World Conference on Youth from May 6 to 10:

Youth to the fore

Over 1,500 youth representatives from 196 countries :

By Husna Inayathullah

The World Conference on Youth (WCY) will bring together youth aged 18 to 29 from the world over who are passionate about the development in their respective countries and for those who want to make a lasting and meaningful change. The forum is going to be on a discussion about the development beyond 2015.

The conference under the theme “Mainstreaming Youth in the Post-2015 Development Agenda” will take place from May 6 to 10, at the BMICH.

The conference is organised by an International Youth Task Force (IYTF) in collaboration with the National Task Force appointed by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry.

The conference has a unique aim of producing a joint outcome document between states and youth called the “Colombo Action Plan”.

The Conference is expected to bring together 1,500 participants, half of them young people, and 150 of them will come from marginalised backgrounds, making it one of the most well represented youth events at the global level. The pre-conference process is led by an independent international youth task force which represents major global youth organisations and regional platforms ensuring regional and gender balance.

Academics

The inaugural function of the international forum will be held at the Magam Ruhunupura International Conference Hall in Hambantota on May 7 under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. More than 1,500 youth representatives from 196 countries will attend the conference.

This is the first time that a youth conference of this magnitude is being held in an Asian country. Exactly152 youth from Sri Lanka will participate in the conference. Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa will function as the co-chairmen of the conference. All expenses of youth representatives selected to attend the conference will be borne by the organisers. WCY 2014 will also bring representatives of member states including Ministers of Youth, UN officials, representatives of other international and regional organisations, academics, corporate leaders and other relevant stakeholders to Colombo.

WCY 2014 will facilitate a process that strengthens effective youth participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of post 2015 development agenda, which refers to the process of defining the future global development framework that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Conference will also create an inclusive platform for youths that enable them to review the progress of MDGs, share ideas, experiences and innovative approaches for effectively contributing to the post MDG framework and its implementation.

Objectives

* To create an inclusive youth participation platform that enables young people to review the progress on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

* To share ideas, experiences and innovative approaches for effectively contributing to the post-2015 development agenda and its implementation.

* To facilitate a process that increases awareness on and implementation of the World Program for Action on Youth (WPAY).

* To facilitate effective partnerships with youth, youth-led organisations and youth movements to further strengthen inclusive youth participation in the decision-making processes.

* Implementation of the post-2015 development agenda and to contribute to the establishment of a permanent youth engagement mechanism that ensures consistent follow- up with young people and further boosts their participation and partnership in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda at national, regional and global levels.

Outcomes

The expected outcomes of the WCY will be addressed by the Colombo Youth Action Plan. The Colombo Youth Action Plan will address the increased awareness on

* The World Program for Action on Youth, increased intergenerational dialogue to strengthen youth participation in global/regional/national development.

* Increased commitment to youth policy with effective participation of young people.

* Increased efforts to strengthen and boost the establishment of national youth councils.

* Increased investment and resources on youth development and participation and about the priorities of youth for the post-2015 development agenda.

WCY has seven key foundation and seven thematic areas. The foundations are broad, cross-cutting issues, while the thematic areas are more specific. Achieving good governance and accountability, inclusive youth participation at all levels, youth rights, globalisation/ inclusive youth-led development, ending systemic, inequalities, gender equality and empowering marginalised youth including most at risk young people are the seven key foundations of the WCY.

Thematic areas are realising equal access to quality education, full employment and entrepreneurship, poverty eradication and food security, promoting healthy lives and access to health, environmental protection, emergency preparedness and youth centred urbanisation, realising peace, reconciliation and ending violence, and ensuring inclusive recreation, sports and cultures.

Impact

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development of Sri Lanka and the National Youth Services Council of Sri Lanka believe that WCY is not intended to be a one-off event but rather one that aims to make an impact in partnership with youth.

It has recognised the need to invest in a youth-centred preparatory process leading to the WCY and most importantly, a commitment to a follow-up phase in partnership with young people in the implementation of the post-MDG development agenda. To this end, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development of Sri Lanka and the National Youth Services Council of Sri Lanka have undertaken a three-phased strategy.

First, a Youth Centred Preparatory Processes commenced in 2012 and was completed in 2013. During this phase, the UN Secretary General’s envoy on Youth, Ahamed Alhindawi, had made the World Youth Conference part of his action plan to specifically engage UN member states on the Conference; Sri Lanka co-hosted and facilitated as the prime partner ‘YOUTH 21’ with UNDP and UNHABITAT in line with 20th Commission of Sustainable Development, Rio+20; Sri Lanka gained visibility and multiple references amounting to 21 for success stories of Youth development in the Report of the Secretary General on the Implementation of World Program of Action on Youth.

Sri Lanka has obtained several preamble references in social affairs resolutions at the UN in welcoming the conference and a mandate to UNHABITAT Executive Director to work with the Government of Sri Lanka for the preparation for the World Youth Congress in 2014. Sri Lanka hosted the Annual International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations which was the largest of its kind bringing together 30 Youth led organisations together in 2011 in line with High Level Meeting on Youth to specifically engaging and promote a youth-centred process of governance and development.

Moreover, Sri Lanka is continuing to support the Youth 21 The Nairobi Declaration in supporting the establishment of a permanent consultative mechanism for Youth in UN system.

For its second phase, the WCY will be hosted in Sri Lanka in 2014 with a focus on the participation and involvement of youth in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs. The third phase of the strategy focuses on youth-centred follow-up processes beyond 2015.

Past lessons clearly show that lack of investment in follow-up can derail the work, enthusiasm and energy to reach a subsequent and significant milestone.

This aspect of the strategy will particularly work towards actively garnering commitment of all stakeholders in the follow-up phase so that youth can be supported to become effective partners in realisation of the development goals in the post- 2015 agenda.