Over 100 countries to send youth delegations for WCY 2014

The 2014 World Conference on Youth is scheduled to take place from the May 5 - 10, 2014 in Colombo under the theme 'Mainstreaming Youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda'.

Plans are afoot to make this international event a success organised under the National Youth Council with the guidance of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.

"Just 15 more days to the event we have already received confirmations on participation from several high level officials of the United Nations as well as 22 youth ministers around the globe," said Chairman of the National Youth Council Lalith Piyum Perera.

"Sri Lanka is privileged being able to host this important event held first time in an Asian country. Under the guidance of Minister Dullas Alahapperuma 22 sub committees are appointed at the moment to look in to all the aspects of organising," Perera said. As of this weekend more than 100 countries have confirmed on their youth delegation participation.

The conference will be organised by an International Youth Task Force (IYTF) in collaboration with the National Task Force appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development of Sri Lanka. The IYTF comprises of 20 youth: 10 of whom are young leaders from around the world representing established international youth led and youth serving organisations and 10 young leaders from Sri Lanka.

The IYTF which convened in Colombo for its second meeting has finalised the thematic areas of WCY 2014 and discussed matters pertaining to conference logistics and the participation of young people. The members of the IYTF also hosted a discussion with officials from the United Nations Country Team in Colombo and explored ways of collaborating further with the UN system.

The opening ceremony of the 2014 World Conference on Youth will be held at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre and the conference will be held at the BMICH. The closing ceremony will be held at the Sports Ministry Auditorium. "Compared with the previous conference held in Mexico in 2010 we can be quite satisfied with the current level of response we have received so far," he said.

All expenses of all 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.

Precursor to the WCY 2014 several youth organisations are holding discussions at local and international levels. The South Asian Summit for youth and Human Rights will be held on 25-27th April in Colombo, Sri Lanka with the participation of both foreign and local delegates. This will be the second south Asia regional summit that will be held as a part of the World Educational Tour for peace 2014, which was organised by the youth for human Rights organisation.

This summit is co-organised by Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI),The Road to Rights Youth Led Movement and supervised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skill Development, Ministry of Mass Media and Information and National Youth Services Council.

South Asia Summit on Youth and Human Rights 2014 is also recognised by the World Conference on Youth 2014 which focuses on strengthening inclusive youth participation and partnerships in the development and implementation of the "Beyond- 2015" Development Agenda.

The initiatives taken by the Government under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to institute democracy and to establish sustainable peace between nations with the involvement of the youth, have aided the decision to hold the World Youth Conference in Sri Lanka.

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

- DY