#WCY2014 News Letter Ep3

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#wcy2014

09/05/2014

When ‘inclusive’ isn’t Inclusive.

#Bring BackOurGirls

Sri Lanka Youth Parliament: Enhancing leadership of Sri Lankan youth

By Gayan Nadeera Edirisinghe

Sri Lanka Youth Parliament conducted providing opportunities for the Sri Lankan youth to improve their knowledge, awareness and attitude to develop their leadership skills, capacity building and to bring out potentials for the development of the nation and increasing awareness among Lankan youth on parliament system and traditions. Making all Ministers and members of Parliament of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka all the resolutions passed in Sri Lanka Youth Parliament and to introduce new proposals and targets for the development of the country.

Helping to identify and improving the practical awareness of participants the problems and issues build up in polity is also an objec-

tive of Sri Lanka Youth Parliament. Improving the ability to listen, understand and skills to debate on a particular issue and providing opportunities in the form of a forum of bring about the problems of youth at rural level to the national level to find answers.

A special session of Sri Lanka Youth Parliament in parallel with the World Conference on Youth 2014 was held on May 08 in Maharagama under the patronage of Ravi Karkara, Global Expert Advisor on “Children & Youth�, UN, Nimal Siripala De Silva, Irrigation and Water Resources Development Minister of Sri Lanka and John Seneviratne, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs also participated.

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Who Are They? #WCY Youth Now and in 10 Years

By Vera Djemelinskaya, djema.wordpress.com

“What will you be when you grow up” is a quite irrelevant question at the WCY as everyone agreed that we all can be leaders right now. And we are. When you are a journalist you can approach people with silly questions. So I picked this one, only changing “grow up” to “ten years.” Meet the WCY youth - reality check and ambitions in one story.

“Oh boy, I don’t think so far,” – replied Chernor, youth advocate and a formal refugee from Sierra Leone. In ten years he will be doing what he is doing now – simply educating world citizens.

John from UK has own business and has never studied. In ten years he will definitely be somewhere, but his “thinking hasn’t decided where.”

Vanessa is studying psychology, Buddhism and Poli in Sri Lanka.

In 10 years she will be back to Brazil “living with crazy people” and working in a mental health hospice, which are at the moment prohibited in her country.

Her friend Luiz also from Brazil took a year off from psychology studies to “do something great” and moved to Sri Lanka. In 10 years he will be teaching, “doesn’t matter what”.

Damien is president of Amnesty International group in his university in Dublin, and in ten years wants to work with the EU and UN on development and youth policies, researching how religion overlaps with law. “So worst case scenario – just a diplomat.”

Philipp from Danemark is also a president, but of one of the student unions. In ten years he’d like to be Simba from the ‘Lion King’ – “good looking and a king!”

Jerry from Netherlands is a board member of the European Youth Forum. In ten years he will probably be still there, although “fully educated and fully employed.”

Meanwhile Joan is already full time unemployed volunteer” at the Spanish Youth Council and in ten years he will be the Spanish negotiator for the #Post2040.

Inder studies economics in the U.S. and works in a think tank. In 10 years he will be saving the world in a UN agency, “throwing money on developing countries and [turning to Joan sitting next to him] being ignorant to the European Youth Council.”

Stephanie from Malta is working in the EU Council in Brussels. In 10 years she will be influencing decision-making on social issues, manipulating leaders of her own country to make world a better place.

“Mayor of the capital and ambassador to the world!” said Doru from Moldova, who is now president-volunteer of the National Youth Council, entrepreneur and a teacher.

Ahmad is a “semi-doctor,” studying medicine in Egypt. In ten years he will hopefully be a doctor earning enough money to get into aviations, “and become a public health advocate, and a pilot, and an ironman.”

“Do you know the Pogo cartoon?” asked me David from Sweeden.

I didn’t, so I “googled” and found some environmental picture that made sense. In ten years David will be Pogo, wise and with big ears “living in a changed world”. As for now he represents focal point for Major Group of Children and Youth on sustainable consumption and production and is “frustrated over the crazy state of the world with dual unsustainability”.

Lydia is the UN Youth delegate for Austria, but in ten years she will “talk a bit less and change a bit more.” The former UN Youth delegate for Austria Aleks is now Youth delegate of Vienna and in ten years expects to be “active, still ambitious and still positive.”

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: an eye from Brazil

By YudhanjayaWijeratne

Introduce yourself?

My name’s Luciano Frontelle, and I’m a journalist from Brazil. I was self-funded, invited here by the by the Brazilian government and the sl government. I’m focused on the Brazilian participation, so I’m basically posting information about what Brazil is doing here.

What’s Brazil paying the most attention to?

Brazil’s mostly focusing on gender equality, good governance and accountability and ethical gestures.

On the subject of WCY as an event - what do you think is the good part of the whole show?

Well, we have a big structure here. The place, the venue, the logistics, it is a big event. Nobody’s cramped for space.

The bad?

We have been experiencing some miscommunication problems, such as I had no hotel to stay for 11 hours after I arrived, I still don’t have an accreditation, our Head of Government wasn’t taken to the Opening Ceremony.

That’s bad. Though the organizers recognized this and it is solved.

What do you expect from WCY in terms of end results?

End results expected: I expects the final declaration really impacts the general assembly: i expect too move forward from the perspective of human rights, poverty eradication, gender equality, and I really hope that we can turn this declaration into re-election into the countries.

Just a few minutes ago, Sri Lankan Parliamentarian Mohan LalGrero expressed his opinion that all of the issues that the youth are facing - poverty, racism, gender inequality and so on - are linked to education. Do you agree?

I think it really depends on what kind of education we’re talking about. What we’re aiming here is that YOUTH is connected with everything right now, and I think that should be our focus, because if we keep looking at the teams but not at the generation, it’s pointless. If the education doesn’t match what we need it to be, it’s pointless.

Discussing Demographic Dividend Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) of Sri Lanka and UNFPA launched their research study on Investing on Demographic Dividend: Successes, Challenges and Way Forward for Sri Lanka”. IPS Research Economist Chatura Rodrigo in a discussion with UNFPA regional head.

Reflections on Peace and Rebuilding

It was only after the Arab Spring that the world sat up and started taking notice of the youth as a force that could bring about global change, claimed Katherine Ellis, the Youth affairs Secretariat of the Common Wealth. Speaking at the Round Table Discussion on realizing peace, reconciliation and ending violence, she went on to say that the youth however do not have the power to change policies with ease.

His comment reminded the delegates that the youth is not always right. While the youth can be a powerful force— and as mentioned at the plenary session the youth make up a large part of the world population— the battles fought by the youth may not always be the right battles. When making policies that give the youth freedom to effectuate change, there must also be controls that ensure the right decisions are made.

“Making a lot of noise may not actually bring about change. Making noise with the right people will”, Ellis elaborated. Youth action needs to be organized. It is also not enough to bring about change but to follow up on the process and that ensure that events the ensue are favourable

The delegates must have the foresight to make decisions that are not only relevant in the present day but in the years to come as well. “There are several young people who say ‘we are here, okay, let’s change the world’, but I must remind you that you will get older, like me. So remember that you’re not only making change for your generations but for the generations to come”, was Ellis’s final words to the delegates before dived into the breakout sessions.

By Megara Tegal

However, Mahinda Samarasinghe, the President’s Special Envoy on Human Rights pointed out that it was the youth who rose in 1983 in Sri Lanka which sparked the 27 year armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

Volunteering Experienceof a WCY2014 Volunteer

By Hiruni Irasha Siriwardhane Volunteering,Is generally defined an altruistic Activity and it intended to promote goodness or improve human quality of life. In return volunteering can produce a feeling of a self-worth and respect. There is no financial gain involved for those individuals, But also renowned for skills development, Socialization and also fun.

15th World Conference on Youth which is Mainstreaming Youth in Post 2015 development agenda beyond the territorial boundaries all over the world, will be taken place in our motherland for the first time in Asia and I’m feeling Lucky to have the experience volunteering for this international event, Because we were empowered to be the active Force in achieving It’s action plan to make it a reality in front of the whole world. Not only to perform our Duties in this event, But also to have the maximum fun with our new friends , to Dance in DJ Parties, sleeping inside the volunteer Den, floating everywhere in the premises when we are off Duty, is

how we are spending our time from early in the morning till Midnight in WCY . Although we are enjoying this, Specifically we are Responsible for On Call Duties also which makes our moods upset exactly .But this is a place where, we have come to perform our Duties as a volunteer. So that, all of us try to do each and every Duty in our best whether it’s relevant to our duty or not. That’s how we manage the balance between fun and Duty . To work together as one family with the young generation , is the best opportunity I’ve ever had in this WCY 2014. To bear up instant doubts and complex problems and to sort out it on the moment properly ,to make good social relationships among the young people, are few of advantages we were skilled in this specifically. Finally I’m feeling happy in taking part as a volunteer for WCY 2014.

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An Opportunity to Contribute to Peace & Sustainable Development: The UN Youth Volunteer Programme

By Sally Mouakkad Volunteerism contributes to peace and sustainable development. That is the message that rang true and clear at the side event exploring the opportunities for youth in the UN Youth Volunteer Programme. The programme has been designed to allow young people the chance to contribute to development while also building on and developing key skills that can be applied in employment and daily life.

With an aim to empower young people, the UN Youth Volunteer Programme stems from the UN Volunteer (UNV) Programme, but it is open to individuals 18-29 years old. Embracing diversity, anyone from across the globe can apply, which results in a high number of applicants despite the highly selective process. Last year alone, over 1000 young people were selected and participated in the programme.

that volunteers typically commit to 6-26 months of service. They are then placed within various UN agencies in need of young volunteers. The work is as varied as the issues the UN is involved in itself, and volunteers can choose to serve at home (where applicable) or abroad. Examples of the type of work that UN Youth Volunteers engage in includes supporting youth employment, using sports to teach communities about HIV, raising awareness about the role of youth in development, and contributing to environmental protection. Although assignments can vary, the programme also allows its young participants the unique opportunity to contribute to policy-making processes and advocacy.

This helps increase youth participation at all levels within the UN. To learn more about The UN Youth Volunteer Programme, visit: www.unv.org/youth/

Speaking about the UN Youth Volunteer Programme, Allen Jennings, Deputy Chief of UNV’s Development Division, explained

When ‘inclusive’ isn’t Inclusive.

“This isn’t inclusive- there’s no Braille,” Njekele Ashura, a delegate from Kenya, said.

The World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014 kicked off in Sri Lanka at the beginning of May, bringing together over 1000 delegates from around the world. The variety of people was mind-blowing, what with almost every sector being represented through those who attended.

As almost everyone knows, it’s themed ‘Mainstreaming Youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda’, and was given intense publicity which garnered much hype; and it also was an opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka to its best.

Despite Sri Lanka having to put on their best show, the disabled delegates were dissatisfied with what they had to undergo during their visit. Though the whole point of the conference was about getting youth involved and enhancing youth participation, many of the delegates discovered that their accessibility to certain areas including main venues for events was limited- as was their participation, as they did not have professionals to cater to their needs.

To start off, the opening ceremony was held miles and miles away, a journey which seemed to take forever and which had what seemed to be around 1000 stairs leading up to the auditorium.

Needless to say, delegates with spinal injuries and walking disabilities didn’t find this much to their liking.

“There were no ramps in most of the places and the opening ceremony was a mess,” said Umesh Moramudali, a Sri Lankan delegate representing youth with disabilities.

Speaking on behalf of the disabled, he said what they need the most is to be independent, to be able to access public places just like any other person, to get to places they want without having to ask for help at every turn. Umesh pointed out that governments should encourage the disabled and marginalized to be independent, and do everything possible to help them have the same rights and privileges as other people. While the first few days were awful, he was directed to elevators later on and this made life much easier- though this still didn’t cancel out the fact that there was

limited accessibility for many areas.

However, access wasn’t the only thing lacking at the conferencethe organizers seem to forgotten that the blind delegates would like to read as well.

Speaking at the Foundation event of Including Youth Participation at All Levels, Kenyan Delegate Njelekela Ashura pointed out how the blind delegates were marginalized as they did not have reading material.

The Government of Sri Lanka has done its apparent best to cater to the needs of their differently-abled and disabled guests. Each such delegate is provided with a volunteer- and the volunteers literally tail and accompany their wards to every conceivable place.

Having sponsored 13 disabled delegates, the government has also provided interpreters for the deaf delegates- including interpreters who are able to communicate in the delegate’s region-specific sign language, as opposed to the international sign language.

Sadly there are a few who’ve missed out on this. Mona Belhuane is a Tunisian who’s hard of hearing. She doesn’t use sign language, and has a volunteer to type down everything she hears so that she could read what’s been told to her instead. The volunteer, however, isn’t a professional: she’s merely a young aid.

The short interview with Mona was even shorter as the conversation between both of us was disjointed and she found it difficult to communicate. While she isn’t technically deaf and dumb, her hearing and speech IS impaired. This, coupled with the fact that she couldn’t hear or talk about what she needed, made her pretty annoyed with how the event managers have handled the whole thing (and the organization and event management, to be honest, was pretty awful. The queues for food for one- totally a story on its own. Oh, and did anyone mention that the food ran out on day one? Anyways, back to the topic…)

There apparently are professionals for hearing impaired people, professionals who could type at superhuman speeds and transcribe instantly- and this is what Mona said she needed, this –the

professionalism- is what she needs. And this is precisely what is sadly lacking in some aspects of this conference.

On the Brightside, the Nepalese delegate who’s confined to his wheelchair- Sagar Prasad- claimed he had a brilliant time. He apparently found ramps which made accessibility easy for him- and which Umesh wasn’t able to find. Adding to the rays of sunshine is the fact that whatever its shortcomings, the BMICH (conference venue) happily has separate washroom facilities for the differently-abled.

And, topping it all off, the excellent President of Sri Lanka himself tweeted that the government is in the process of making ‘all new buildings’ accessible to the disabled.

So here’s hoping that the old buildings would be upgraded as well, and that people with hearing and speech disabilities would also be given as much attention as the new buildings.

-Aisha Nazim, Photographs taken by Abdul Halik Azeez and Megara Tegal

Eating Lunch with Fingers: Human Rights at WCY2014

by Abdul Halik Azeez who bemoaned the lack of disability friendly infrastructure at the conference venue.

But as right holders we must also claim our rights. ‘We need to find the people who are accountable, if we cannot bring them to bear, there is no point passing resolution after resolution’ said Gamini, relating a logistical issue many faced at WCY2014 to the broader context of youth rights in the wider world.

The mechanisms of negotiation in terms of logistics at WCY2014, to the mind of this blogger, has many parallels to the broader goals of young people who want to ‘change the world’. Many of us expect our figurative lunches, fight tickets, transport and other conveniences to be automatically present at our fingertips, and when this doesn’t happen our first reaction is to throw tantrums. While no excuses should be made for bad organization, perhaps a mutually consultative engagement between ‘right holders’ (those who have rights) and ‘duty bearers’ (those that are obliged to deliver these rights) will yield better results. Also, perhaps in the divine order of things, the mechanisms of this conference are an apt, if very mild, metaphor to the challenges young people face in the real world.

‘Dignity is something we have to fight for’ says Gamini Wanasekara from UNFPA Sri Lanka, speaking at today’s round table discussion on Youth Rights. ‘Young people are frustrated right now, even about this conference, will this end document we’re drafting be any good? Will it really cause any affect in the long run?’ According to Gamini, this frustration is exactly what we need. ‘Frustration leads to action’ and action is what young people need, to obtain their rights.

The conference itself, according to Gamini, challenges our perception of rights. ‘If you don’t get your lunch at the right time, in a way that you like, someone must be made accountable’ he says. Food delays are a problem we’ve all faced in the last couple of days, but Gamini also speaks on a more nuanced point; ‘if you’re a person like me, who eats with his fingers’ he says, you have a right to food that essentially accommodates your preferences. A similar concern was raised by differently abled people that this blogger spoke to,

So how to go forward? To sum it up, ‘youth must learn to speak the language of duty bearers, and engage professionally with them’ says Gamini, pointing to this approach as the best way for furthering the cause of youth rights.

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Photography By Suhardha Prabash Sanjeewa@NYSC

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