment at risk?; Positioning youth for adaptation and mitigation: the role of civil society; and Moving forward: placing youth at the center of the response to climate change. Submissions will be used to support the discussion, and to create informational boxes that provide context for the analysis. For more information, please visit: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/wyr09.htm.
UNDSD – Pre-registration open for Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD17)
The UN Division for Sustainable has announced that the pre-registration for both the seventeenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17) and its Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM) is now open to all accredited major groups' organizations. The IPM will take place from 23 - 27 February 2009, and CSD-17 will take place from 4 - 15 May 2009. Both meetings will convene at UNHQ in New York. For information on how to pre-register, please visit: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/mgroups/registration.htm. Also, the advance unedited version of the Major Groups' Priorities for Action on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa is now available at http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd17/mg/mg_csd17_docs.pdf. This official document will provide a basis for major groups' participation in multi-stakeholder dialogues and interactive discussions at CSD17.
ECLAC – Regional conference on social policies for children’s rights
A regional conference was convened in Barbados from 18 – 21 November 2008. The conference entitled “Social Policies for Children’s Rights - Knowledge Building through Partnerships in a Small Islands Developing States” was the result of joint efforts between the UNICEF Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Office, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) sub-regional Headquarters for the Caribbean and the United Nations Institute for Research on Social Development (UNRISD). The purpose of the forum was: (1) to provide a platform for knowledge sharing on Caribbean youth; (2) to identify areas of critical concern for Governments and other stakeholders and (3) to develop a joint framework between Governments, civil society, academia and regional and international partners to develop ways and means to enhance the lives of children and youth in the region. The final report will be available shortly at http://www.eclac.cl/portofspain/.
YEN – Identifying innovative approaches to youth employment in MRU
The Youth Employment Network (YEN) Secretariat has launched a competitive grant scheme for youth-led organizations in the (MRU) Mano River Union (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone). The scheme will serve to identify and implement innovative projects with potential to provide employment opportunities for young people and engage youth and youth organizations as active participants in the development process. Applicants can apply for grants between US$2,000 and US$50,000. The Scheme is part of a 4-year inter-agency (UNIDO, ILO, UNDP and YEN) programme aiming at improving youth employment in the MRU. YEN agreed with the lead agency UNIDO to come up with a competitive grant scheme for youth-led organizations in these countries. The World Bank has also committed additional funding to the scheme. Eligible projects should contribute to youth employment in any of the following areas: Community projects and services, Youth entrepreneurship, Transition from school to work, Vocational training for young people, and Economic empowerment of young women. Projects will be selected through a transparent selection process based on pre-established criteria. Selected projects as well as any major lessons learned from implementation will be published on the YEN website. The call for proposals will be complemented by a local media campaign and a series of information events will be organized in the MRU countries to provide practical information on the grant scheme, as well as assistance on proposal design and application procedures. Application forms along with guidelines and an Information Note are available at http://www.ilo.org/yen. The deadline for applications is February 14, 2009. For more information, please contact Sara Spant at the YEN Secretariat, spant@ilo.org.
IOM – Youth-related activities implemented in Honduras
1. IOM Honduras provides technical assistance to support the return and reintegration of youth in Honduras, especially those returning from the United States and Mexico. Nearly 45 per cent of the returnees are between the ages of 16 and 25 years and receive psycho-social support and training to enable their reinsertion into the labour market (More information: Evelyn Andino, eandino@iom.int);
2. Human trafficking related training programmes were provided to young people between the ages of 18 and 21 in coordination with the Unit for Children, Youth and Families of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN in Spanish). The training worked to inform and create awareness about trafficking issues and the risks of irregular migration (More information: Mirna Rodriguez, mrodriguez@iom.int);
3. For the past year and a half, the IOM mission in Honduras along with Government institutions have implemented a Temporary Labour Migration Programme to Canada and Spain which benefits young workers, most of which are between the ages of 23 and 30 years. The workers are supported during the recruitment, pre-departure and travel process and receive salaries that are far greater than the minimum wage in Honduras. (More information: Jeremy Mac Gillivray, jmacgillivray@iom.int).
The International Office for Migration (IOM) is part of the United Nations system proposal under the MDG Fund for youth, employment and migration. An updated version of the proposal is pending. (More information: Hector Monroy, hmonroy@iom.int)
UN-DPI: 11th Annual Student Conference on Human Rights
The UN Department of Public Information organized its 11th Annual Student Conference on Human Rights from 3-5 December 2008 at UNHQ in New York. The theme of the Conference focused on climate change and human rights, key priority areas of the United Nations. Students from around the world worked together to develop a Plan of Action. More information: http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/student/2008/about.asp.
UNEP – Survey on sustainable lifestyles among youth
The Global Survey on Sustainable Lifestyles (GSSL) is a joint initiative of the Task Force on Sustainable Lifestyles led by Sweden and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a part of the Marrakech Process on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). The GSSL aims at: 1) inspiring young adults from all over the world, as well as exploring their views and aspirations with regards to sustainable lifestyles; and 2) providing recommendations to policy-makers and other stakeholders in the design for solutions and policies that promote sustainable lifestyles. The survey is targeted at young adults (18-35 years old) from all regions. It consists of an online questionnaire that allows them to share their experience and expectations. By responding to a series of short video scenarios on food, mobility and energy consumption, participants can also share their vision for lifestyles in the future. The questionnaire can be accessed or downloaded in English at http://www.unep.fr/gssl. Shortly, it will also be available in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese and other languages. More information: http://www.unep.fr/scp/marrakech/taskforces/lifestyles.htm or contact Ms. Fabienne Pierre at fabienne.pierre@unep.fr.
UNFPA – Mainstreaming youth issues in growth and development strategies
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organized a workshop entitled “Mainstreaming Youth issues in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy” from 15-17 December. The workshop used Content Analysis and other analytic work as building blocks for a forward-looking set of actions to place young people’s issues in the forefront Malawi’s plans to achieve its growth and poverty reduction goals. The workshop provided a forum in which a group of experts in the area of population, poverty, health, education and youth employment reviewed the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, made recommendations and developed a detailed draft action plan. They further discussed mainstreaming youth issues in the Strategy and agreed on ways to implement the final action plan. The workshop also presented an opportunity for nine countries from South, Central and West Africa to participate and learn from the Malawi experience. More information: mikati@unfpa.org.
UN-HABITAT - World Urban Youth Forum
More than 500 youth activists from over 50 countries worldwide gathered on 1 November 2008 in Nanjing, China, for the opening of the UN-HABITAT World Urban Youth Forum. The two-day conference, hosted by the Nanjing Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Youth League, is the third biennial session of its kind and took place traditionally on the eve of the World Urban Forum. This year, discussions were carried out under the theme, "Harmonious Urbanization: The Challenge of Balanced Territorial Development." The opening ceremony of the forum affirmed the commitment of global leaders on urbanization to foster youth-led development. The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, noted that now is the "dawn of a new urban era," with half of the world's population already living in towns and cities, and a projected increase to two-thirds, by the year 2030. She emphasized that the only way to meet the challenge of urbanization was through genuine "dialogue among young people." She recognized, as is evident in the area of information communications technology, that creativity and innovation are the hallmarks of youth – the key to overcoming the challenges of poverty and urbanization. More information: http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6016&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0&month=11&year=2008#
UN-HABITAT – Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development
At the at the Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China, UN-HABITAT unveiled a new fund to finance youth-led development projects around the world. The Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development was created to engage the partnership and leadership of young women and men in achieving sustainable urbanization. The Fund is initially being financed through a US$2,000,000 grant provided by the Government of Norway. Other Governments and donors are being invited to contribute to the Fund. “Youth are the future of our cities, but are often rendered voiceless due to unemployment, lack of education and other issues,” said Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. “Through this new fund, we are recognizing the urgent need to bolster youth-led initiatives, and are at the forefront of a growing movement to place youth at the centre of sustainable development strategies.” http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6031&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0&month=11&year=2008#
UNICEF – Working to end sexual exploitation of children and adolescents
Around 3500 people from over 170 countries participated in the III World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents that was held from 25-28 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The participants included representatives of Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, human rights institutions, law enforcement, the legal community and the private sector, as well as religious leaders, parliamentarians, ombudspersons, researchers and academics. Around 10 per cent of all participants were children and adolescents who were involved in all stages of preparation leading-up to the Congress. In regional meetings, children and adolescents democratically selected or elected their representatives to take part in the Congress. An online consultation tool was also developed, for children and adolescents to share their views and a website was launched (StopX.org) to create an online meeting place and discussion forum for children and adolescents on the Congress and its themes. At the Congress, children and adolescents worked closely with the drafting committee to ensure that their recommendations were in the final outcome document “The Rio de Janeiro Pact to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents”. More information: http://www.iiicongressomundial.net.
UNODC – Legal Rave drug can seriously harm young people
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently launched a programme called Global Synthetics Monitoring: Analysis, Reporting and Trends (SMART) to work with Governments to collect and analyze data, and report on synthetic drugs. The UNODC has warned that ketamine, a legal substance used to tranquilize horses, has taken the world’s dance scene by storm, despite serious health risks. Ketamine, which is also used as a general anesthetic in some developing countries, is widely abused and is gaining popularity across southern China, and is spreading throughout East Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The drug is a legal substance, and therefore not controlled, the true extent of its use is unclear and probably underestimated. Experts say long-term use may impair memory and cognitive functions, and damage the kidneys and other internal organs. More information: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/ketamine-sweeps-the-rave-scene.html.
WFP - A virtual wall to help fight hunger
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has created a virtual “Wall” of supporters in cyberspace that contains images uploaded by people who donate to support the work of the Programme. Often the images are of contributors' friends and family members that are being honoured through a contribution to WFP. The Wall arrives just in time for the gift-giving season. It is designed to be shared throughout the online community via e-cards and social networking tools. Donations from The Wall will go to WFP's school feeding programmes that aim to give poor children access to food and education by providing free meals at school. More information: http://www.wfp.org/wall.
WHO – National indicators to monitor and respond to the HIV epidemic
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (CAH) was closely involved in the development of an interagency document entitled “Core indicators for national AIDS programmes: guidance and specifications for additional recommended indicators”.The document lays out 40 core indicators that countries can use to collect information to monitor and respond to the HIV epidemic. The document also provides detailed specifications and guidance for gathering and analyzing 15 new indicators in addition to the existing 25 on the list recommended by the United Nations General Assembly at its Special Session on HIV/AIDS in June 2001. This document replaces the guide published by UNAIDS in 2000 and provides careful and systematic attention to gathering data on youth. It is the output of extensive consultations involving US Government and UN agencies, international and non-governmental organizations, and country-level representatives working on HIV/AIDS. More information: http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health.
WHO – Health aspects of a training course on investing in youth development
As a follow up to the publication of its World Development Report that focused on youth in 2007, the World Bank in collaboration with international partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Organization, the European Commission and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), developed a course on youth investment that included youth health. As part of the collaboration between the WHO Departments of Making Pregnancy Safer (MPS) and Child and Adolescent Health and Development (CAH) in the area of adolescent health, CAH helped develop the content of the youth health session of the course, drawing from the five-day course for managers of national HIV and reproductive health programmes on addressing adolescents. The health session introduced participants to the epidemiological situation of adolescent health, factors which contribute to increasing the likelihood of ill-health and premature death, the importance of effective multisectoral collaboration. It also highlighted the special contribution that the health sector can make within such a multisectoral response. In this context, CAH's "4 S" framework for strengthening the health sector's response to adolescent health was introduced through specific exercises and group discussions. More information:
http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health.
WHO/PAHO - Strategy to benefit youth health in the Americas
The Health Authorities of the Americas voted in favour of the resolution to endorse the Regional Strategy for Improving Adolescent and Youth Health. The Strategy was created in response to current and emerging needs in adolescent and youth health with specific considerations of prevailing inequalities in health status. It aims to strengthen the health systems response to develop and implement policies, plans, programmes, laws and services for young people. With the support of the Government of Canada, a youth-friendly version of this document is also available. The next steps include the development of the Plan of Action to implement the Strategy with the support of all related UN agencies along with the involvement of young people through national consultations that will take place in 2009. To participate or to receive more information, contact paredesc@paho.org. The strategy and resolution are available at:
English: http://www.paho.org/english/gov/cd/CD48-08-e.pdf
Spanish: http://www.paho.org/spanish/gov/cd/CD48-08-s.pdf
Portuguese: http://www.paho.org/portuguese/gov/cd/CD48-08-p.pdf
French: http://www.paho.org/french/gov/cd/CD48-08-f.pdf
Press release in spanish: http://devserver.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=319&Itemid=1
YOUTH IN ACTION
Young people join forces at climate change conference in Poznan
Over 500 young people from around the world put their national interests aside and teamed up to make their voices heard and promote action on climate change at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference in Poznan, Poland from 1-12 December. For the first time ever, an Indian delegation of ten young people from the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) attended the series of international climate change conferences (http://www.iycn.in). Members of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition travelled overland through ten countries and arrived at the Conference so as to make a carbon-reduced travel statement and match their words with action (http://www.aycc.org.au). Youth and youth activities at the Conference were extensively planned and well coordinated. A number of side-events were conducted that increased the profile and impact of the youth presence at the Conference. Daily morning youth meetings provided a space for information sharing and planning the day’s activities to ensure youth coverage of key meetings and side-events that worked to maximize the youth impact on the climate change negotiations. Since the Earth Summit (Rio, 1992), young people have made their voices heard and participated in international meetings to demand that Governments and policy makers work to ensure a sustainable future for all. Looking forward, young people from around the world are encouraged to join local and national youth organizations to prepare for the vital climate change meeting to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.
New network to help young people affected by armed conflict
The Network of Young People Affected by War (NYPAW) was launched at UNHQ in New York on 20 November by former child soldiers and children affected by war, namely: Ismhael Beah, Grace Akallo, Kon Kelei, Emmanuel Jal, China Keitetsi and author Zlata Filipovich.
The vision of the network is to create a world in which children are not used in war, a world that is just, inclusive and supports the participation of young people in bringing about change. NYPAW’s main purpose is to demand accountability, as well as to create a knowledge base to advocate and push for rehabilitation and empowerment of young people who are affected by armed conflict and violence. The members of the network met with UN agencies and NGOs to seek areas of collaboration. NYPAW is looking at developing sub-networks in order to better reach-out to young people in conflict zones. The network was created with guidance from United Nations, including UNICEF and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. More information: http://www.un.org/children/conflict/pr/2008-11-20196.html or email nypaw1@gmail.com.
Young People in India Take the Lead on HIV
On World AIDS Day (1 December), with support from UNFPA, the World AIDS Campaign worked to empower young people across India to take the lead in raising awareness regarding prevention of HIV, overcoming stigma and discrimination, and ensuring universal access to treatment, care and support. Leading up to World AIDS Day, the campaign included events such as a cricket tournament, three rock band concerts on HIV, street plays, film festivals, college fairs and an SMS text message campaign. Young people mobilized themselves to hold their leaders accountable and called upon them to fulfil their commitments made on universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support for young people by 2010, as well as to fulfil other commitments made in the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. Approximately 2.5 million people were living with HIV in India in 2006. While only 25% of the country’s population is between the ages of 15-29 years, this age group accounts for more than 31% of people living with HIV. More information: http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/Key-events/World-AIDS-Day/World-AIDS-Day-2008/World-AIDS-Day-India/WAD-Events-India or http://www.worldaidscampaign.org.
Youth Voices against Racism
Ideas from a UNESCO project to counter prejudice in and through sports were presented to the European Parliament in Brussels by representatives of Youth Voices against Racism in partnership with FC Barcelona and the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR). The ideas were the result of meetings held with young people between the ages of 15 and 18 in schools, sports clubs and youth councils in several European cities. Local media and online forums were also used to elicit ideas for ways to promote tolerance, mutual respect and solidarity through sport. http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12319&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Schools connect to promote the Millennium Development Goals
Young people in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will participate in a year of global service and cross-cultural communication through a global sister-school programme that connects 28 schools in 14 countries. The group in Ethiopia will work along with students of Instilling Goodness Girls High School in Talmage, California. Work will be conducted through online message-boards, email, letters, cultural exchange packages, and monthly curriculum assignments. Participants will learn about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and work with each other to design and implement local community service projects related to the goals. The One World Youth Project (OWYP) is a unique educational programme pairing schools and youth groups around the world for the purpose of cultural exchange and collaborative community service toward the achievement of the MDGs. Unlike other cultural exchange programmes, One World Youth Project is free and does not require that students physically travel beyond their classroom. They also provide consistent support to youth leaders and teachers. OWYP is youth-led and includes an international volunteer staff of 33 who are all under the age of 28. More information: http://www.oneworldyouthproject.org.
Short Survey on African Youth Day
During the Seventh Ordinary Session of The Assembly of African Heads of States, held In Banjul, The Gambia on 2nd July 2006, African Heads of States adopted the African Youth Charter while its Executive Council endorsed recommendations that the 1st of November of each year be celebrated as African Youth Day and 2008 as the Year of African Youth. An evaluation of African Youth Day events is being conducted to obtain feedback to help ascertain youth and Government participation, commemoration activities, etc. To participate in the survey, please visit http://blog.developmentpartnership.org.
Recognizing young environmentalists
Ashoka GenV and MTV are joining forces to help youth around the world take action on the environment. Young people are asked to submit a creative idea on how they could make the planet cooler or greener. The organizers will also help young people launch their own environmental project or “venture" by providing seed funding of up to US$1,000. The best projects would also be featured in a half hour MTV documentary scheduled for Earth Day 2009.
Ideas are reviewed on an on-going basis and projects can be launched anytime. The deadline is 31 December 2008. More information: http://www.mtv-venture.org.
Children and AIDS: Third Stocktaking Report, 2008
Launched on 1 December, World AIDS Day, this report states that 45 per cent of all new HIV infections worldwide occur among young people between the ages of 15-24 years. The report prepared jointly by UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) also says that in a world with HIV and AIDS, young people need comprehensive information and education and access to sexual and reproductive health services to protect their right to health. More information: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_46585.html.
ECLAC – New demographic study available on youth in the Caribbean
“A Socio-demographic analysis of youth in the Caribbean: a three country case study” has been published by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) (LC/CAR/L.180). This study provides an analysis of available and accessible census data (2000 census round) for three Eastern Caribbean countries, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia, with a focus on the situation of children, youth and young families. Special attention is given to the description of their circumstances related to living arrangements and household composition, religion, health and well-being, migration, education and professional formation, economic activities and civil status and reproductive patterns. More information: http://www.eclac.cl/portofspain/.
IJJO - Conclusions, III IJJO International Conference (2008)
The document entitled “Conclusions, III IJJO International Conference: “Juvenile Justice Systems in Europe: current situation, trends in applicable models and good practices” was published by the International Juvenile Justice Observatory in November 2008. The document contains the conclusions of the conference organized in Valencia by the International Juvenile Justice Observatory together with the County Council of Justice and Public Administrations of the Generalitat Valenciana. More information: http://www.juvenilejusticepanel.org/resources/?act=res&cat=&nod=_root_&id=IJJOConclusionsConference2008&start=1.
UNAIDS: AIDS Outlook
AIDS Outlook provides insights based on evidence on new ways to build on and improve the AIDS response. It also highlights recent achievements and challenges in addressing HIV and including examples of how countries are applying modelling techniques to better understand HIV incidence to strengthen HIV prevention measures. AIDS Outlook also presents information on combination HIV prevention and its application. More information: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2008/20081127_Outlook.asp.
UNESCO - Education for All: Global Monitoring Report 2009
Blaming a combination of political indifference, weak domestic policies, and the failure of aid donors to act on commitments, UNESCO’s 2009 Education for All Global Monitoring Report “Overcoming inequality: why governance matters” warns that “unacceptable” national and global education disparities are undermining efforts to achieve international development goals. More information: http://www.unesco.org/en/education/efareport/.
UNFPA- State of the World Population 2008 (and Youth supplement)
“Reaching common ground: culture, gender and human rights” is the theme of the State of the World Population 2008. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) flagship publication noted that development strategies that are sensitive to cultural values can reduce harmful practices against women and promote human rights, including gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Youth Supplement to the report addresses culture as it shapes and nurtures the lives of young people. It shows how young people develop their own subcultures that are often different from and may conflict with the dominant culture. The Supplement points out the value to young people of protecting the culture in which they grew up. It also speaks on behalf of their right to embrace their own cultures in their own ways. More information: http://www.unfpa.org/swp/
UN-NGLS - Human Rights System Handbook
In the lead-up to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) has produced, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a handbook entitled, “The United Nations Human Rights System: How to Make it Work for You”. Primarily designed for civil society organizations, it offers basic and practical information for understanding how the UN human rights system works. The handbook may be downloaded in English and French from: http://www.un-ngls.org/site/article.php3?id_article=6.
WHO/UNICEF - World report on child injury prevention
The World Health Organization along with UNICEF has published the “World report on child injury prevention” that provides the first comprehensive global assessment of childhood unintentional injuries. The report was developed with the support of nearly 200 injury prevention experts from around the world and is intended to draw attention to child unintentional injuries, a significant but long neglected public health and development concern. The report prescribes measures for how they can be prevented and calls for inclusion of injury prevention in child health programmes and concludes that at least 1000 children’s lives could be saved every day if proven prevention measures were adopted everywhere. More information:
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/child/injury/world_report/en/
CALENDAR OF YOUTH EVENTS
(Please send us information on major international youth events that do not appear below)
4 – 9 January 2009: 17th International Youth Leadership Conference
An NGO organized event, the theme of this year's conference is centred on a cross-cultural exchange of ideas concerning the future of world leadership. Civic Concepts International and the International Youth Leadership Conference, which is now in its eighth year, will organize activities such as debates and panel discussions on international security, environmental sustainability, rule of law, responsible leadership and mass media, as well as a Model UN simulation of a UN Security Council meeting, an International Criminal Court mock pre-trial and Model European Parliament proceedings. More information: http://www.CzechLeadership.com.
20 February - 1 March 2009: ISFiT 2009
ISFit, the 10th International Student Festival in Trondheim, Norway, will be a festival filled with meetings, debates, concerts, ceremonies and a wide cultural programme. About 450 students from all around the world will get together to discuss issues around the theme of Peacebuilding. More information: http://www.isfit.org.
5 - 8 March 2009: Belgrade International Model United Nations
Belgrade International Model United Nations (BIMUN) provides students an opportunity to learn more about current international issues and ways to resolve them. The process allows young people to apply basic diplomatic courtesy and further develop their interpersonal, public speaking and negotiation skills. More information: http://www.bimun-unaserbia.org.
5-10 May 2009: World Creative Youth Forum (WCYF) 2009
The theme of the Forum is "Education for Sustainable Development". It will focus on Peace and Human Rights, Climate Change, Sustainable Lifestyle, Entrepreneurship, Education and Technology, and Advocacy for Sustainable Development. More information: www.worldcreativeyouthforum.net.
9-14 June 2009: Global Youth Forum in Mongolia
The Forum aims to encourage dialogue among young people to develop mutual understanding and cooperation in addressing global problems. The event is being organized by OYUNLAL-UILS, a non-governmental and non-profit organization working to promote youth development in Mongolia. Issues covered at the Forum will include environmental protection & climate change, poverty, decent work and unemployment, public health policy and HIV/AIDS, and gender equality. More information: http://www.oyunlaguils.mn/index.php?ID=7.
5-7 August 2009: Global Model UN Conference
The UN Department of Public Information will organize the first annual Global Model UN Conference in Geneva, Switzerland from 5-7 August 2009. The event will bring together university-level students from Model UN programmes currently organized around the world. The theme of the conference will be “The Millennium Developments Goals – Lifting the bottom billion out of poverty”. It will involve youth in all aspects of the planning process and encourage the organization of new Model UN programmes where they do not exist, serving as a model of best practices. Furthermore, it is expected that the Global Model UN will inspire the next generation of leaders to be involved in national and global issues. More information: http://www.un.org/gmun.
31 August – 4 September 2009: World Climate Conference-3
Organized by the World Meteorological Organization, the World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3) provides the world community with a unique opportunity to address the challenges associated with current climate variability so as to build societal resilience to the imminent effects of climate change. More information: http://www.wmo.int/pages/world_climate_conference/index_en.html.
7 - 18 December 2009: United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force on 21 March 1994. The Convention sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle climate change and recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention enjoys near universal membership, with 192 countries having ratified. More recently, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty, called the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. The Protocol’s first commitment period begun in 2008 and ends in 2012. A strong multilateral framework needs to be in place by 2009 to ensure that there is no gap between the end of the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period in 2012 and the entry into force of a future regime. COP15 (Conference of Parties) in Copenhagen is a vital step in this process. More information: http://www.cop15.dk.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mailing address: UN Programme on Youth, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, 2 UN Plaza, DC2-1306, New York, NY 10017.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the UN Youth Flash, please visit: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/flash.htm.
For more information, please visit: http://www.un.org/youth or email us at youth@un.org