The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) is the international coordinating body of national youth councils and organisations. The full members of WAY are national youth councils. WAY has 120 member organisations from all continents. In this bulletin: Dominican Republic, Libya, Angola, Anguilla, Botswana, Malawi, Brazil, Namibia, Malta, Nigeria, USA, Philippines, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Canada, Solomon Islands, India, Bahrain, Tunisia.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC : Youths to be awarded for achievements

LIBYA : The signing on the cooperation agreement between the National Organisation for Libyan Youth and the National Union for NU Sudan Youth

ANGOLA : Youth Council signs agreement with Guinean counterpart

ANGUILLA : Forty plus young people put their stamp on the decision making
process

BOTSWANA : Youth, elders must dialogue - Ex-BNYC Chief

MALAWI : Africa Youth Charter: Which way for Malawi?

BRAZIL : Education is not guarantee of good job or even a job

NAMIBIA : Youth Bill

MALTA : No cost of living adjustment of student stipends

NIGERIA : UVYON NYN, teachers without borders organise workshop; 1000 youths receive free HIV/AIDS test, counselling 

USA : Girls Helping Girls and LevelTen Interactive Invest In Change

PHILIPPINES : NYC awards Negrense legislator; Peace advocate calls for moral revolution

UNITED KINGDOM : China adventure is learning trip for young leaders

PAKISTAN : Much-awaited youth policy to be approved by June 2009

AZERBAIJAN : Experts say youth can play big role in combating Islamaphobia

SIERRA LEONE : Africa Youths Day celebrated in Sierra Leone; APC appeals to Youths

GEORGIA : The Youth Reproductive Health National Forum

CANADA : Poverty, racism tied to youth violence

SOLOMON ISLANDS : Delegates agree to tackle youth issues

INDIA : South Asian Youth Summit concludes

BAHRAIN : It's a matter of choice

TUNISIA : Conference on Youth in the Islamic world adopts “Tunis Pact”
 

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Youths to be awarded for achievements

Roseau, Nov. 27 - THE National Youth Council in collaboration with the National
Reunion Committee and the Youth Development Division will highlight and
recognize the contribution of Dominica youth at the National Youth Awards 2008.

Over fourteen (14) young individuals will receive awards in various categories
to include: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Community Involvement,
Cultural/Heritage, Entrepreneurship /Business, Exemplary Leadership, and
political Involvement/Activism, Up & Coming Musical Band, Service /Youth
Group or Club, Faith based Group and Agriculture, excellence in Spite of
Disability, Legacy and Beyond Expectation awards.

This year a number of Past Presidents who gave their relentless commitment and
service to the council will also be recognized for their efforts.

Two special awards will be awarded to youth between the ages of 21-35. These
award areas are the Legacy Award and Beyond expectations awards.

The President's award will be presented for the second time in the life of
the National Youth Awards.

[Dominica News]

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LIBYA

The signing on the cooperation agreement between the National Organisation for
Libyan Youth and the National Union for NU Sudan Youth

Tripoli, Nov. 27 - YESTERDAY to sign the cooperation agreement between the
National Organization for Libyan Youth one of the components of the National
Youth Council and the National Union of Sudanese youth to consolidate and
activate their youth work.

The agreement was signed by the General Secretary of the National Organization
for Libyan Youth and the President of the Patriotic Union of Sudanese youth.

The agreement provides for the exchange of information, documents and
information materials for young people in order to contribute to the development
of cultural and sports activities, and coordinates their positions in the
meetings, forums and activities in youth and to achieve the common objectives of
both sides.

[Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation]

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ANGOLA

Youth Council signs agreement with Guinean counterpart

Luanda, Nov. 9 - THE National Youth Council of Angola (CNJ) signed last
Saturday, in Luanda, a cooperation agreement with its Guinea-Bissauan
counterpart, aiming at an exchange in the implementation of juvenile policies.

The chairman of CNJ, Kikas Machado, said that this is an important convention,
as it will allow the reinforcement of the relations between Angola and
Guinea-Bissau, mainly in the promotion of juvenile associations and training for
leaders of these organisations.

"Through this agreement, it will be possible to share experience and
knowledge in management and leadership issues, as well as the elaboration of
public policies linked to the resolution of problems that afflict the
youth", he underlined.

On his turn, the chairman of Guinea-Bissau's youth council, Emmanuel dos
Santos, said that despite cultural differences between both countries, this
partnership is important in programmes elaboration for youths.

The signing of the agreement coincided with the closing of the workshop for the
training of youth leaders, lectured by Brazilian and Portuguese experts, in the
ambit of the national youth week.

The chairman of the Angolan CNJ, Cláudio Aguiar, congratulated the organisers
of this seminar, underlining that the youths were prepared to work for their
recognition in society.

The seminar discussed issues related to juvenile leadership, democracy,
planning and implementation, the leader, skills, voluntary service and young
people at the disposal of the Community.

The training was held in the ambit of 1 November, a date established for the
African youth.

[Angola Press Agency]

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ANGUILLA

Forty plus young people put their stamp on the decision making process

The Valley, Nov. 26 - UNDER the theme, “We going right up in there! Putting
our stamp on the decision making process;” forty plus young people from a wide
cross section of Anguilla, convened at the Paradise Cove Resort on the 25
November, 2008 as part of the Second Annual National Conference on Youth and
Development NCYD-2008. The conference which was produced by the Ministry of
Social Development- Department of Youth and Culture, the Anguilla National Youth
Council and the National Youth Ambassador Corps saw young people interrogate the
Draft Labour and Immigration Policy, the issue of land availability and develop
strategies to manage the impact of the global financial crisis.

The conference saw a blend of excellent presentations and intense discussion as
delegates sought to arrive at consensus points to present to government on the
various issues. Presentations were made by Rochelle Rogers (Youth Position on
the Draft Labour and Immigration Policy), Mr. Foster Rogers (Government Position
on Labour and Immigration), Ms. Raquel Hazell and Ms. Michelle Romney from the
Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Environmental and Conservation Club
(Youth Position on Land Availability), Mr. Douglas Sterling (Government Position
on Land Availability) and Mr. Perin Bradley (Youth Expert on Managing the Impact
of the Global Financial Crisis).

The culmination of the conference was the session dubbed ‘Straight Up
Conversations’, which provided young people the opportunity to engage the Hon.
Chief Minister and the Hon Minister of Social Development in discussions
centered around the issues tabled at the conference. The final report of the
conference including recommendations is expected to be published in mid
December.

The National Conference on Youth and Development is a forum designed to
incorporate a youth perspective into the decision making process. It does this
by bringing together young people of varying interests and backgrounds to
deliberate and provide feedback to public and private sector agencies on policy,
legislation, programmes and in general, issues of interest to national
development.

Through the conference, young people are provided with the opportunity to
contribute to the decision making process, increase their awareness of national
development issues and develop leadership and facilitation skills; while
government is provided with a mechanism for public consultation.

[Anguilla LNT]

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BOTSWANA

Youth, elders must dialogue - Ex-BNYC Chief

Gaborone, Nov. 17 - FORMER Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) chairman
Batsho Nthoi has challenged elders not to use culture as a barrier for social
dialogue between youth and the older generation.

"Culture should not be used as a buffer for youth not to question
elders," said Nthoi when responding to a call by the United Nations (UN)
for governments to embrace culture in policy development.

The UN, through one of its agencies, the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), recently released the annual State of the World Population (SWOP)
report, which advises governments to embrace culture in policy making.

"As a fundamental part of peoples' lives, culture must be integrated
into development policy and programming," reads an overview of the report.

Nthoi said young people do recognise and value culture but argued that the
learning structure for culture, which is normally through oral tradition, has
been disrupted.

"Parenting has changed, there is a deficit in terms of cultural knowledge
and how it's passed on to us," said Nthoi.

He said the deficit has put youth in a dilemma as they try to value culture and
accommodate globalisation forces which expose them to various cultures.

"We should be understood as not trying to anchor a revolution,"
emphasised Nthoi. He said the nation should view youth as ambassadors of
culture. Nthoi said adults and youth should form partnership to share knowledge
and create a society that cares for its self.

He also said that the chiefs should have holiday camps in their respective
areas to discuss and teach youth about culture.

"We lack role models as young people. We need role models from the older
generation," said Nthoi.

University of Botswana (UB) lecturer, Elsie Alexander, said the nation needs to
be more cultural sensitive.

"It gives us an opportunity to reflect where we are," said Alexander.
Adding a different view, Reverend Rupert Hambira of the Botswana Council of
Churches (BCC) said there is no perfect culture.

"Culture is there to be taught and re-taught," said Rev Hambira.

The SWOP report however emphasises that cultural sensitivity and engagement do
not mean acceptance of harmful traditional practices or free pass for human
rights abuses.

[Mmegi Online]

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MALAWI

Africa Youth Charter: Which way for Malawi?

Lilongwe, Nov. 24 - AFRICA Youth Charter was adopted by the Summit of Heads of
State and Government in Banjul in July 2006 but some countries are yet to sign
and ratify it.

Two years down the line, 31 of 53 countries have signed the charter and 9 of 53
countries have ratified it. In both circumstances, Malawi is missing out. Malawi
has neither signed nor ratified the charter.

However, signing and ratification of the charter is one thing and popularising
it is another. How many youths in Malawi are aware of the charter? What efforts
are in place to popularise the charter? What progress have we made towards
signing and ratification of the charter? What added value does this have to the
lives of struggling Malawian youth?

So many questions to ask but one thing that is clear is that The African Youth
Charter, not only provides the government, youth, civil society and
international partners, with a framework, which underlines the rights, duties
and freedoms of youth, but also paves the way for the development of national
programmes and strategic plans for their empowerment. It ensures the
constructive involvement of youth in the development agenda of Africa and their
effective participation in the debates and decision making processes about the
development of the continent. It sets a framework to enable policy makers to
mainstream youth issues in all development policies and programmes. It thus
provides a legal basis for ensuring youth presence and participation in
government and forums at national, regional and continental levels.

The charter provides important guidelines and responsibilities of member states
for the empowerment of youth in key strategic areas, namely, education and
skills development, poverty eradication and socio – economic integration of
youth, sustainable livelihoods and youth employment, health, peace and security,
law enforcement, sustainable development and protection of the environment.

It is expected that the execution of these guidelines would not only provide
the youth tools for livelihood but also stem the flow of Africa’s most
important resource to other parts of the world. The Charter also outlines the
responsibilities of youth towards their own development and to their countries.
The rights embodied in the charter are accompanied by responsibilities as well.
The youth should not expect the government to empower them while they do the
opposite by abusing themselves in various ways like drug and alcohol abuse. To
be able to get maximum benefits from the implementation of the charter, it is
expected that the youth would also develop and promote the required self
discipline.

During the African Youth Panel Conference held in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia from
November 16 to 19, organised by the Danish African Commission, Raymonde Agossou
– who is head of Division of Human Resource & Youth of the African Union
Commission -- expressed that acceleration is needed to address challenges and
increase awareness, to build the capacity of national institutions and young
people towards the ratification of the charter, to undertake advocacy efforts,
to promote and improve partnership and to ensure effective coordination,
monitoring and evaluation strategies to measure progress.

Agossou, who commended Malawi’s youth programmes despite not signing and
ratifying the charter, further indicated that challenges affecting most
ministries of youth in Africa include paying much attention to sports than other
youth development programmes and poor working relationships with youth NGOs
which is normally because of their advocacy role.

Quick wins to facilitate the use of the African Youth Charter include
popularisation, signature, ratification, adherence in all member states. This
will give all the deserved attention to the charter, commit member states and
officials for constructive and sustainable actions, guarantee a smooth
implementation of the charter in countries and benefit everybody including the
government. However, very little is known about the charter among the youth in
Malawi. The Popularisation process, which is central towards the signing and
ratification of the charter, has not been given the attention it deserves. This
has been confirmed in the just ended Annual General Meeting of the National
Youth Council of Malawi, whose agenda reflected nothing concerning the charter.

The youth in Africa are particularly challenged and vulnerable as a result of
poverty, unemployment and disease, among other things. Although more than half
of Africa’s population consist of the youth, most of them live under extreme
poverty; 60.7 million young people live on less that US$1 a day. An estimated
three quarters of the 12 million young people between ages 15 and 24 living with
HIV/Aids are in Sub Saharan Africa and women and young girls continue to be the
most vulnerable to infections. Half of the 300,000 child soldiers in the world
are in Africa and most of these young people have been forcibly recruited. This
complex mix of socio-economic, political and cultural factors undermines the
abilities of youth to protect themselves form disease and death.

However, young people present a significant opportunity to achieve the
renaissance of the continent as encapsulated in the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development (Nepad). This generation of young people is the most
educated ever in the history of Africa in terms of literacy levels,
opportunities and access to formal education. However, their level and content
of education, is not at par with what is required to make them competitive in
the labour market. Young people have been important players in development
processes and have contributed to the political, social and economic development
of the country; their contribution could be considerably greater if increasing
investment were made. Investing in the young people of today represents an
opportunity to the future prosperity of Malawi. This begins with recognising and
implementing such policy documents like the African Youth Charter that would
facilitate the process.

The African Youth Panel comprised 60 young people between 15 and 30 years old.
The youth were from all African regions (South, East, Central, West and North)
with different professional backgrounds (civil society, research, private sector
and politics). The outcome of the panel was a list of recommendations to the
Danish Africa Commission to influence the future of Africa. The Danish
Government has established an international high level African Commission, which
aims to put African development higher on the international agenda. The Africa
Commission intends to present new and creative strategies particularly
concerning youth, employment and economic growth. The Commission consists of
international members, including Heads of State and Government, politicians,
experts, academics and business people. The African Youth Charter only requires
15 ratifications in order to put it into force. The nine African countries that
have so far ratified the African Youth Charter include Burkina
Faso, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia and
Uganda.

[Malawi's Daily Times]

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BRAZIL

Education is not guarantee of good job or even a job

Brasilia, Nov. 10 - UNEMPLOYMENT, informality and inactivity threaten the
future of nearly 106 million young people in Latin America and the Caribbean
(LAC), severely limiting the region's economic potential and ability to
fight poverty. According to the 2007 International Labor Organization (ILO)
report entitled "Decent Work and Youth in Latin America," not only do
young people in LAC face an unemployment rate almost three times higher than
that of adults, but they also represent 46% of total unemployment.

Even when a young person has an occupation, it is much more likely to be
irregular and more precarious than that of an adult, a condition that affects
two out of every three young workers in LAC. These trends are not showing signs
of improvement, as youth unemployment rates are higher today than they were in
the 1990s.

Not surprisingly, studies show that decent work - which includes concepts such
as productive and safe work, labor rights, adequate income and social protection
- is one of the main demands of young Latin Americans. In a recent study done by
the Institute of Public Opinion at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de
Perú, young people cited unemployment as their number one concern over others
such as AIDS, violence, unwanted pregnancy, sexual violence and cancer. They
also associated the meaning of "triumph in life" with "having a
job one enjoys" and "being successful at work."

The issue of youth employment in Latin America is gaining importance on the
international stage, playing a significant role in discussions at the 2005
Summit of the Americas. In 2006, 23 countries from the Americas declared youth
employment as a priority in the Hemispheric Agenda on Decent Work. Leaders
agreed to encourage better training and job access for young people with a
specific target to halve in the next ten years the percentage of young people
who neither study nor work.

The current challenge, then, is to turn these commitments into practical,
efficient policy and actions that will improve the lives of millions of young
Latin Americans.

The case of Brazil - where a majority of the country's 31.3 million young
people between the ages of 16 and 24 are affected by unemployment, precarious
social inclusion and a lack of access to adequate education - merits
consideration. With a youth unemployment rate of 17.7% (3.8 million young
people) and over 10 million young informal workers, the Brazilian experience
will likely be highly relevant to other countries in the region.

Since 2004, there has been a concerted effort on the part of the Brazilian
government to institutionalize the issue of youth employment, both at the
international level as a lead country for the United Nations' Youth
Employment Network (YEN) and at the national level through the creation of the
National Youth Secretariat and the National Youth Council.

Additionally, there are several government programs in place to target
Brazil's most disadvantaged youth, such as the National Program for the
Inclusion of Youth (Projovem). Throughout these processes, the government has
engaged in social dialogue with civil society and international agencies.

Despite the government's efforts, a paradox persists. Brazilians, like
Latin Americans in general, make large investments in education so that youth
can achieve a better quality of life; on average, those aged 20 to 24 have
studied three years longer than those 25 and older. Nevertheless, statistics
show that investment in education, even when coupled with positive national
social and economic indicators, has not been sufficient for youth to attain
decent work.

One possible explanation is related to the quality and suitability of the
skills and knowledge acquired; if young people are poorly educated or lack the
skills required for the jobs offered, more education does not necessarily
translate into positive employment outcomes.

The missing piece of the puzzle may lie in the lack of a structural youth
employment policy in Brazil that is able to coordinate and integrate existing
government programs and policies that specifically address both the demand and
the supply side of the youth labor market.

A recent government attempt to achieve this is the Projovem, which aims to
integrate six previously separate youth programs in order to provide
educational, social and professional qualification opportunities to 4.2 million
young people in socially vulnerable situations over the next three years.

It is too early to tell whether or not this program will be successful in
matching professional skills with employers' demands; future results will
need to be evaluated. Nevertheless, Brazil still lacks an overarching youth
employment policy that guarantees access to decent work as a right for all young
people.

In addition, a specific youth employment policy in Brazil would allow for the
coordination of concerted actions by the private sector. For example, the ILO is
currently implementing in Brazil its Project for the Promotion of Youth
Employment in Latin America. One of the innovative aspects of the project,
funded by the Spanish government, involves practical training and job placement
programs for youth by Spanish companies in sectors such as communications,
information technology, energy, banking and human resources.

While there are several such programs in existence, efforts to date have been
mostly piecemeal. A youth employment policy could mobilize the private sector on
a larger scale, allowing it to act not only as an agent of economic growth, but
also as a driving force in job creation and social development for youth.

There have never been as many young people between the ages of 15-24 in Latin
America as there are today. Demographic forecasts show that this population
growth will continue until 2015. If governments are able to "get it
right" by moving the number one demand of youth (decent work) to the center
of the political agenda and by capitalizing on the large, dynamic, creative and
talented young work force at their disposition, they may be able to
significantly reduce poverty and strengthen social cohesion and democracy.

By looking for windows of opportunity - such as the development of a youth
employment policy in Brazil - governments, the private sector, civil society and
youth themselves can move young Latin Americans from a position of vulnerability
and powerlessness in the job market, to one of full citizenship with the right
to decent and productive work.

Jenna-Dawn Shervill holds an MA degree from the Norman Paterson School of
International Affairs in Ottawa and is currently working as a Youth Employment
Network Associate at the International labor Organization Office in Brazil.

[Brazzil.com]

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NAMIBIA

Youth Bill

Windhoek, Nov 17 - THE National Assembly last week adopted the National Youth
Council Bill, tabled by Youth, Culture and Sports Minister Willem Konjore last
month.

The Bill received a few technical amendments, including the change in age limit
defining a youth.

The original age limit was set for 30 years, which several Members of
Parliament criticised.

Minister Konjore last week tabled an amendment to that affect which extended
the age limit to 35 years.

[The Namibian]

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MALTA

No cost of living adjustment of student stipends

Valletta, Nov 8 - THE National Youth Council said today that it was
disappointed that the cost of living adjustment announced in the budget did not
apply to students' stipends.

In a reaction to the budget, the council welcomed the increase in funding for
youth affairs, including sport and education.

The new scheme to help first time house buyers was also welcomed, but the
council said more action needed to be taken to clamp down on speculation which
was pushing up house prices.

Referring to the increase in the drinking age, the council said more law
enforcement was needed in this area.

The council also welcomed the environment initiatives but criticized the
increases in the utility tariffs, vehicle licences and fuel, all of which would
have an impact on young people.

It called for a quick reform of public transport so as to encourage people to
leave their cars at home.

[Times of Malta]

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NIGERIA

UVYON NYN, teachers without borders organise workshop

Abuja, Nov. 6 - THE United Visionary Youth of Nigeria (UVYON), Teachers without
Boarders and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYN), North Central Zone,
has jointly organised a workshop for youth leaders.

According to a statement issued and signed by the A.M. Kamal Gaya, the workshop
which has the theme: "Nigeria Youth and National".

Development "and sub-theme: "'Yar'adua 7-point Agenda and the
United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MPGS).

During the workshop, participants' capacity were built on the pouper
utilisation of appropriate resources and skills on development issues;
especially taking into consideration the current crusade of the MDGs globally.

At the end of the programme which took place between October 27-29, awards were
presented to various deserving personalities across the country.

Among the awardees are some youth leaders, public officers and politicians from
all parts of the country, among them, Alhaji Sani Dawaki Gabasawa, permanent
secretary, Kano state ministry of information, who is also the national
president, Northern Youth consultative forum.

In his speech, national president of UNYON, Ambassador Prince Musa Abutu
enjoined the awardees to work towards achieving the MDGs at their respective
communities.

The occasion was attended by many academics, youth organisations,
philanthro-phist, business-men/women and politicians across the country.  

[Triumph]

1000 youths receive free HIV/AIDS test, counselling 

Abuja, Nov. 17 - MORE than 1000 youths, mostly women and girls, drawn from the
rural areas of the three senatorial zones of Abia State have received free
HIV/AIDS tests and counseling as part of the effort to educate the rural
populace on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 

The youths were also given awareness seminar on the dangers of drugs and their
abuse as well as the relationship between drugs and HIV/AIDS, hence the need to
stay out of drug. 

The programme, a pilot project held in three communities in the three
senatorial zones of the state, involved seminars, rallies, road show campaigns,
awareness and sensitization as well as free HIV/AIDS screening and counseling.
Ikwuano, Isuochi and Ahiaba communities hosted the programme in the Abia
Central, Abia North and Abia South zones, respectively. 

Organized by Joint Action on Rural Focus [JARUF], an Mgboko Obingwa-based NGO
in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, with support from
the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium
Development Goals [MDGs], the programme held for two days in each zone. About 45
per cent of the participants were women. 

The pilot programme held simultaneously in 19 states of the Federation and it
involved about 25 NGOs. In Abia state, about 350 persons participated in each
zone. 

The aim of the programme, according to Mr. Sydney Enwerechi of JARUF, was to
educate the rural population on the dreaded HIV/AIDS scourge and the dangers of
drugs and their abuse. Enwerechi said that the people benefited immensely as
those who tested positive received free counseling and were referred to where
they would be taken care of.   Enwerechi explained that youths were selected as
target audience because they are most vulnerable to the dreaded disease. In the
communities, some traditional rulers and Local Government councilors witnessed
the programme. 

In his address at the occasion, a Deputy Director from the Ministry of Youth
Development, Mr. O.O. Onagorowa, stressed the need for the program to be taken
seriously by the youths, pointing out that it falls under the seven-point agenda
of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s development programme. 

[The Tide]

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USA

Girls Helping Girls and LevelTen Interactive Invest In Change

Dallas, Nov. 15, - CHANGE is on the horizon. Girls Helping Girls, an
international non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of young
women, has launched a new website today to promote their Sisters 4 Peace
initiative.

Sisters 4 Peace is a social change movement that will provide one-on-one
mentorship, Transform Your World Toolkits, and a support network to aspiring
female changemakers around the world. Sisters 4 Peace is guided by a network of
Peace Ambassadors who provide additional mentoring, fundraising assistance, and
expertise to the budding changemakers located in their region.

Girls Helping Girls was founded in 2007 by Sejal Hathi when she was only 15
years old. She currently serves on the Youth Service America's National
Board of Directors and the National Youth Council with YSA. She founded the
organization in response to the poverty and oppression experienced by many women
worldwide.

The new website, designed by LevelTen Interactive, is built using the
innovative open-source content management system, Drupal. Because the primary
users of the site are girls between the ages of 12 and 17, a particular emphasis
was placed on security and privacy. Users will be able create custom profiles,
control privacy and display settings, and flag comments or users who are
inappropriate.

Kayla Wren, Interactive Production Manager at LevelTen, greatly enjoyed her
experience with Girls Helping Girls, "LevelTen was honored to develop a
site that would support the mission of Girls Helping Girls. All who worked on
the project were inspired and touched by the great work they're doing."
http://www.sisters4peace.net/.

[PR Web]

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PHILIPPINES

NYC awards Negrense legislator

Manila, Nov. 13 - THE president of the Philippine Councilors League-Negros
Oriental Chapter, Peve Obaniana-Ligan, was chosen as one of the Outstanding
Local Legislator for the Youth.

The nationwide search  is  sponsored  by  the  National Youth  Commission under
 the  Office  of  the  President, and is aimed at recognizing local legislators
who  are  championing  the  good  cause  for  the  youth.

Ligan  was  one  of  the  eight  Kampeon  ng  Kabata-an 2008  awardees for
local  legislators.  She  was  also recognized after  she  authored  the
ordinance  on a Special Scholarship program  to support  the  poor  but
deserving students enrolled  at  the Negros  Oriental State University extension
in Sitio Avocado, Barangay  Talalak, Sta. Catalina, Negros  Oriental.

The measure has captured the 10-point youth agenda set under the  Medium-Term
Youth Development Plan 2005-2010.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita  and other Cabinet  members  and  the
National  Youth Commission officials led  the awarding ceremony recently at  the
 Development Academy  of  the  Philippines  in  Tagaytay City, where the 7th
Youth Parliament  was also being held.*MA

[Visayan Daily Star]

Peace advocate calls for moral revolution

Roxas City, Nov. 25 – "WE'VE got to clean up our culture, and clean
up our manners. Our quest to transform crisis and conflict into opportunity and
peace depends on how we treat each other."

Dr. Chung Sik Yong, chairman of Universal Peace Federation Asia stressed the
need of moral revolution, to ease out conflict within ourselves and to give
importance of creating more peace and love in the society.

Addressing more than 10,000 youth at the Villareal Stadium here during the
highlight of Global Peace Festival Visayas, November 18, Dr. Yong, said that
"we must shift from an emphasis on self-interest to living more for the
sake of others. We need a quiet revolution in the human heart from selfishness
to unselfishness."

Global Peace Festival fosters a culture of service through service projects and
kindness of which can foster personal growth and community change.

"Change doesn't come easy, though," Dr. Yong said, however,
"We need help."

Dr. Yong challenged those who are involved in the ministry to focus more in the
dream of creating one family. "[You] must need to set the example and lead
the way in service to the community and nation. It is not about our specific
faith traditions or denominations. It is about the dream to build one family
under God – One Global Family of Peace.

"Reach out in every large and small way available, to connect with those
who are helping. Let us open our minds and doors to our hearts. Let the sad
history of religious and racial hatred end here and now, with us," Dr. Yong
added.

Dr. Yong said that problems could never be solved through war and politics, but
can be solved within the family, "Our global family; one family under
God."

"We must unite, uphold peace, and love one another," said by Hon.
Eknath Dhakal, member of the Parliament, Nepal and secretary general of the
Youth Federation of World Peace Asia.

Three significant events were held during the three-day event which include the
International Leadership Conference, the Global Peace Festival Visayas 2008 and
the International Youth Summit, and were attended by thousands of youth coming
from different provinces and regions in the country.

There were tree planting and coastal road clean-up as part of their culminating
activities. Celebrities Kris Lawrence, Pops Fernandez, John Pratts, Billy
Crawford, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Hale Band, as global peace ambassadors, deliver
songs of peace on the eve of the Global Peace Festival.

During the peace rally, the Catholic Church, including private colleges, such
as Filamer Christian College, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, St. Mary's
Academy, St. John College, Hercor College reportedly refused to attend the
parade since they found the event to be ant-christ.

But Lee Martin, a peace advocate from Montana, USA, said that "this is
persecution. We are not anti-Christ. We are exactly here to promote peace and
love."

Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco Sr., clarified that the local government is not
promoting any sort of religion, but rather boosting up tourism industry of the
city and province.

"No, we are not promoting religion, but tourism. We don't discriminate
religions and belief as part of legal rights in our Constitution," Gov.
Tanco said.

Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, according to the Wikipedia,
has multi-facted organizations, to include the Universal Peace Federation, which
spearheads Ambassadors for Peace, Global Peace Festival, World Summit of
Leadership and Governance, International Highway Project, and Middle East Peace
Initiative.

The majority of the Unificationists, the Wikipedia added, view Moon as the
actual historical Mesiah or "Christ of the Second Advent" and rightful
spiritual and political leader of all mankind. He regards his own mission as
that of "True Parents" the parents that Adam and Eve should have
become and the true monarch of the literal theocratic "Kingdom of
Heaven" on earth that Jesus should have established.

Moon states that John 8:58 does not signify that Jesus was God himself. Jesus,
on earth was a man no different from us except for the fact that he was without
original sin. And Moon, has openly claims that he is the Messiah. On March 23,
2004, more than a dozen lawmakers in the USA attended a congressional reception
honoring the Rev. Moon, in which Moon declared himself the Messiah.

This could be some of the reasons why most of religious sectors in Roxas
refused to take part in the recently concluded festival.

But organizers of the Global Peace Festival denied any allegations that they
are anti-Christ because they are after for bringing people, uniting them to
"One Family Under God" whatever religion they may have.

[The News Today]

*****************************************************************

UNITED KINGDOM

China adventure is learning trip for young leaders

Sunderland, Nov. 24 - TWO youth workers breached cultural barriers on a chance
in a lifetime trip to China.

Wearside-based Hollie Coxon and Jack Saward were among 100 young leaders from
around the country chosen for the inaugural visit, organised by the British
Council in partnership with the All China Youth Federation.

Hollie, 19, and Jack, 30, were nominated by Sunderland Children's Services
for the scheme, which aims to establish closer links between young people in
Britain and China through political and business leadership, creativity and
cultural innovation, environmental concerns and healthy living.

Hollie, from New Herrington, is a volunteer with Sunderland Council's Youth
Development Group.

She said: "Being chosen to take part in this first visit was both
challenging and rewarding, and gave us all the chance to meet people from a
different culture.

"I found the young people in China to be less confident in some ways than
they are here but somehow more focused and driven, so we can learn from each
other."

Jack, Sunderland Youth Offending Services prevention manager, also relished the
experience.

"I was thrown in at the deep end, getting to know my fellow delegates in a
very short time.," he said.

"I learned so much seeing the Chinese approach to education and youth
work."

[Sunderland Echo]

*****************************************************************

PAKISTAN

Much-awaited youth policy to be approved by June 2009

Islamabad, Nov. 30 - FACILITATING meaningful participation of youth in policies
and programmes concerning their future, the three-day National Youth Summit
(NYS) 2008 went off to an energetic start here Saturday.

Organising each and every part of the summit with zeal and perfection, the
youth took this opportunity well to prove their ability and potential to
participate in the development process of the country and bring a change.

The participants asked hard-hitting questions to top officials representing
youth ministry including the new Youth Minister Shahid Hussain Bhutto that set
the tone for things to come. On the occasion, the minister promised that the
government would pass the much-awaited Youth Policy by June 2009.

Organised by World Population Foundation (WPF) in collaboration with the UNFPA,
the summit titled ‘Uniting the Youth for Ensuring Meaningful Participation in
the Development of the Country’ has 150 enthusiastic participants representing
various youth networks from across the country.

The summit is aimed at delivering the message of unity and harmony to the youth
and their organisations, bridge the gap between policymakers and youth and
facilitate involvement of youth in policies and programmes.

In addition to formulating recommendation for policymaking, the conference will
also help in the formation of the National Youth Task Force (NTF) that would
coordinate with various ministries at national, provincial and district levels.

The three-day summit is divided into three main categories including plenary
sessions, policy briefings for the young delegates and policy dialogue. While
plenary will allow the youth to gain cognisance regarding various key themes in
the broader perspective, the policy briefing will equip them with relevant
information regarding the policy-making process.

Addressing the inaugural session, the minister urged the youth not to lose hope
in the system. He assured the participants that the suggestions and
recommendations that would emerge at the summit would be included in the
upcoming youth policy.

He said that the government was planning to introduce youth development plan in
which rural and urban youth would be provided employment opportunities. “We
have also decided to give 70 per cent representation to rural youth in all
programmes and initiatives to be launched by the youth ministry,” he
disclosed, adding that involvement of youth in the process of development was
always a priority for the PPP government.

Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs Ashfaq Mehmood said that the youth of today
had multiple challenges and the political and economic crises faced by the
country were directly affecting youth that was a large segment of its
population.

He said that in addition to motivating them for nurturing their abilities, the
upcoming Youth Policy would also introduce a culture of harnessing youth
potentials to the fullest in all segments of life. “It will also provide them
an opportunity to learn from history and plan for their future in an enabling
environment.”

In his presentation on ‘Harnessing Demographic Dividend,’ Abid Suleri,
Executive Director of SDPI, said that ban on student unions in 1984 has hampered
the growth of political thinking among youth. “Youth is both energetic and
aggressive. If their energies are not utilized properly then there are chances
that aggression can take them towards extreme actions like suicide bombing,”
he said urging youth to challenge the status quo.

Calling for more focus on rural youth that is still struggling to attain basic
needs, Chairperson of the inaugural plenary Faryal Ali Gohar asked youth to
speak up for their rights. “There cannot be true democracy in the country
until 63 per cent of its population that comprises youth is given due
representation in the policy-making and implementation process,” she added.

Sharing her feelings with ‘The News’, representative from Balochistan
Jamila Baloch said that the government had never paid much attention to rural
areas. “We have expressed our concerns before as well through different forums
but nothing practical has been done yet to address youth issues in our areas,”
she said hoping that things might improve this time.

Earlier, in the session, Mariam Jamal of WPF read out the message of UNFPA
Deputy Executive Director (Programmes) Paurnema Mane in which she stressed the
need to do more for youth in the areas of education, health and employment.

The inaugural session was followed by skills building workshops in which
participants were briefed on the rights based approach, resource mobilization,
volunteer management and advocacy and lobbying. In the end, sessions were
arranged on government policies related to youth, women and development,
education, health and population.

[The News International]

*****************************************************************

AZERBAIJAN

Experts say youth can play big role in combating Islamaphobia

Baku, Nov. 13 - THE conference "Beyond religious differences: Islamophobia
and other forms of discrimination based on religion or belief: consequences for
young people and youth work responses" was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 5
to 8 November 2008 in the spirit of consolidating the results of the "All
Different – All Equal" European youth campaign, including the Istanbul
Youth Declaration.

The conference was co-organised by the Council of Europe's Directorate of
Youth and Sport, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
and the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan and in co-operation with the
European Youth Forum and the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Development and
Cooperation; it brought together over 100 participants from 42 countries.

The conference aimed at responding to islamophobia, antisemitism and other
forms of discrimination based on religion or belief, through youth work. It
strengthened and consolidated the work undertaken in this field by its
co-organisers and partners.

The promotion of dialogue and understanding is by all means the key condition
for the achievement of peace, security, development and prosperity of our
societies. Inter-religious dialogue constitutes one of the main aspects of
dialogue among cultures and civilisations and play an important role in
consolidating the common values of respect, dignity and freedom, says forum.

Experts in conference recalled that combating religious discrimination and
prejudice concerns everyone and is necessary in all societies. Young people and
youth organisations are particularly concerned because they can be effective
actors and promoters of change.

Based on the inputs of experts and the discussions in working groups, the
conference stressed that islamophobia and all other forms of discrimination and
prejudice must be combated and that universal human rights must be defended and
promoted for all human beings, without discrimination on any grounds.

The conference recalled that "Islamophobia must not be the concern of
Muslims alone as it has negative effects on all children and young people, men
and women alike, and the whole of society. Islamophobia is a violation of human
rights and a threat to social cohesion. Young people and youth organisations
have an important role to play in preventing Islamophobia and raising awareness
about the negative impact of prejudice and discrimination."

The conference also said promoting tolerance and respect for diversity, in the
spirit of intercultural dialogue, implies unconditional commitment to human
rights as a framework for dialogue. According to young people and youth
organisations have an irreplaceable role to play in this process, notably
through youth work activities that incorporate human rights education and
intercultural learning.

Human rights education and intercultural learning provide the framework for
values and educational approaches that address prejudice and discrimination in
its multiple expressions, including islamophobia, antisemitism, christianophobia
and any other form of discrimination based on religion or belief (or associated
to them), and must be promoted as a safeguard for democracy and equality and a
protection against extremism, said experts.

The conference agreed on the necessity to encourage follow-up projects by youth
organisations – in the framework of this Baku Youth Initiative – aimed at
promoting intercultural understanding as well as raising awareness on relevant
issues in this field. Such projects should be based on the conclusions and
outcomes of this conference, namely those elaborated by its working groups and
outlined below. Those projects should reflect, in particular, the major policy
documents of the partner organizations of the conference.

One of the projects of the conference is about the revival of interest in
religious practices in the world and how this may breed suspicion and fear among
authorities and the public in general.

Explaining a part of the project, the conference says, it aims to create formal
mechanisms which will include experts from various religions (including
Christianity, Islam and Judaism) such as scholars, youth leaders and civil
society leaders to explore contemporary issues connected to religion and
democracy and share understandings and practices of religious and democratic
values such as pluralism, religious tolerance, rule of law, respect for human
rights, participation in elections (especially among youth) and youth
participation in intercultural dialogue.

It also aims to increase opportunities for partnerships between formal and
informal religious groups and address issues of mutual concern.

The other subjects that the conference focued on are "religion and gender
equality", "freedom of expression and freedom of religion",
"prejudice and stereotypes: media and education", "co-existence
and living together, community building and migration".

The conference emphasized that family law issues should be regulated by the law
of the particular state in respect of human rights. Religious ceremonies (such
as weddings or funerals) should be legally recognised by the state.

Citizens have the right to observe their religious traditions, including the
possibility to not work on important religious days and festivities. Youth
organisations should help state authorities in finding reasonable ways of
accommodating these needs, especially in the course of employment and education,
said the conference.

[WorldBulletin]

*****************************************************************

SIERRA LEONE

Africa Youths Day celebrated in Sierra Leone

Freetown, Nov. 4 - THE Ministry of Education, Youths and Sport (MEYS) has
collaborated with UNFPA and Salone Youth and Adolescent Network on Population
and Development (SaLYAN) on Saturday 1st November 2008 to celebrate Africa
Youths Day at the Presidential Lounge of the National Stadium.

Giving an over view of the programme, the National Coordinator SaLYAN, Shekou
Nuni said that the theme of this year’s celebration was ‘African Youths
Promote African Positive Values.’ He said they joined the African Union in
urging public authorities to reinforce their commitments and to partner with the
youth so as to allow dynamic, creative and sustainable partnership in achieving
sustainable development and peace in Africa as a whole. He challenged youths of
what ever background, to participate in joint cultural activities to gain an
understanding of the rich diversity of our cultures.

Officially launching the 2nd edition of the African Youths Initiative and
Creativity Award, the Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Dr.
Algasimu Jah specified four main strategies for youths in Sierra Leone under the
APC government, including setting up of a framework of a national youth
commission, youth development and employment and policy formulation and
implementation involving all stakeholders and the youth at all levels, capacity
building and training for unskilled and unemployed youth in the in formal sector
and to link them with job opportunities, and above all to support development
for social cohesion, cultural solidarity and health as a source of employment
and livelihood.

[Awareness Times]

APC appeals to Youths

Freetown, Nov. 6 - DEPUTY Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed D.
Koroma on Wednesday 5th November 2008 appealed to youths to continue exercising
patience, as according to him, government is on the right track in addressing
issues pertinent to the formation of the Youth Commission. Though he vehemently
rebuffed allegations that the APC led government is paying little or no
attention in addressing the numerous problems faced by the youth of Sierra
Leone, he defended the leadership for putting youth issues to the fore front in
national considerations.

This followed claims by leaders of various youth organizations that government
is dragging its feet on the formation of the proposed Youth Commission.

In an exclusive interview with the Awareness Times, Mohamed D. Koroma strongly
reacted to what he called a misplaced claim. He said the establishment of a
youth commission entails a lot, like legal matters and all the rest.

"Our government is very much committed to addressing youth problems in
this country since national development depends on their productivity," he
stated. He spoke of how government has held nationwide consultations with youths
in that regard. As such, he went on, modalities are already in place to draft
the Youth Policy Bill.

He used the opportunity to caution them to stay put and wait for the commission
before making any hue and cry for budget allocation, as in his words
"youths are yet to be isolated from the old compartment of the past
government that combined youth affairs with those of education and sports."

In the youths’ view aired on a recent ‘CTN Youth Club’ radio programme,
government is showing a blatant show of non commitment in addressing their
problems. Representatives from Center for the Coordination of Youth Activities
(CCYA), Young Leaders-Sierra Leone (YLSL) and YAPAD spoke with one voice in
condemnation of the APC government’s hollow promises.

Bockarie Ensah of YAPAD saw little in the so called 52-page manifesto of the
APC in which youth issues were relegated to the 45th page with little substance.
He even questioned the National Youth Commission’s establishment. "There
is no focus on addressing our issues because policy review that should precede
the commission is not even talked about," he said.

He further stated that even the Bumbuna Declaration that slated the
establishment of the youth commission since August has been floated by the
government. "Developing all other sectors of the country and leaving the
youth behind means the government is developing to destroy," he ended.

Edward Massaquoi who represented CCYA reiterated that the APC manifesto on
youths is unacceptable by all standards. "A document of such importance
should be specific in its objectives by all dimensions," he highlighted,
adding that the process of youth empowerment and employment has been
characterized by numerous flaws.

He said as an indication of the level of non commitment by the government, last
year’s budget allocation for youth empowerment was drastically slashed, a far
cry from the Le. 2.5billion their predecessors allotted. "A paltry
Le.1.7billion allotment is a mere mockery of the situation," he lamented.
He also deplored the non-mention of funding for youth activities in the three
year budget (2009-2011) of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

"This is a clear indication that this government does not have the issues
of youths in mind," he accused.

[Awareness Times]

*****************************************************************

GEORGIA

The Youth Reproductive Health National Forum

T'bilisi, Nov. 25 - UNITED Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the
Committee of Healthcare and Social Issues of the Parliament of Georgia hosted
the National Youth Reproductive Health Forum. The Forum was conducted in the
framework of the EU/UNFPA co-funded (EU 86% and UNFPA 14%) project
“Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in the South Caucasus” (RHIYC).

The National Youth RH Forum is an annual activity, which gives the opportunity
to all stakeholders (representatives of legislative and executive branch,
non-governmental organizations, independent experts, medical professionals and
youth) to meet and discuss existing situation, policy and strategies, to
elaborate country vision and agree the most effective ways to address the
challenges in the field of Youth Sexual&Reproductive Health and Rights.

The forum was opened by the First Lady of Georgia Mrs. Sandra Elizabeth
Roelofs, who at the same time is the chairperson of the CCM (Country
Coordination Mechanism) RH (reproductive health) and NC (National Council)

“When we care about reproduction, we care about our future generation as
well. I’m glad that this issue is very actual in our country”, she added.

Mrs.Sandra Roelofs also mentioned three spheres which should share the
responsibility of informing society about reproductive issues. These were the
Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, educational branch and cultural
sphere, as there can be created special films, promotional campaigns and other
arrangements for informing the society in a right way.

Mr. Martin Klauke, the Head of the Operations Department of European Commission
Delegation in Georgia stated that, ”The youth reproduction is very important
for Georgia. That’s why it is so highly supported by European Union, which
financed it by EUR 2, 5 million. Today this forum aims to identify further
challenges in our way”.

Mrs. Tamar Khomasuridze, the Assistant Representative of UNFPA Georgia,
introduced to the audience the results of the recent Reproductive Health
researches conducted by the UNFPA about the reproductive health.

Mrs. Khomasuridze mentioned that the priority for the organization is to raise
the public awareness on reproductive health issues as the index of birth-rate in
Georgia is sufficiently low and the index of abortion is still high. This is not
the only result caused by the lack of information. High Prevalence STIs and
HIV/AIDS infections are also one of the main problems as well. It is also worth
mentioning that 92% of these women were infected from their constant partners.

The forum was opened by the short documental film dedicated to the South
Caucasus Youth Festival 2007, held in Batumi in the frame of RHIYC project. The
aim of the South Caucasus Youth Festival was to promote healthy lifestyle among
young people, change their attitudes and behaviors towards harmful practices to
prevent them from: tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDS and STIs and raise
their awareness about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights issues.

Experts of RHIYC project presented to forum participants results of various
project activities.

During the Forum representatives of the Parliamentary Committees on Healthcare
and Social Issues, Education, Science and Culture, Foreign Relations, European
Integration, Regional Policy, Self-Government and Mountainous Regions, Sports
and Youth Issues, corresponding Ministries, international, youth and
non-governmental organizations, Patriarchate, experts had very fruitful
discussions on importance of Reproductive Health and Right and necessity of
development of appropriate policies, concepts and financial provision of this
sphere.

[Messenger]

*****************************************************************

CANADA

Poverty, racism tied to youth violence

Toronto, Nov. 15 - ONTARIO will consider collecting race-based data, Premier
Dalton McGuinty said yesterday following the release of a report recommending
the statistics be gathered in the education and justice systems as part of a
comprehensive effort to address the roots of youth violence.

Former chief justice Roy McMurtry and Alvin Curling, a former speaker of the
Ontario legislature, said poverty, racism, poor housing and a culturally
insensitive education system are leaving some young people with a sense of
hopelessness that can "all too often explode into violence."

The report's authors said they were taken aback by the extent to which
"racism is alive and well" in Ontario and said black and aboriginals
continue to suffer from a "seemingly more entrenched and often more
virulent form of racism."

"I think we need to give this a new look," Mr. McGuinty said, noting
the collection of race-based data is a controversial issue. "They (report
authors) explained to me it is really tough for us to target programs that are
going to be effective unless we know what we are dealing with."

The report, commissioned last year by Mr. McGuinty in the wake of the shooting
death of a Grade 9 student in a Toronto high school, said the province needs to
make a more co-ordinated, comprehensive and community-focused approach to
address youth issues.

The authors said the province is at a "crossroads" in dealing with
the roots of violence involving youth as they made recommendations to move away
from the "over-criminalization" of young people whose underlying
issues are not being addressed in the justice system.

Mr. McMurtry said schools need to stop calling in police for "more minor
offences" that could be dealt with outside the justice system.

He said there are almost three times as many youth offences laid in Ontario on
a per capita basis than in Quebec. Still, he said Quebec does not have a more
serious youth-violence problem as a result.

The authors acknowledged they offered no simple, or quick fix solutions, but
said one of the most "urgent" needs is a plan for a universal and
community-based access to mental health services for children and youth.

The report also said schools need to become the "hub" of communities
and should be open in the critical hours after school to provide programs and
services.

That recommendation was also made by Julian Falconer in his report on school
safety commissioned by the Toronto District School Board in the wake of the
shooting death of Jordan Manners at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate in May 2007.

In a speech given yesterday, Mr. Falconer said the report by Mr. Curling and
Mr. McMurtry highlights the missing social supports that are critical to
addressing issues of youth violence. Still, he said the government has not done
enough to address the gaps they already know exist.

Conservative opposition critic Julia Munro said the report shows a lack of
government action on issues it has already studied. "The government has
known about these things -- have they done much in this regard in the last
little while? No they have not," Ms. Munro said.

NDP education critic Rosario Marchese said the report "states the
obvious" and echoes policies the party has long called for.

"This report speaks about a systemic effort to deal with issues of
exclusion with issues of poverty, lack of housing and job opportunities and
unless we do that in bad economic times it is going to be worse."

[Ottawa Citizen]

*****************************************************************

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Delegates agree to tackle youth issues

Honiara, Nov. 7 - PACIFIC delegates have agreed to deal with pressing issues
affecting the youths of the region today.

They passed the resolution in the Honiara Communiqué on Effective Governance
and People Centred Development 2008.

It happened at the end of the Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and
Development (PPAPD) and 7th Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference
(FPOCC) yesterday in Honiara.

These conferences were held back to back at the Forum Fishery Agency
headquarters.

Chairperson of the PPAPD-FPOCC, Toofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua told the media
that youths in the pacific regions are facing a lot of problems.

”We come up with a resolution in encouraging parliamentarians as leaders of
Pacific Islands parliaments,” Mr Leiataua said.

”This is so that they really involve in promoting the youths issues, gender
equality, HIV Aids and good governance, accountability and transparency.

”In order for our pacific region a region that we enjoy to live in and
enjoy,” Mr Toofuaivalelei said.

Cook Islands will host next year’s conferences.

[Solomon Star]

*****************************************************************

INDIA

South Asian Youth Summit concludes

New Delhi, Nov. 25 - THE 2-day South Asia Youth Summit’2008 (SAYS’08) that
brought together youth representatives (18 - 30yrs) from India, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives to deliberate on
various political, economic and development issues confronting their region, has
concluded today. The Summit which was organised by Liberal Youth South Asia
(LYSA) and Centre for Public Policy Research with the support of
Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNF), was attended by nearly 100
youth representatives from the fields of Media, Politics, Arts, Law and Business
from across South Asia to create a space for a liberal dialogue on common public
policy issues faced by South Asian countries and to list out five immediate
policy issues that need to be tackled.

The Summit was inaugurated yesterday by Dr. M.S Gill, Hon’ble Minister of
Sports & Youth affairs and Mr. Navin Jindal, Member of Parliament. Some of
the key issues that were taken up during the 2-day Summit included: Governance,
Human Rights & Democracy in South Asia; Market economy & South Asian
free trade zone; Peace & conflict resolution: Role of Youth, Education,
health and poverty elimination; Promoting youth participation in South Asian
Politics. Over the last 2 days, the delegates were exposed to a variety of
simulations, discussions and debates leading to the Summit Declaration and Plan
of Action for the next one year. The Summit concluded today with the formation
of a Youth Chain and pledge to promote peace and unite against terrorism at
India gate.

Recent events in the South Asian subcontinent, particularly the disturbing
escalation in everyday violence, have led to this conclave of South Asians who
can work in search of strategies that may diminish the antagonisms, suspicions
and fears. Not addressing the issues young people face today can result in
adverse economic, social and political consequences. Governments and policy
makers across the region are looking at youth issues, mainly education and
employment, and their impact on the countries’ development.

“South Asia portrays a culturally rich region, which has for decades been a
victim of turbulence. Politically, the young generation’s opinion is of
crucial importance as they are open to ideas of change and it is they who can
make an impact and lead to the formation of a peaceful and democratic South
Asia. Thus, the youth of the region are the torchbearers of a globalised
world”, said Dr René Klaff, Regional Director, FNF.

South Asia is home to 1.5 billion people, who together comprise 1/5 of all
humanity. One fifth of the population in South Asia is between the ages of 15
and 24. This is the largest number of young people ever to transition into
adulthood, both in South Asia and in the world as a whole. The prevailing
conditions of political and economic insecurity, and the need to address them in
a collective manner, are compelling reasons to forge a strong South Asian
community capable of acting locally and regionally.

Some of the eminent participants from South Asia who attended the Summit
include: Ms. Arpita Nepal, Samruddhi Foundation, Nepal, H.E. Mr. Afrasiab,
Deputy High Commissioner, Pakistan, Dr. Donya Aziz, Member, National Assembly
Pakistan, Mr. Fazle Rahim Khan, Former President of the Liberal Forum,
Bangladesh, Mr. Pradeep Peiris, Centre for Policy Alternatives, Sri Lanka, Dr
Najmul Hossain, Economist, Bangladesh, Prof. PV Indiresan, Padma Bhushan
recipient and formed Director IIT Madras, Prof. Dipankar Sen Gupta, Jammu
University, India etc.

The nations of South Asia are more alike than they are different.” Cultures
and languages spill across national borders, most of which were created in the
colonial era. Together, the eight countries of South Asia—India, Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan are members of
SAARC—the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Through SAARC, its
member countries are working together to identify solutions for their common
problems. South Asian economies are a mixture of poverty and plenty, with
advanced and productive economies coupled with persistent poverty.

[India PRwire]

*****************************************************************

BAHRAIN

It's a matter of choice
 
 
Manama, Nov 11 - YOUTH issues have always been a cornerstone of many heated
debates. Issues that need to be discussed openly range from under-aged smoking,
the use of drugs and under-aged sex.

Many people may view the latter as a 'taboo' topic that is not supposed
to be written or reported about for fear of angering those in authority.

This column, however, is known for its ability to break the boundaries of
silence and therefore I intend to write about it.

Sex, if you notice, has been a very sensitive issue in Bahrain. Sometime ago a
certain doctor and society decided to break the silence and encourage sex
education for youngsters here who believed that they should have the right to
sit through a seminar in which sex was the subject being talked about.

Sex education is the norm in many countries where it is usually taught in
schools to students as young as 12.

Many have now voiced their disapproval of those who encouraged such debate in
Bahrain.

I am against it for several reasons. Call me old-fashioned but I believe that
certain things must be left at home to be talked about and taught by parents
themselves rather than being discussed widely in the open in schools and
community centres.

Certain issues, such as sex, must be left to the discretion of the youngsters
who feel that there is a certain time and place to talk about it with their own
parents.

Allowing it to be taught in public only arouses their curiosity. I think that
sex is taught more in the West because teenage pregnancies, the spread of HIV
and Aids are more common amongst the youngsters there. Therefore, I believe that
sex-education should be taught in the West, however, not on our tiny little
island of Bahrain where I really do not see such issues occurring.

It is true that the saying "better safe than sorry" has been used by
some doctors and youth societies, but really, do we want to encourage
pre-marital sex in a society that is conservative and religious as well?

Such things should be left to the choice of the youngster himself to ask and
not for authorities who have nothing better to do than speak for us without
asking first.

As much as we want to be liberal and adapt to the ideal of freedom of speech,
ever so glamorised nowadays, we should realise that seeking solutions to
non-existent issues can only cause trouble.

[Gulf News]

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TUNISIA

Conference on Youth in the Islamic world adopts “Tunis Pact”

Tunis, Nov. 26 - THE International Conference on “Youth issues in the Islamic
World”: Present Stakes and Future Challenges” which was held in Gammarth,
north of Tunis on November 24-26,2008, adopted on Wednesday the “Tunis Pact to
promote youth and enhance its social status in the Islamic World”.

The Conference was organized in collaboration between the Government of Tunisia
and ISESCO, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

“The Tunis Pact” calls for the promotion of the situation of young people
in the Islamic world as well as reinforcing their role in society on the basis
of the rich Islamic heritage and its values which advocate moderation, the
golden mean and rapprochement between the various ethnic groups, cultures,
civilisations and religions.

Participants in the Conference hailed President Ben Ali’s opening address to
the conference, which called for proclaiming the year 2010, an International
Youth Year, and the holding of an international youth conference in Tunis, under
the aegis of the United Nations.

In his closing statement, the Prime Minister, Mr Mohamed Ghannouchi expressed
Tunisia’s pride in the issuing of the conference’s reference document, which
is likely to strengthen joint Islamic action and which represents a milestone in
the International Youth Pact advocated by the Head of State by 2010.

He also said that the “Tunis Pact” would also ensure the active
participation of young people in the Islamic world, within the framework of
human civilisation and coexistence and concord within cultural diversity.

[Tunisia News]

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