The 8th Melaka International Youth Dialogue (MIYD) was officially opened on 27 June 2008 by the WAY president, Rt. Hon. Datuk Seri Hj Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam. More than 120 young people and youth leaders from 23 countries around the world participated in this dialogue.

It was indeed an historic gathering which made some important recommendations that can assist national youth councils, governments and the global communities at large to enable youth effectively to participate and reduce the abuse of legal and illegal drugs.

8TH MELAKA INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DIALOGUE
“Towards a Drug-Free Generation”
27-29 June 2008
Avillion Legacy Hotel, Melaka, Malaysia

DECLARATION

1 PREAMBLE

1.1 We, the participants of the 8th Melaka International Youth Dialogue convened in Melaka from 27-29 June 2008 for an annual program organized by the World Assembly of Youth which brings together the young people and youth leaders from around the world to discuss pertinent and topical issues.
1.2 The theme selected for MIYD 2008 is “Towards a Drug-Free Generation”. This theme was selected in the realization of the need to educate, increase awareness, to prevent or reduce the rates of drug abuse amongst youth. All countries and all sectors of the society are affected by the devastating consequences of drug abuse.
1.3 However, with this selected theme all young people, youth leaders, government and organization officers gathered here to call for action in areas such as: Assessing the problem; Tackling the problem; Forging partnership; Focusing on special needs; Sending the right message; and Building experience.
1.4 After thorough deliberations through plenary sessions, workshops and side events, we the participants have put together this document with the following recommendations that we strongly feel ought to be implemented to enable youth effectively to participate and reduce the abuse of legal and illegal drugs.

The guiding principles for this declaration were based on the following objectives:
• To prevent the drug abuse amongst youth;
• To reduce the drugs abuse rate amongst youth;
• To achieve a behavior modification amongst youth;
• To increase youth awareness of their responsibilities regarding the drug abuse;
• To improve the national and international policies that deal with the drug abuse and its effects on society;
• To recommend improvements to the current systems of education for youth worldwide on drug abuse;
• To heighten international resolve to tackle the drugs abuse challenges;
• To improve cooperation between governments, civil society and private sector to address the drug;
• To have a stronger, more effective national youth councils with leading roles in the fight against drugs abuse.

2 RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1 Government

2.1.1 Strengthen government legislation that deals with illegal and legal drug use and offences, offenders and victims.
2.1.2 Development of action plans that help in the reduction, prevention and monitoring of drug abusers
2.1.3 Setting up of coordinating bodies that sustain and develop policies in order to prevent drug abuse
2.1.4 Providing of financial support to NGOs and bodies that deal with youth and drug abuse
2.1.5 Establishment of Counseling Centers, rehab centers and provision of sustainable recovery programs
2.1.6 Support for maintenance therapy for harm reduction
2.1.7 Strengthen government mechanisms that ensure good governance leading to the reduction of crimes arising from drug cartels

2.2 Bilateral and regional cooperation

2.2.1 Intensify government engagement in “citizen-support groups” e.g. cops-friends and RELA (MALAYSIA), neighborhood watch programs etc.
2.2.2 Strengthen exchange of information on drug trafficking, money laundering illegal arms trade and movements of suspected criminals.

2.3 Education

2.3.1 Incorporate Drug abuse issues in existing curriculum for primary and secondary education
2.3.2 Intensify civic education should be intensified to empower the populace on the consequences of drug abuse
2.3.3 Capacitate parents on how to identify the trends, threats, signs and symptoms of drug abuse among the youth
2.3.4 Encourage development and implementation of peer education programs i.e. survival and life skills

2.4 Media

2.4.1 Intensify greater social responsibility in term of the promotion of products and services related to the use of legal and illegal drugs
2.4.2 Maximizing usage of technology to inform and educate communities on the consequences of drug abuse
2.4.3 Maximizing usage of all forms of media to impart positive thoughts, messages and attitudes to the people
2.4.4 Promote more youth friendly and gender sensitive materials in media in order to attract youth to positive mentality

2.5 Private sector

2.5.1 Intensify corporate and social responsibilities of organizations towards a youthful drug-free generation
2.5.2 Strengthen partnership between the private sector, society, the government and the NGOs
2.5.3 Lobby and advocate for greater involvement by the private sector, in the fight against drug abuse
 
3 GENERAL COMMENTS

3.1 Setting up and up-grading of state-of-the-art Technology check at entry Points e.g. use of scanners and other advance methods of drug detection
3.2 Use positive role models to influence behavioral change and outlook among youth
3.3 Provide cultivators with alternative income generating opportunities

4 CONCLUSION

4.1 We the participants of the 8th MIYD have realized and recognized the major impacts of drug abuse in the lives of young people, hence the need to create youth forums for the lobbying and advocating of legislations of policies and programmes  at all levels of society thereby creating positive and healthy lifestyles for young people worldwide .

Appendix

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Cambodia
• China
• East Timor
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Laos
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Sudan
• Singapore
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
 

8TH MELAKA INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DIALOGUE
“Towards A Drug-Free Generation”

DECLARATION COMMITTEE

Chairperson for the drafting committee:   MS. EDIOLA PASHOLLARI

GROUP 1
CHAIRMAN:  MR.  JULIUS NAMOLOH [AFRICA]
MR. ERNESTO KESAR [CARREBEAN]
GROUP 2
CHAIRMAN:   MR. HENDRINA R. SWARTZ [AFRICA]
MR. AMIR ARDAZIC [EUROPE]
GROUP 3
CHAIRLADY:   MS. APRIL LESLIE M. ESTRELLER [ASIA]
MR. KOOSHA NAJMI [MIDDLE EAST]
GROUP 4:
CHAIRMAN:   REV. JONATHAN A/L JESUDAS [ASIA]
MR. GEOFFREY ALIGULA [AFRICA]
GROUP 5
CHAIRLADY:  MS. HAILEKA NDAMONONGHENDA ONGELENI [AFRICA]
MR. DU DONG [ASIA]
GROUP 6
CHAIRLADY:  MS. CINDY CHONG [ASIA]
MR. FOUAD ABDULWAFI [ARAB WORLD]