Youth Flash Newsletter June 2013

 By Tuomas Aslak Juuso*

As the topic might tell you, I’m going to talk about Indigenous Youth movement globally that is recognized by several United Nations entities including  the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

What is then the global Indigenous Youth movement? In this regard, I will talk about Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC) and its activities inside the United Nations system. GIYC was established in 2006/07 to act as an Indigenous Youth Advisory Body for the UNPFII. The main task of GIYC is to bring forward advice/suggestions on how to improve the situations of indigenous people, especially the indigenous youth, through United Nations systems and other intergovernmental processes.

GIYC is organized in manners that we have 2 equal mandated Co-chairs and 14-21 focal points that represent 7 different Indigenous Peoples regions defined by the UNPFII. The main task of the Co-Chairs is to coordinate the GIYC work on a global level and to make sure that all views are equally treated in the GIYC decision making processes. Focal points represent the 7 regions and their main task is to coordinate the work at the regional level and to bring regional voices into the GIYC meetings. One of the main GIYC meetings is the annual UNPFII in the United Nations Headquarter in New York where indigenous people from all over the world come gather to discuss and promote indigenous issues to be considered by the Member States and the United Nations system.

One of the congregate results of the GIYC work has been the publication of youth friendly version of the United Nation Declarations of the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. This publication is the result of a partnership among GIYE, GIYC, UNICEF and the SPFII. The primary aim of the publication was to build capacity of Indigenous Youth through understanding their rights that have been recognized and agreed upon by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.

We, the Indigenous Youth want to become active agents at the international level demanding for our basic human rights to be respected and valued. We see that in many parts of the world, our equal human rights yet to be recognized and implemented. We are still to be given the same importance compared to other populations groups. Our right to self-determination is one of the main issues that Indigenous People are demanding all over the world for long.

Important issues for indigenous youth raised by the GIYC had been education, language, health, discrimination/racisms, traditional livelihoods, traditional knowledge and identity. As looking into the issue of identity, I came to know that it is one of the most important things for the future of the Indigenous People. It is vital for our survival. Recognition of Identity is the base for Indigenous Youth to practice their own cultures, languages and their own ways of living.  The process of indigenous identity maybe a bit complicated to explain in few sentences, but I can only raise up my voice on the importance of traditional knowledge, languages, traditional lands and sea areas, beliefs, traditional livelihoods, right to practice our own culture as a basic ground for having the necessary possibilities for even a  stronger identity.

At  the end, I would like to invite everybody to support Indigenous Peoples call for their rights and most importantly the necessary implementation of these rights especially by governments around the world.

I would like to also invite you to read the final report of the UNPFII Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Youth that was held in January, 2013. This report highlights really well the challenges that Indigenous Youth face in today’s world here:

http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples/MeetingsandWorkshops/2012/EGM2013IndigenousYouth.aspx

Follow us in Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/GlobalIndigenousYouthCaucus

*Co-Chair of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus

UNDESA

Join us in celebrating International Youth Day 2013!

12 August every year sees the commemoration of International Youth Day. International Youth Day 2013 will be celebrated under the theme: ‘Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward.’ Not only will we be encouraging young people across the world to celebrate the Day by focusing on the topic of youth migration but we will be using the Day as an opportunity to launch 2013 World Youth Report!

The Report will offer a multidimensional perspective of the life experiences of youth migrants, as well as some insights on the role of youth participation in migration-development policymaking and practice. To learn more about the Report click here: www.unworldyouthreport.org.

To watch our Google+ Hangout youth migration video: click here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUHZqWGTkjw&feature=player_embedded

The ILO Global Trends in Youth Labour Migration report, which presents findings from research conducted in nine different countries and at the level of two regions on the motivations and experiences of young people who leave their home countries in search of employment and the policy implications from these trends, will also be launched on this day.

What can you do on International Youth Day?
To commemorate the Day, you are encouraged to organize events or activities in your community.  Please share your commemoration with the world! Send in a description of your planned activities to youth@un.org.

15 July: Informal Interactive Hearings on Migration and Development

As part of the preparatory activities for the General Assembly High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development to be held 3 and 4 October 2013, the President of the General Assembly will hold one-day informal interactive hearings with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations and the private sector at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 15 July 2013. The objective of the informal interactive hearings is to provide an opportunity for NGOs, civil society organizations including youth-led organizations and the private sector to interact with Member States and to provide inputs for the High-level Dialogue.

A website for the informal interactive hearings for the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development is now available. Importantly, the website includes under 'NGO Participation' the link to the pre-registration both for representatives of NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status, as well as for representatives of civil society organizations and the private sector without ECOSOC consultative status for both the hearings and the High-level Dialogue.

http://www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/HLD2013/hld2013.html

UNFCCC

Youth in Action on Climate Change: Inspirations from around the World

The United Nations Joint Framework Initiative on Children, Youth and Climate Change has produced a new publication, Youth in action on climate change: inspirations from around the world that shows how young people are taking action to put the world on a more sustainable path.

The publication aims to encourage governments and the international community to scale up action on climate change and to raise ambition towards a post-2020 climate change regime. It has been designed as a tool and a source of inspiration for developing and carrying out initiatives to increase awareness of the causes and impacts of climate change, promote sustainable lifestyles and advance low-carbon development. The publication will be translated into Chinese, French and Spanish.

Download the English version here. http://unfccc.int/cc_inet/cc_inet/six_elements/public_awareness/items/3529.php?displayPool=1584

Other publications by the Joint Framework Initiative:

Youth Participation in the UNFCCC Negotiation Process (http://unfccc.int/files/conference_programme/application/pdf/unfccc_youthparticipation.pdf)

Growing together in a Changing Climate
http://unfccc.int/cc_inet/files/cc_inet/information_pool/application/pdf/growingtogether.pdf

UNAOC and IOM

2013 PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) again invite the world’s youth to submit original and creative videos focusing on PLURAL+ themes: migration, diversity and social inclusion.

Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterized by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions, PLURAL+ invites youth to address key challenges related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness, both at local and global levels.  Young people up to 25 years old are invited to submit short videos of five minutes maximum in length.
 
PLURAL+ 2013 deadline for video submission is 30 June 2013.
Further information, including guidelines, regulations, awards, and the entry form can be found at the PLURAL+ website at: www.unaoc.org/pluralplus
You can watch PLURAL+ 2012 winners here.
For more information, please contact plural@unaoc.org

UNEP

2013 Video Competition is Now Open!
Grab your camera and Change Your World. tvebiomovies is a film competition now in its fourth year, and open to everyone around the world with access to a camera. You could receive US$300 to produce a one-minute film about the environment.

Which bit of the environment? Choose a category and decide. Your film could be funny or serious, an animation, a drama or a documentary. There are two UNEP categories... 1) Climate Change and, 2) Food waste. Once you've decided on the category that suits you best send us your film proposal.

What are you waiting for....get clicking!!!
Check out: http://tve.org/biomovies

IFAD

Brief: Improving Young Rural Women’s And Men’s Livelihoods

Given that the majority of young people are still living in rural areas, finding ways to enable young rural women and men to create decent livelihoods for themselves must be a priority. Young rural people today will be key players in enabling global agriculture to fulfill an estimated 60 per cent increase in demand by 2050. However, the absence of decent work opportunities in rural areas is one of the reasons they are migrating at unprecedented levels, depriving rural communities of their most energetic and innovative members.

Two briefs have been developed to assist development practitioners and policy makers to address the needs of young rural people:

• A Guidance Note aimed at enabling development practitioners/project staff to mainstream youth into rural development programmes http://www.ifad.org/pub/ruralyouth/youth_guidancenote.pdf
• A Policy Brief,  aimed at providing policy-makers with practical advice for addressing rural youth issues  http://www.ifad.org/pub/ruralyouth/youth_policybrief.pdf

Youth Employment Network (YEN)

Project Impact! Competition

The Youth Employment Network (YEN) and Making Cents International have launched a new online competition called Project Impact! It aims to increase the impact of youth employment projects through sharing lessons learned within our community of practitioners. Many organizations have learned valuable lessons from their successes and failures in the field. Documenting and exchanging these lessons from the field could help other projects to increase their impact. We are seeking submissions from any youth employment project anywhere in the world. Winners will be selected by community voting and a judges panel. The winning submissions will receive a cash award and be featured at the 2013 Global Youth Economic Opportunities in Washington DC.

The deadline to apply is June 21 and the deadline to vote is June 30.

For more information:
https://yenmarketplace.org/project-impact

Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY)

Youth and Sustainable Development Goals

On 13 June, the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) held an event with UN Member States to address the needs and roles of children within the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda.  Co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Mexico and supported by UNICEF, the event brought together representatives from civil society, youth groups, Permanent Missions and UN Agencies for an in-depth discussion and dialogue.  The event highlighted obstacles and opportunities surrounding children’s participation in designing the new development agenda and explored key issues surrounding the rights and needs of children.  The briefing aimed to inform the upcoming 4th session of the open working group on SDGs, which focuses on employment and decent work for all, social protection, youth, education and culture, and health and population dynamics.
For more information on how to get involved with the SDGs and the post-2015 development agenda, contact the organizing partners of the Major Group for Children and Youth (op@childrenyouth.org).

Health and Young People
Young people have mobilized in force for the 4th session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The themes of Health and Population Dynamics, to be discussed throughout the second portion of the three-day meeting, are of central importance to young people.  The Major Group for Children and Youth has developed a number of advocacy points on these two priority themes, calling for commitments on the right to health as the central organizing feature for health within the post-2015 development agenda.  Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights services and programmes, Universal Health Coverage, and the need to link education and health through interventions like Comprehensive Sexuality Education have been raised as clear youth priorities.
For more information on health, contact Sarah Gold from the International Women’s Health Coalition (sgold@iwhc.org).
For more information on how to get involved with the SDGs and the post-2015 development agenda, contact the organizing partners of the Major Group for Children and Youth (op@childrenyouth.org).

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

Youth forum stresses more space for youth participation

Young people from around Africa gathered in the historic Africa Hall for an intergenerational Youth Forum with selected Heads of States and government as part of the 50th anniversary of the Organization for African Unity/African Union. The main objective of the symposium is to seize the opportunity of the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary celebrations in order to provide a platform for dialogue between selected African Heads of States and young people on major policy initiatives. This is of particular significance in view of Africa Youth decade 2009-2018. As the continent consolidates efforts in its growth trajectory and political renaissance, the symposium brought young people at the heart of social and political discourse to enable them to make contributions to current policy debates. .In an electrified atmosphere participants, young and old alike agreed on more mechanisms to give more space to the youth underpinned by a new intergenerational social contract.
Find out more here
http://www.uneca.org/media-centre/stories/youth-forum-stresses-more-space-youth-participation

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

ESCAP and UN partners establish the first ever RCM/UNDG Asia-Pacific Thematic Working Group on Youth

As Chair of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM), ESCAP, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) Asia-Pacific, jointly established in late 2012 the "RCM/UNDG Asia-Pacific Thematic Working Group on Youth.” The newly established group, comprising ESCAP and all other entities of the United Nations system, integrates the United Nations’ regional policy and normative expertise with its operational capacity to ensure a stronger and more coherent regional youth agenda to support member States in the implementation of the internationally agreed commitments on youth and development. The RCM/UDNG Asia-Pacific Thematic Working Group on Youth will replace the Asia-Pacific Interagency Group on Youth. ESCAP and UNFPA are currently co-chairing the newly established RCM/UNDG group.

http://www.unescap.org/sdd/

Kofi Annan foundation

Kofi Annan Dialogues: LIVE

The Kofi Annan Foundation has recently launched a new initiative to enable more systematic and structured discussions between Kofi Annan and young people from across the world on pressing global issues.

The initiative uses the latest social media techniques, and is organized in partnership with One Young World (OYW) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The series of on-line conversations utilises “Google Hangout” to enable Mr. Annan and a group of young people to discuss critical issues in a live, face to face setting. Broadcast simultaneously online, the hangout is viewed by young people globally and the digital platform hosting the hangout facilitates interaction on social media channels to generate a truly global conversation. An on-line poll accompanies each Dialogue to capture the views of young people on each topic.

The objectives and value of the Dialogues are to share and capture respective experiences, amplify the voice of youth, highlight their achievements and promote a new form of intergenerational, inclusive dialogue.

The first hangout on 15 May explored 'Young People and Leadership,' and was followed on 20 June by a discussion on ‘Youth Unemployment.’ Participants, from the UK, Spain, Kenya, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USA, Peru, Malaysia and Lebanon, joined Mr. Annan  to reflect on experiences in their own countries,  explore current employment challenges and discuss the strategies and actions that governments, the private sector and young people should take at national and global levels to solve the youth unemployment crisis effectively.

Further information as well as dates and themes of future episodes in the Dialogue series, may be found on the Kofi Annan Foundation website here:

http://kofiannanfoundation.org/newsroom/videos/2013/05/kofi-annan-dialogues-live-episode-1-young-people-and-leadership

Do follow the next Dialogue on Thursday 18 July 2013 at 14h00 GMT for the discussion on ‘Democracy and Elections.’

UNIC Tokyo
Guiding young minds
The UN Information Centre (UNIC) Tokyo has been conducting local guided tours for many years. UNIC interns guide interested junior and senior high school students from throughout Japan around the facilities inside the UN University premises including, the Library, Conference Hall and UNIC Tokyo office.
“Today’s guided tour further deepened my interest in the United Nations.  Now I would like to learn more about the Organization and its activities” said one junior high school students.
http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/05/15/Guiding-young-minds.aspx

UNO Almaty
Youth with special needs meet in Almaty

On 16 May, the United Nations Office Almaty and “Mobility Club”, an NGO of young Kazakhs with special needs, organized a round-table at the UN House in Almaty. For four hours, important subjects, such as the value and role of communication and access to information in solving problems of young people with special needs were discussed and debated.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/05/16/null.aspx

UNO Kyiv
A human face on the Rwanda Genocide

For me, speaking to a refugee from Rwanda was remarkable. It was the highlight of the Human Library event that the UN Office Kyiv organized jointly with UNHCR in Ukraine to mark the 19thCommemoration of the Rwanda Genocide.

What made the experience so special was that in a small group of just five people, I was able to converse with Rwandan refugee Khosidel Muchungakawa by asking questions and discovering the horrible circumstances that defined the tragic destiny of his family and native village. He shared that through two serious assaults, nearly all of his family members died and only he and one sister survived.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/05/22/Putting-a-human-face-on-the-Rwanda-Genocide.aspx

UNIC Tashkent
Youth Employment and Disarmament on the Agenda

After many years, the Model UN conference was held with an innovative eye on its methodology: sessions of two General Assembly Committees took place simultaneously with two separate issues on the table.

From 17 to 18 May, the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) hosted the first Model United Nations (MUN) Conference of the season with support from the UN Office (UNO) Tashkent. The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee debated the topic of “Ensuring the future prosperity for youth: focusing on youth unemployment”, while the delegates of the International Security Committee held heated discussions on “Fostering international peace and security: disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation”.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/05/18/Youth-Employment-and-Disarmament-on-the-MUN-Agenda.aspx

UNO Baku
UNO Baku Meets Young Leaders from Ganja City

More than 40 young, predominantly female leaders from Ganja City convened for a conference of Young Leaders Club Initiative Group on 27 May. The Representative of the UN Office Baku drove 348 km from to Ganja to participate and raise awareness on the UN activities globally.  In addition to its mission, ideas and the empowerment of women within the broader Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) campaign, emphasized were the importance of education and the need for youth leaders to learn more about the Organization and participate in the UN key objectives of peace, development and human rights.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/05/27/UNO-Baku-Meets-Young-Leaders-from-Ganja-City.aspx

UNIC Colombo
MUN Colombo debates terrorism

Under the topic “Terrorism and the threat posed to International peace and security”, 100 youth delegates from around Sri Lanka simulated the UN General Assembly.  As the delegates debated on terrorism, they broke into groups with the challenge of proposing two draft resolutions. Finally, after much deliberation, the first-ever IMUN resolution on Terrorism was adopted.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/06/08/MUN-Colombo-debates-terrorism.aspx

Sri Lankan youth #MeetTheRC

As a promoter of the Model United Nations in Sri Lanka, the UN Information Centre Colombo participated in the first-ever “Meet the RC”, a youth engagement initiative of the UN Communications Group in Sri Lanka.

Conducted on the Twitter platform, #MeetTheRC events allow the youth of Sri Lanka to engage in informal discussions with the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and Heads of other UN agencies. The first session was held with the Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka Model UN at the UN Compound.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/06/18/Model-UN-Executive-Committee-members-meet-with-UNRC.aspx

UNO Yerevan
Armenia Welcomes Three New UN Corners

The UN Office (UNO) Yerevan continues to focus attention on youth empowerment in the regions.

With three new UN Corners in Ijevan, Dilijan and Stepanavan, students, researches, officials and journalists now have more opportunities to enhance their knowledge about UN values, the global agenda and UN work in Armenia.

More than 2,500 UN publications and multi-media materials were provided to the newly-opened UN Corners by various UN institutions present in the country.  The UN Corners will host visiting UN Officials to discuss UN-related issues with all interested.

The UN Corners were launched at: the Ijevan branch of the Yerevan State University library; the “Knowledge for Development” Center of the Central Bank of Armenia in Dilijan; and the Stepanavan Central Library, with UNO support.

http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2013/06/11/Armenia-Welcomes-Three-New-UN-Corners.aspx

The Youth for Peace and Development-YPAD

The International Youth Forum- IYF 2013

Youth for Peace and Development (YPAD) is organizing an International Youth Forum-IYF to seek the views of the youth on issues of technical and vocational skills. YPAD is doing this in collaboration with other youth workers across the globe that formed the International Organizing Committee-IOC for the IYF. The proposed theme for the youth forum:  “Relevant technical and vocational skills development for sustainable socio-economic growth in developing countries”.The forum will be held during 5-12 August 2013 in Malawi.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)  offers opportunities for the acquisition of employable and entrepreneurial skills that facilitate insertion into the world of work, leading to gainful employment, sustainable livelihoods, and   participation in the political and democratic space of nations. The forum will bring youth perspectives on issues related to the TVET that includes governance, quality and quality assurance, relevance and employability, assessment and certification, skills development in the non-formal and informal sectors, and access and attractiveness of technical and vocational education and training.

More information at  http://www.malawiyouth.org/

Disclaimer: Reference herein to any organization, view, or event is intended for explicit description only and does not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by the United Nations, or anyone else.

WHO

Global and regional estimates of violence against women

The report, developed by the World Health Organization, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the South African Medical Research Council, presents the first global systematic review of scientific data on the prevalence of two forms of violence against women: violence by an intimate partner (intimate partner violence) and sexual violence by someone other than a partner (non-partner sexual violence).
It shows, for the first time, global and regional estimates of the prevalence of these two forms of violence, using data from around the world. The report details the effects of partner and non-partner sexual violence on several aspects of women’s health. It shows that women who have experienced intimate partner violence have higher rates of depression, HIV, injury and death, and are more likely to have low birth weight babies, than those who haven’t. Though research on the health effects of non-partner sexual violence is more limited, the evidence clearly shows that sexual violence has both long- and short-term debilitating effects on women’s mental health and well-being.
For full report click here:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85239/1/9789241564625_eng.pdf

High Level Panel on the Post-2015

A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development 

Eminent Persons from Around the World Call for a New Global Partnership to Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development. The High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda  released “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development,” a report which sets out a universal agenda to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030, and deliver on the promise of sustainable development. The report calls upon the world to rally around a new Global Partnership that offers hope and a role to every person in the world. The Panel was established by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and co-chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron.

Find the full report here:
http://www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

An Action Agenda for Sustainable Development: Report for the UN Secretary-General

A new report issued by a top-level United Nations knowledge network under the auspices of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lays out an action agenda to support global efforts to achieve sustainable development during the period 2015-2030.

The report, entitled “An Action Agenda for Sustainable Development,” was delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (or SDSN). It outlines 10 sustainable development priorities, covering the four main dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth and the end of poverty, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

The report can be found here:
http://unsdsn.org/files/2013/06/130613-SDSN-An-Action-Agenda-for-Sustainable-Development-FINAL.pdf

MDG achievement fund

Youth, Employment and Migration

This report captures the main achievements and experiences of the MDG-F’s programmes in this thematic window and presents their impact on the lives of communities across five regions. Prepared by an independent expert, the study is based on extensive desk reviews, interviews with selected joint programmes, and a thorough analysis and synthesis of inputs and contributions.

The full report can be found here:
http://www.mdgfund.org/sites/all/themes/custom/undp_2/docs/thematic_studies/English/full/YEM_Thematic%20Study.pdf