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GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Fifty-fifth session EMERGING ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL: SOCIO-ECONOMIC MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS (Item 6 (c) of the provisional agenda) REPORT OF THE SECOND ASIA-PACIFIC INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING ON HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH Bangkok, 1-5 June 1998 Note by the secretariat The present report is submitted to the Commission for consideration and endorsement.
ANNEXES I. ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING 7. The Second Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth was held by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, at Bangkok from 1 to 5 June 1998. The Meeting was convened as a regional preparatory activity for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, to be held at Lisbon from 8 to 12 August 1998. It was co-sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 8. The objectives of the Meeting were as follows: (a) To assess national youth policies for further regional implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond; (b) To review the regional youth situation, focusing on the priority areas of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region, namely education, employment and health; (c) To formulate an Asia-Pacific input for the draft Lisbon declaration on youth policies and programmes, to be considered by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. 9. In addition, the Meeting devoted particular attention to the theme "Elimination of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of youth", as called for in Commission resolution 53/4 of 30 April 1997. 10. The Meeting was attended by senior representatives of the following ESCAP members and associate members:
11. The following other States were present in a consultative capacity: Kuwait, Portugal and Sweden. 12. One intergovernmental organization, the Commonwealth Secretariat, was represented. 13. Representatives of the following United Nations bodies and specialized agencies were present: Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations Centre for Human Rights (UNCHR), United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Health Organization (WHO). 14. Representatives of the following non-governmental and other organizations were represented: All Pakistan Youth Federation; Asian Youth Council; Assumption University; Bahay Tuluyan; Centre for the Protection of Children's Rights Foundation; Christian Conference of Asia; Chulalongkorn University; Delhi Public School; ECPAT International; ECPAT Japan Kanzai; ECPAT Thailand; Federation of Family Planning Association of Malaysia; Indian Assembly of Youth; Indian Committee of Youth Organizations; International Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Action and Strategies; Khmer Youth Association; Korea UNESCO Youth Centre; Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid; Maiti Nepal; Malaysian Youth Council; National Council for Child and Youth Development; National Federation of Youth Organizations in Bangladesh; National Youth Council of Pakistan; National Youth Services Council - Sri Lanka; Queen's University; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; Sri Lanka Youth Council; Thammasat University; Turismo Thai; Underprivileged Children's Educational Programs; UNEP-Global Youth Forum'97; World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts; Women's Federation for World Peace; World Federation of Democratic Youth; World Organization of the Scout Movement; World Youth Foundation; Young Men's Christian Association of Malaysia; and Young Women's Christian Association of Thailand. 15. Representatives of the following agencies and organizations of Thailand were represented in an observer capacity: National Youth Bureau; Department of Public Welfare (Child Welfare Protection Division, Child Adoption Center, Hilltribe Welfare Division, Social Studies and Planning Division), Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; Employment Promotion Division, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; Department of Skill Development, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; External Relations Division, Ministry of Education; Mental Health Technical Development Bureau, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health; Office of the Permanent Secretary, The Prime Minister's Office; Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Save the Children Fund (Thailand). The International University of Japan was also represented in an observer capacity. 16. The Meeting was inaugurated by HE Mr Pancha Kesornthong, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. B. Opening and keynote statements 17. Opening statements were delivered by the Executive Secretary of ESCAP; the Officer-in-Charge of the Youth Unit, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs;Ms Anna Runeborg, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); Mr Feliciano Carino, General Secretary, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA); and Mr James Chui, United Nations Population Fund. 18. The keynote address was delivered by HE Mr Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister of Thailand and UNICEF Ambassador to Thailand, on "Child rights and good governance: regional cooperation against child sexual abuse and exploitation". 19. During the opening ceremony, the 1998 ESCAP/UNAIDS Award was presented to Maiti Nepal for its exemplary work in preventing the sexual exploitation of children and youth and supporting young victims of commercial sexual exploitation. 20. The Meeting elected HE Ms Amina Rasul, Presidential Adviser on Youth Affairs, and Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Commission (Philippines), chairperson; HE Mr A.S.M. Shahjahan, Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports (Bangladesh), vice-chairperson; and HE Ms Fusi Vave, Permanent Secretary for Youth and Employment Opportunities and Sports (Fiji), rapporteur. 21. The Meeting adopted the following agenda: 1. Opening of the Meeting. 2. Election of officers. 3. Adoption of the agenda. 4. Special theme: elimination of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and youth. 5. Review of the follow-up of the Asia-Pacific Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth, Beijing, October 1996: (a) Report by ESCAP; (b) Report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs; (c) Report by the Regional Collective Consultation of Youth NGOs in Asia and the Pacific. 6. Assessment of national youth policies for further implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond. 7. Implementation of priorities of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region: (a) Education; (b) Employment; (c) Health. 8. Formulation of an Asia-Pacific input for the draft Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes. 9. Adoption of the report. V. SUMMARY OF THE DELIBERATIONS A. Special theme: elimination of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and youth 22. The Meeting had before it document E/ESCAP/HRDY(2)/1 entitled "Commercial sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children". 23. Under this agenda item a panel discussion was held on the special theme of "Child sexual abuse and exploitation: challenges of prevention and protection from victimization". The discussion was moderated by Mr Vitit Muntarbhorn, General Rapporteur of the Stockholm World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The panelists were Ms Saisuree Chutikul, Former Minister and Senior Advisor on Women's and Children's Affairs, Government of Thailand; Ms Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; Mr Ron O'Grady, ECPAT International Chairperson; Mr Zia Ahmed Awan, President, Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid, Pakistan; and Ms Anuradha Koirala, Director, Maiti Nepal. 24. The panel discussion and ensuing deliberations addressed future challenges faced by the ESCAP region in ensuring full protection of children and youth from sexual abuse and exploitation. The Meeting also considered issues related to the physical and psycho-social recovery and social reintegration of the victims, and the need for cooperation between governmental and non-governmental agencies, spiritual leaders, the private sector and civil society in general. 25. The Meeting noted that child rape, incest, child prostitution, child pornography and traffic in children for sexual purposes were prevalent in the ESCAP region as well as in other parts of the world. The phenomenon had, in fact, become globalized. There was a ready market for child victims locally, transnationally and internationally. Traffic in children by means of abduction, trickery and enticements, both within and across borders, was on the rise. The advent of technology, in particular the Internet, had also facilitated the transmission of information and child pornography images to all parts of the globe. 26. Key areas for regional cooperation against child sexual abuse and exploitation, focusing on the principles of good governance, included the following: (a) improved selection and capacity-building of law enforcers; (b) increased support for good law enforcers and effective law enforcement; (c) penalization of corruption; (d) people's participation in decision-making, monitoring and implementation; (e) opportunities for checks and balances by the public; (f) more social incentives for investors; (g) self-regulation of the private sector; (h) decentralization of government and of responsibility; (i) the need for multi-disciplinary teams dealing with victims; and (j) the need for more child-friendly and gender-sensitive measures. 27. Among the preventive and recovery measures discussed by the Meeting were livelihood programmes for impoverished families; education; legislation; training of multi-disciplinary teams to care for the children; participation of victims in planning and evaluating policies and programmes; and the promotion of programmes to protect and support the reintegration of victims into communities and families as well to enhance their access to relevant health services. 28. Youth participants at the Meeting voiced their concern about street children and the new trend of commercial sexual exploitation of schoolgirls and called for the active participation of the abused and exploited children themselves in planning and implementing policies and programmes, and for stricter penalties for the abusers. B. Review of the follow-up of the Asia-Pacific Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth, Beijing, October 1996 29. The Meeting was informed of the follow-up action taken by the ESCAP secretariat to implement the proposals and recommendations of the Asia-Pacific Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth, held at Beijing from 22 to 26 October 1996. That Meeting had adopted the Beijing Statement on Human Resources Development for Youth in Asia and the Pacific, as well as a set of project ideas for regional cooperation. In 1997 many of the project ideas had been further developed by the secretariat into project proposals. Funding had been secured for their implementation. A regional project on the elimination of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of youth, covering 12 countries, had commenced in January 1998. That project had received funding from the Sida, the Government of Japan and UNFPA. Another project on the training of trainers for youth development focused on such areas as entrepreneurial development. It had received funding from CCA and was under implementation. ESCAP was also providing advisory services to governments in the development of national youth policies and plans. The development of "youth participation indicators", as called for by the Asia-Pacific Meeting, would be undertaken in 1999 under the regular budget. Hence, during the 19 months since the holding of the Asia-PacificMeeting, progress had been achieved in implementing the recommendations and proposals of the governments. 30. The Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Youth Unit, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York, informed the Meeting of the global follow-up action taken since the adoption of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond. That work had included a large number of activities in preparation for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. He noted that at the regional level, ESCAP had been the only regional commission to take the initiative to convene a regional intergovernmental meeting in preparation for the World Conference. He also informed the Meeting of a new global project which had been submitted to a donor country and organization for funding. That project would also involve the cooperation of the regional commissions and would focus on strengthening national youth policies, coordination and implementation mechanisms. 31. The Chairman of the Regional Collective Consultation of Youth NGOs for Asia and the Pacific (RCCAP) presented the recommendations and proposals of the Asia-Pacific Meeting of Youth Organizations in preparation for the Third Session of the World Youth Forum, which had been convened by ESCAP in cooperation with UNESCO and RCCAP at Bangkok from 27 to 29 May 1998. The Meeting, which was attended by youth and youth organizations in the region, had been convened to provide an input for the current intergovernmental Meeting as well as the third session of the World Youth Forum, to be convened by the United Nations in cooperation with the Government of Portugal in August 1998. 32. The representative of the Government of Portugal expressed appreciation to ESCAP for convening the current Meeting to prepare for the World Conference. She briefed the Meeting on the status of preparations for the Conference, to be hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations in Lisbon from 8 to 12 August 1998. The Conference would review and appraise local, national and regional implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond by governments, in cooperation with youth and youth-related organizations. It would also consider new proposals on how the implementation of the World Programme of Action could be further supported. C. Assessment of national youth policies for further implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond 33. The Meeting had before it document E/ESCAP/HRDY(2)/2 entitled "Assessment of national youth policies for further implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond". 34. Mr Peter Kenyon, international consultant on youth policies, provided an overview of issues related to youth policy formulation and implementation. He emphasized that national youth policies reflected the significance of nationally-agreed formulas for meeting the needs and aspirations of young women and men, and mobilizing their contribution to national development. Youth policies encapsulated elements of vision, frameworks and realistic guidelines from which youth strategies and programmes were designed and implemented. 35. The discussions focused on the youth policy experience of several countries in the region. The Meeting stressed that youth policies needed to be of an intersectoral nature, and that they required political commitment and formal linkages to national action plans, as well as the active participation of youth during all phases of formulation, implementation and evaluation. They also needed to be continually monitored and reviewed in view of the changing needs of youth, and should include measurable indicators to evaluate their impact. 36. The Meeting had before it document E/ESCAP/HRDY(2)/3 entitled "Implementation of priorities of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region: education, employment and health". 37. Mr Victor Ordonez, Director of the UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, presented an overview of issues related to education in Asia and the Pacific. He referred to progress in the implementation of two landmark documents in the past decade, namely the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region, and the World Declaration on Education for All. Youth were not only the recipients and beneficiaries of education for all, but also partners and proponents of that goal. In modern society, as the learning needs of youth underwent continuous change, learning and education would need to go beyond formal schooling and would increasingly take place outside the formal education system. 38. The Meeting agreed that continuing non-formal education and imparting life skills should be supported further as an alternative and complementary mode of learning. The valuable role of the family as a facilitator for learning was also stressed. It was agreed that the value of educating youth went beyond the utilitarian value of meeting labour demands and should be based on the "four pillars of learning": (a) learning to know, (b) learning to do, (c) learning to be, and (d) learning to live together. 39. Mr Ahmadullah Mia, Executive Director, Underprivileged Children's Educational Programs (UCEP), Bangladesh, presented a review of several important factors related to youth unemployment, such as high population growth, urban migration, lack of relevant education, and globalization. He also discussed the nature of the policy and programme interventions needed to respond to the above challenges to employment opportunities. It was noted that there was a need for programmes which focused on rural areas, promoted non-traditional sectors for women's employment, and increased the capacity of the informal sector. It was emphasized that there was also a need for close links with industry to promote skills training and employment for youth. As an illustration, a project experience was also presented. 40. The Meeting observed that in most countries, education and employment were priority issues for development. It was agreed that there had been a mismatch between the skills learned and the skills needed. Unemployment among unskilled labour and educated youth was a growing problem. The Meeting, therefore, called for a review of the education and training processes, with a view to ensuring a better fit with market demand. In addition, new opportunities should be created, along with a growing economy, to match the skills of educated youth. The benefits of internship, vocational training, extension services and entrepreneurship programmes were noted. However, it was also noted that those programmes could not match all the aspirations and skills of youth. The Meeting called for a multi-sectoral approach to policy-making for youth and employment. It stressed thatthe numerous and diverse stakeholders, including youth themselves, should be involved in theprocess. 41. Under this agenda item, three presentations were delivered. The first presentation, made by Ms Shradha Chowdhury, a youth representative from Delhi Public School in India, focused on HIV/AIDS and health education. It was noted that young people increasingly entered sexual relations without much knowledge of sexuality, reproduction or contraception and with little emotional preparation. They were at risk of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS and exploitation. It was, therefore, observed that improving the sexual and reproductive health of young people was paramount. The notion that teaching young people about their sexuality and offering them services would promote sexual activity was challenged. The need for the provision of information and counseling services on sexuality and drugs through different communication channels and settings was stressed. The important role of parents in providing guidance was also emphasized. The presentation ended with a call to give young people a voice in the planning and implementation of policies and programmes to promote youth health. 42. The Senior Technical Officer, Education, Communication and Youth Branch, Technical and Evaluation Division, and Manager of the Youth Theme Group, UNFPA, in his presentation, observed that there was a need to examine sexual and reproductive health from a broader perspective which included drugs, HIV/AIDS, and STDs. The vulnerability of young people to health problems was noted and a call was made for an integrated approach to address their concerns. The Meeting was informed that such an approach should include life skills education to help young people make decisions and assume responsibility. It should also include peer education programmes to provide youth with accurate information. The need to approach health issues from a broader socio-economic, cultural and gender dimension was emphasized. 43. The Programme and External Relations Adviser, Asia-Pacific Intercountry Team, UNAIDS, in his presentation, focused on the challenges and measures adopted to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people in the region. He informed the Meeting that 90 per cent of all new HIV infections occurred in developing countries and over 50 per cent of those infections were among young persons aged 15 to 24 years. The combined facts that AIDS was incurable, lethal and associated with sexual behaviour had made it an especially sensitive subject. It was observed that providing young people with sexual health education ensured their acquisition of the life skills needed for responsible and safe behaviour. It was also noted that good quality educational programmes helped in delaying first intercourse and protecting sexually active young people from HIV, STDs and pregnancy. 44. The Meeting highlighted other health problems facing young people in the ESCAP region, including those related to alcohol and tobacco abuse, malnutrition and mental disorders. It stressed the need for health education in schools and for age- and sex-disaggregated data. G. Formulation of an Asia-Pacific input for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth 45. The Meeting divided itself into four workshops to develop recommendations for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, as well as specific proposals for regional cooperation to promote human resources development for youth in the areas of youth policies, youth education, youth employment and youth health. 46. The following representatives served as chairpersons and rapporteurs of the respective workshops: Youth policies: Chairperson: Mr Malik Lala-i-Yesrab (Pakistan) Rapporteurs: Ms Bi Dongli (China), Mr Anthony T. Ambahan (Philippines) Youth education: Chairperson: Mr Kinley Dorji (Bhutan) Rapporteur: Mr M. Golam Sattar (Bangladesh) Youth employment: Chairperson: Mr P.K. Sinha (India) Rapporteur: Mr D.L. Kumaradasa (Sri Lanka) Youth health: Chairperson: Ms Lourdes G. Balanon (Philippines) Rapporteur: Mr Yee Thiam Sun (Malaysia) 47. The Meeting adopted the Asia-Pacific Position for the Lisbon World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, as contained in annex I of the present report. 48. The Meeting also adopted a set of proposals for action to promote youth policies, youth education, youth employment, and youth health, as contained in annex II of the present report. 49. The Meeting adopted its report on 5 June 1998. ASIA-PACIFIC POSITION FOR THE WORLD CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUTH, LISBON, 8-12 AUGUST 1998 We, the Governments participating in the Second Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth, convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, from 1 to 5 June 1998 in Bangkok, Recalling General Assembly resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, in which the Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, by which the Member States of the United Nations called for regional conferences for youth affairs to be convened under the aegis of the United Nations, Recalling also resolution 50/7 of 13 April 1994, by which the Commission adopted the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region, as refined and updated in 1994, in which youth are identified as a priority target group for human resources development programmes, Recalling further resolution 52/4 of 24 April 1996, in which the Commission called upon member and associate member governments to promote human resources development among youth in Asia and the Pacific by integrating the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, and its ten priority areas, namely, education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure time activities, girls and young women, and full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and decision-making, into their national youth policies, plans and programmes, Recalling further the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted by the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Stockholm in August 1996, and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its fifty-second session held in November 1997, as well as resolution 53/4 of 30 April 1997, in which the Commission called upon member and associate member governments to act towards the elimination of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and youth in Asia and the Pacific, Acknowledging the United Nations definition of youth as the age cohort of 15 to 24 years, as indicated in the World Programme of Action for Youth, Considering that 60 per cent of the world youth population, or over 600 million youth, reside in the Asian and Pacific region, Noting with concern the situation of youth in Asia and the Pacific, the majority of whom live in poverty, as well as the special difficulties experienced by different groups of young people, such as those involved or affected by substance abuse, violence, neglect, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and conflicts, armed or otherwise; refugees and other migrant young people; displaced and parentless young people; young people living with disabilities; indigenous youth; young offenders; and other disadvantaged and marginalized young people, Recognizing that youth are a positive force in society and a human resource with enormous potential for contributing to development and the advancement of societies, Welcoming the convening of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, to be hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations, at Lisbon from 8 to 12 August 1998, We, therefore, adopt the Asia-Pacific Position for the Lisbon World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth and commit ourselves to: National youth policies 1. Ensuring that national youth policy formulation and implementation processes are accorded commitment from the highest political levels, including the provision of adequate levels of resources; 2. Developing integrated national youth policies and action plans to implement the World Programme of Action for Youth, thus improving the quality of life of young men and women for their own development and their active participation in society; 3. Formulating the necessary policies and programmes of both an intersectoral and multi-sectoral nature by the year 2000, as recommended by the World Programme of Action, while taking into account national priorities, realities and limitations arising from different economic, social and cultural development contexts; 4. Reviewing the situation of youth and their needs and incorporating young people's own assessment of priorities; 5. Ensuring that young men and young women actively contribute to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of national youth policies and action plans; 6. Strengthening responsible partnerships among all key stakeholders including young women and young men, their families, governments, international agencies, youth organizations and other non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, civil society, the business sector and the media in order to create synergies to better address youth potentials and problems both at national and local levels; 7. Developing measurable, time-bound strategic plans of action and indicators to create a common basis for national and regional evaluation of the implementation of national youth policies and action plans; 8. Ensuring the mainstreaming of youth policy into national development policies and initiatives; 9. Supporting regional and international exchange of best practices in youth policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, and the provision of appropriate development tools and technical assistance. Participation 10. Enabling the active participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making processes through the improvement and/or creation of conducive mechanisms, and ensuring that the necessary gender-sensitive measures are taken to attain equal access and participation by young women and men; 11. Developing the capacity of young people through the empowerment of formal and informal coalitions and networks of youth; 12. Upholding and reinforcing policies that encourage independent and democratic forms of youth organizations and support freedom of association and expression to ensure the full contribution of youth to society; 13. Undertaking special efforts to reach young people with special concerns and provide them with the means and the motivation to contribute effectively in their societies, including young people living with disabilities, young refugees, displaced and parentless youth, indigenous youth, juvenile delinquents, street youth, young people suffering from HIV/AIDS, homelessness and joblessness, and other disadvantaged and marginalized youth; 14. Creating structures and supporting experiences which enhance leadership development skills and opportunities for young men and women; 15. Enhancing the role of youth organizations in the planning, implementation and evaluation of national development plans and programmes; 16. Advocating the need for the implementation of statutory requirements to ensure the participation of young men and women in decision-making mechanisms and processes, especially in those affecting youth policies and programmes; 17. Encouraging youth volunteerism as an important form of youth participation; 18. Promoting the development of a youth participation index and national and international mechanisms for its periodic evaluation. Development 19. Investing in human resources development for youth to ensure their active participation in local, national and international development for their own benefit and that of society; 20. Ensuring actions focusing on the alleviation of poverty, which is important for all development initiatives for youth; 21. Ensuring gender-sensitive development which includes a focus on both increasing young women's participation as well as integrating gender concerns into youth development initiatives; 22. Ensuring access for young women and young men to economic resources, including land, credit, technologies and information, as a necessary condition for relevant and effective national development; 23. Enhancing the opportunities and development resources of young people living within rural and remote communities; 24. Responding to the fundamental needs of young people for safe, healthy and secure living conditions, including shelter and freedom from fear of physical and psychological abuse in the family, school system and workplace; 25. Fostering awareness and commitment among young people to sustainable development principles and practices, especially with regard to environmental protection, and supporting the actions of young people in promoting those principles; 26. Encouraging bilateral, regional and international cooperation to create an enabling environment at the national and international levels in order to ensure the full participation of young people in economic and social development. Peace 27. Ensuring that young men and young women live within an environment free from threat, conflict, violence and exploitation, including violence in all forms of the media; 28. Strengthening the involvement of youth and youth organizations in peace-building, disarmament and conflict resolution; 29. Enhancing the role of youth and youth organizations in the promotion of intercultural learning, tolerance, human rights education and democracy in order to promote mutual understanding and respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, responsibility, solidarity and international cooperation; 30. Preventing the participation, involvement and mobilization of adolescents in armed conflict and other hostilities. Education 31. Promoting education in all its aspects, namely formal, non-formal and life-long education, for the total development of youth as individuals and members of society, for the improvement of youth skills, and to prepare unskilled and out-of-school youth for employment; 32. Guaranteeing access and continuity of all young women and men to good quality basic education, including family life education and the promotion of healthy lifestyles; 33. Setting national time-bound goals for the expansion of access to, and improvement of, the quality of secondary and higher education; 34. Offering adequate training in the use of different forms of the media to optimize their impact on youth; 35. Providing for the rehabilitation of young people from juvenile detention and corrections and their reintegration into schools and training institutes; 36. Designing new strategies focusing on youth in distress and violent circumstances, aimed at ending exclusion, offering renewed learning opportunities for early school leavers and promoting continuous learning and training opportunities for both employed and unemployed youth; 37. Supporting family structures, especially those of the poor, and providing the necessary support measures to family and schools dealing with young people, particularly those living with physical and mental disabilities; 38. Reinforcing and designing new partnerships to enable young people to learn, create and express themselves through cultural, physical and sports activities for the benefit of their balanced physical, intellectual, artistic, moral, emotional and spiritual development, as well as their social integration; 39. Allocating resources to vocational education and training in response to economic, social and entrepreneurial realities; 40. Ensuring the linkage and matching of education with the needs of industry, business and the employment market, wherever possible; and setting up extension services and other internship schemes, such as career education orientation, information dissemination programmes and networking, to enable young people to enter employment, as well as to create employment opportunities to meet the requirements of social, economic and technical changes; 41. Involving all stakeholders of the educational process, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, in the review of educational curricula in secondary education to ensure continued relevance for the great majority of school leavers; 42. Emphasizing curriculum design and pedagogical approaches for the earlier stages of education to lay the foundation for citizenship, competence and the capability of young people to learn by themselves; 43. Including current issues such as reproductive health and substance abuse prevention in school curriculum design, as well as in extra-curricular activities; 44. Encouraging youth participation in community work as an important part of the education system. Employment 45. Promoting research on youth unemployment, market trends and demands and employment opportunities for formulating youth employment policies and programmes; 46. Affirming the ultimate goal of full employment in rural and urban areas to ensure that opportunities for income-generating work are available to all youth, especially disadvantaged and marginalized youth; 47. Promoting gender-sensitive policies and measures to empower young women as equal partners with young men in all fields of employment, including the technical, managerial and entrepreneurial fields; 48. Enforcing equal employment and training opportunities for young people, regardless of ethnic and geographic origins, linguistic differences, gender, disability, political belief, creed or religion, and social, cultural and economic background; 49. Promoting policies and measures for strengthening complementarity and partnership between public authorities, private sector industries and businesses, education and training institutions, financial institutions, and extension service agencies, in conjunction with civil society initiatives for the promotion of youth employment; 50. Investing in skills, vocational and entrepreneurial training of young people, together with an ethical orientation, and providing them with the necessary technical, financial and marketing support to establish their own enterprises and businesses; 51. Promoting employment-oriented education and training, in recognition of the current divergence between education and changing market needs; 52. Promoting the development of mechanisms for providing career counseling to youth through educational and training institutions as well as the community; 53. Fighting exploitation in the form of child labour and protecting minors against all extreme forms of child labour according to the International Labour Organization definition; 54. Promoting greater national and international commitment to protecting human rights, meeting social protection needs and preventing exploitation of migrant youth labour; 55. Ensuring greater bilateral and multilateral assistance to developing countries for the promotion of youth employment. Health 56. Creating the political, legal, material and socio-cultural conditions which allow access to basic health care with adequate youth-friendly and gender-equitable services and paying particular attention to information and prevention programmes with special emphasis on major health problems affecting young people such as adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, STDs, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and mental disorders; 57. Promoting the health of young people, preventing and treating health problems and providing rehabilitation and care by establishing effective partnerships within and between countries, local government bodies, non-governmental organizations, communities and the youth themselves; 58. Formulating policies and establishing programmes for the prevention of disabilities and for community-based rehabilitation and reintegration of young people with acquired disabilities; 59. Formulating policies favourable to the development of health programmes, including safe water supply, sanitation, and waste disposal in rural and poor urban areas, taking into account the specific needs of young women and men for a healthy environment; 60. Recognizing the importance of sexual and reproductive health care, of disseminating information and of youth-friendly and gender-equitable services, in order to ensure the physical, mental and social well-being of young people as well as access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable legal methods of family planning of their choice; 61. Intensifying efforts and actions towards international cooperation concerning health and humanitarian action in emergencies and other situations; 62. Recognizing the problem of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and other types of violence against young people and taking legal and non-legal measures for their prevention, effective law enforcement and the prevention of multiple victimization; 63. Ensuring full protection of young people from all forms of violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and promoting physical and psychological recovery and social and economic reintegration of the victim; 64. Recognizing and supporting the role of family and informal groups such as non-governmental organizations and youth-related organizations as the best mechanisms to provide a holistic environment for a healthy life through the provision of knowledge, information, skills and motivation; 65. Recognizing the problems faced by local and foreign workers, the majority of whom are youth who are often neglected and under-represented and faced with all forms of exploitation, and ensuring the provision of appropriate and adequate health care services. Substance abuse 66. Reducing the devastating consequences of drug abuse through demand reduction policies that aim at preventing the use of drugs and at reducing the negative health and social consequences of drug abuse; 67. Raising the awareness and decision-making skills of youth with regard to substance abuse and building healthier lifestyles, in conjunction with young people, parents, those responsible for taking care of young people and youth organizations; 68. Giving particular attention to demand reduction notably by working with youth through formal and informal education, including peer education, information activities based on accurate and reliable information, other preventive measures such as access to recreational activities and by promoting youth-friendly and gender-equitable services and support for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of young drug abusers; 69. Strengthening international, regional, subregional, and bilateral cooperation, and increasing efforts to fight against the illicit production, supply and traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. In connection with the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, we urge member and associate member governments of the ESCAP region to: 70. Be represented at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth to ensure that the concerns of Asian and Pacific youth are given prominence; 71. Include young people in their national delegations so that the voices of youth may be heard; 72. Support the Asia-Pacific Position as a regional input for the Conference, in particular for incorporation in the Lisbon Declaration on Youth. We agree to pursue international cooperation to promote the above commitments and through the following actions at the national, regional and international levels: National level 73. Request the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and other United Nations agencies, as well as the Asian Development Bank and the International Planned Parenthood Federation to give greater support to national youth policies and programmes within their country programmes; 74. Request further the relevant organizations of the United Nations system to assist Member States, on request, in undertaking periodic reviews as a means of up-dating national youth policy; 75. Request the United Nations Resident Coordinator system to expand the use of the mechanism of the inter-agency theme group on youth, or to set up one, where there is none, for regular exchange of information on youth policies and programmes, and for the promotion of collaboration among in-country United Nations bodies in the field of youth; 76. Invite United Nations Information Centres to intensify their commitment on and cooperative activities with Ministries responsible for youth and national youth and student organizations to strengthen the national youth policy and programme process. Regional level 77. Request ESCAP to continue to organize, on a regular basis, regional intergovernmental meetings of senior officials responsible for youth; 78. Strengthen the ESCAP human resources development programme for youth, focusing on provision of assistance to governments and other stakeholders, including youth organizations, in their efforts to develop national youth policies as well as provision of training for youth development personnel; 79. Urge ESCAP to ensure the participation of young people in all its programmes and activities for youth; 80. Request ESCAP to coordinate with regional offices of other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, and other intergovernmental bodies, in their formulation and implementation of programmes for youth; 81. Request ESCAP to provide support to national, subregional and regional alliances of youth organizations with a view to strengthening their solidarity and capacity through networking; 82. Request all concerned in regional offices of other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies to set up a "Youth Desk". International level 83. Invite the United Nations Youth Unit, representatives of the International Preparatory Consultations and the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth to consider the Asia-Pacific Position; 84. Ensure the follow-up of the first session of the Conference and encourage the holding of future sessions on a regular basis so as to better promote and monitor the implementations of the World Programme of Action for Youth at all levels; 85. Invite the youth-related bodies and organizations of the United Nations system to participate in the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth and the related youth minister conferences, and to coordinate their structures through convening annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Youth to promote a concerted follow-up of the recommendations of the Conference and of the World Programme of Action at all levels; 86. Request the World Youth Forum of the United Nations system at its third session, to be held at Braga, Portugal, from 2 to 7 August 1998, to review and follow up on the recommendations of the Asia-Pacific Meeting of Youth Organizations in preparation for the Third Session of the World Youth Forum, convened by ESCAP, UNESCO and the Regional Collective Consultation of Youth NGOs for Asia and the Pacific (RCCAP) at Bangkok, from 27 to 29 May 1998, and to note the Asia-Pacific Position so as to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action; 87. Urge interested governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to increase their financial contribution to the United Nations Youth Fund and set-up an advisory body to this Fund, composed of representatives of both Ministers responsible for youth and youth NGOs to provide guidance on both fund-raising strategies and project formulations, implementation and evaluation to follow-up the World Conference and World Youth Forum with specific youth projects; 88. Urge the Secretary-General to strengthen the United Nations Youth Unit, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, within available resources, by increasing its regular staff and by appointing an interregional adviser on youth policies and programmes to provide advisory services to Member States, on request, on ways and means to strengthen national youth policies and programmes; 89. Further request the Secretary-General to set targets for the recruitment and career development of qualified young people in a geographically balanced manner and include youth as a specific item in the agenda of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on Strengthening of the United Nations System. PROPOSALS FOR ACTION PROJECT PROPOSAL 1 Accelerating formulation of national youth policies and action plans Project components Development of national youth policy and action plan guidelines at the regional level. Capacity-building of governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in promoting national youth policies. Objectives To accelerate the formulation of youth policies and action plans in the Asian and Pacific region. To formulate guidelines outlining the principles for youth policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. To acknowledge and build upon existing initiatives. To build the capacity of governments, youth organizations and young men and women to contribute to youth policy processes. To improve collaboration at the international and national levels among governments and youth NGOs. Problems addressed Insufficient level of youth policy formulation and implementation within the region. Lack of guidelines and appropriate tools. Limited information-sharing within the region. Weak capacity and leadership concerning youth affairs. Lack of appropriate methodologies to involve young people. Activities: stage one To review and assess youth policy formulation and implementation within participating countries. To initiate a policy dialogue among government and youth organizations. To formulate general guidelines for youth policy and action plans. To create a clearing-house function within the region. To conduct training needs assessment. To develop tools, training curricula, and training materials highlighting youth participatory methodologies, youth policy implementation and stakeholder collaboration. Activities: stage two To identify and train facilitators for the development of national youth policies. To translate/adapt resource materials. To initiate dialogue among stakeholders within participating countries. To provide facilitation and training services. Activities: stage three To evaluate the project outcome as well as the content of guidelines and facilitation services. Role of United Nations agencies To provide technical/financial support. To plan a catalytic role aimed at drawing existing international and regional experience into the field. Role of national counterparts To ensure collaboration among national stakeholders. To ensure support at the highest political levels. To ensure the participation of all stakeholders, especially young people, at every level of the country. Outcomes Creation of wider awareness of the importance of national youth policies and action plans. Creation of guidelines for youth policy and action plans. Improvement of the quality of national youth policies and action plans and processes for their formulation and implementation. Creation of regional clearing-house functions. Creation of training resources (materials, human resources). PROJECT PROPOSAL 2 Education on reproductive health and substance abuse in schools
Objective To exchange experience in providing education in schools on reproductive health and substance abuse. Problem addressed There is an urgent need to raise awareness in the formal school system on issues related to reproductive health and substance abuse. Activities To bring together experience in providing schools in the region with education on reproductive health and substance abuse; To impart to teachers the skills to provide education in the classroom on reproductive health and substance abuse. Role of United Nations agencies To provide financial, material and technical assistance. Role of national counterparts To share experience and allocate resources to facilitate the project; To nominate suitable participants for the activities. Outcome Improvement in the curriculum dealing with reproductive health and substance abuse; Greater exposure among youth of issues related to reproductive health and substance abuse. PROJECT PROPOSAL 3 Matching education with labour market requirements
Objectives To match education with the requirements of the ever-changing and increasingly competitive employment market, in order to empower young people in making career choices; To exchange experience in creating employment opportunities to meet the requirements of social, economic and technical change on a sustained basis. Problem addressed Mismatch between education and the needs of the employment market, and socio-economic and technological change; Lack of extension services, internships and other schemes providing youth with guidance on career choices. Activities To establish a regional resource and training centre on career education and employment for youth, with a proper network of government and private institutions in the countries of the region; To constitute a pool of experts to share experience, assist in planning, and provide training at the national level; To organize regional consultations among government and private sector agencies dealing with education and employment on a regular basis. Role of United Nations agencies To establish a regional resource and training centre; To coordinate efforts; To mobilize financial and human resources at the regional level. Role of national counterparts To mobilize financial and human resources at the national level. Outcome Young people will make better informed choices regarding their careers. PROJECT PROPOSAL 4 Regional conference on ethical values in business for young entrepreneurs
Objectives To raise awareness among young entrepreneurs of the region on ethical values in business; To promote responsibility among young entrepreneurs for moving towards an equal and equitable society; To help and support young entrepreneurs and other young people who want to start doing business using ethical values; To work out with young entrepreneurs the regional ethical values in business which are applicable among countries in the region. Problem addressed Non-ethical business practices among a number of young entrepreneurs of the region; Decrease in ethical values in business conducted by young people of the region; Distrust when dealing with young people. Activities To organize national workshops emphasizing the need for ethical values and identifying such values for young entrepreneurs; To organize a regional conference on ethical values in business for young entrepreneurs; To elaborate on guidelines on the ethical values in business in the region; To implement guidelines on ethical values in business. Role of United Nations agencies To coordinate the regional conference; To seek funding; To seek resource persons; To assess and evaluate the implementation of ethical values in the region; To carry out follow-up activities. Role of national counterparts To coordinate national workshops; To elaborate national ethical values in business; To nominate representatives to the regional conference; To implement regional conference outcomes. Outcome Awareness among young entrepreneurs of ethical values in business; Production of a manual for young entrepreneurs and other young people who intend to start doing business; High commitment of young entrepreneurs of the region in moving towards a better society. PROJECT PROPOSAL 5 Mobilizing funds for the implementation of youth employment projects
Objectives To mobilize financial assistance from bilateral and multilateral donor agencies for the implementation of country-specific projects leading to employment of youth. Problem addressed Unemployment is a major problem facing youth in most countries; Though projects have been formulated to generate large-scale employment opportunities for youth in various countries, it is usually difficult to find the financial resources for their implementation; Neither the national budgets nor international donor agencies accord high priority to this aspect. Activities Regional and international level meetings of bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, with representatives from member countries, to sensitize them to the need to commit funds as well as to create the necessary will for implementing youth employment projects. Role of United Nations agencies ESCAP: to initiate the project; Other United Nations and bilateral agencies: to provide commitment and funding. Role of national counterparts Governments will identify possible areas and projects for implementation. Outcome Availability of financial resources for the implementation of youth employment projects, thereby addressing the problem of unemployment. PROJECT PROPOSAL 6 Labour market information network
Objectives To establish national labour market information through the creation of labour market centres in each country of the region; To establish a network of labour market information; To renew employment planning activities in the region, with a vision for the future. Problem addressed Lack of information on labour supply and demand, employment opportunities, availability of resources, and technology is a severe problem faced by the employment planners today; The availability of necessary and correct information for planners and policy makers would be helpful in the preparation of policies, future plans, and projects to promote employment; There is a gap in the process of employment planning. Activities To select experts and preparation of a detailed project document; To conduct preliminary studies in each country; To select and train staff; To supply necessary equipment; To establish labour market information centres. Role of United Nations agencies ESCAP: to coordinate the project; Other United Nations agencies: to provide necessary consultancy services and financial support. Role of national counterparts To provide necessary facilities; To execute the project. Outcome Flow of labour market information within the region and in the member countries for the use of planners, policy makers, researchers etc. PROJECT PROPOSAL 7 Regional review and evaluation of extension services to promote self-employment and group
employment
Objectives
To collect national experience in the various types of extension services; To assist and facilitate more successful ventures for the provision of employment, such as placement services, market identification and access, legal
literacy, access to credit, product improvement, introduction and utilization of new technology, investment strategies, social protection and support. Problem addressed There is a missing link between education, training and successful ventures in the promotion of self-employment and group employment; There is a need to increase the capability of the unemployed to repay loans taken for such ventures. Activities Experts will conduct national surveys on the range of extension services available to promote successful ventures in employment and self-employment; A regional assessment will be prepared based on these surveys; A regional meeting will be organized for government representatives and experts to share experience and to prepare policies and strategies for improving
extension services; A publication on successful initiatives in the region will be prepared. Role of United Nations agencies Various United Nations agencies will: Organize the regional meeting; Finalize the publication; Identify the experts and governments to be involved. Role of national counterparts To organize national surveys of experience in policy and strategy development. Outcome National studies; Regional meeting; Publication. PROJECT PROPOSAL 8 Entrepreneurial initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region: impact assessment and experience sharing
Objectives
To study the nature and impact of notable projects on employment and self-employment promotion undertaken by government and NGOs in various
countries; To identify the factors that contribute to, or limit, success in employment promotion; To diffuse useful experience at the regional level, and to promote effective models towards enhancing youth employment and self-employment. Problem addressed There is a need for understanding the dynamics of youth unemployment; Employment interventions and promotion activities and projects have limited results. Activities To identify notable initiatives in the countries of the region; To conduct a study of the initiatives; To organize national-level discussions on the study findings before finalizing the national reports; To organize a regional-level discussion based on the study findings; To document and disseminate the study report and the conclusion of the regional meeting. Role of United Nations agencies Various United Nations agencies can work together to arrange the following: Expertise and resources for the study; Regional-level meeting of concerned people; Follow up. Role of national counterparts Youth-related ministries, NGOs, and successful entrepreneurs will identify local experts, facilitate data collection, analyse data, and facilitate national-level
discussion on the study findings. Outcome An improved policy setting on youth employment; Documentation of various issues related to employment promotion in different socio-economic contexts, identifying common critical elements that could be
promoted and strengthened. PROJECT PROPOSAL 9 Integrated approaches to the promotion of the health of young people, including those in especially
difficult circumstances
Objectives
To determine the health needs and problems of young people, including those in especially difficult circumstances. To sensitize and promote awareness among policy makers and leaders of youth organizations about the need to adopt appropriate policies and actions, and to
prevent substance abuse and sexual and reproductive health problems among young people, including those in especially difficult circumstances. To raise awareness of the general public, young people, parents and those responsible for taking care of young people, on substance abuse, and sexual and
reproductive health, including STDs and HIV/AIDS. To develop appropriate information, education and communication (IEC) materials for young people. To exchange experience on successful approaches to meeting the health needs of young people. To strengthen the capacity of youth organizations, health workers and social workers, in addressing the health problems of young people through the
development of an effective methodology and training curriculum. Problem addressed General lack of knowledge and skills on substance abuse and sexual and reproductive health, including STDs and HIV/AIDS, among the general public,
parents, those responsible for taking care of young people and young people themselves, especially those in difficult circumstances. Lack of access to appropriate services and counselling. Lack of training opportunities, effective methodologies and a comprehensive approach for youth organizations, health workers and social workers in
addressing the health issues of young people. Lack of relevant research data on health-related problems and needs of young people, including those in especially difficult circumstances. Weak coordination between and among government agencies, NGOs and the community. Inadequate funds and resources. Activities Time-frame: five years. Phase one To develop a strategic plan of action. To document existing programmes, strategies, materials, and resources related to the project. Phase two To formulate national, regional and subregional strategic plans of action. To document and conduct research to assess the health problems and needs of young people. Phase three To convene a regional workshop on advocacy for senior policy makers and officials from relevant ministries, including enforcement officers, and youth
organizations. To document successful methodologies and approaches on family life education, prevention of substance abuse, and sexual and reproductive health
problems, including STDs and HIV/AIDS. To develop and produce curriculum and materials for training youth organizations and health and social professionals to meet the health needs of young
people. This will include new materials, as well as adaptation of existing materials identified earlier in the project. To develop and produce IEC materials. To conduct subregional training courses, exchange visits and study tours. To develop a monitoring and evaluation system. Role of the government To coordinate, facilitate and support government sectors, NGOs and the community in the implementation of the project. To formulate national strategic plans in coordination with relevant agencies, NGOs and youth themselves. Role of NGOs To involve as many youth organizations as possible from diverse fields. To identify youth NGOs at the national level through the regional collective consultation of youth NGOs in Asia and the Pacific. National focal points will be responsible for the implementation of the project in the respective countries. Role of United Nations and other agencies ESCAP, UNDCP, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, and other interested agencies including Sida and the Government of Japan. These agencies will be responsible for funding, technical support, coordination, monitoring and evaluation. Expected output National, subregional, and regional strategic plans of action. A research report to promote awareness of the health problems and needs of young people, including those in especially difficult circumstances. This would
also serve as a basis for the development of IEC materials and training materials. Curriculum and training materials. Subregional training courses and workshops. Youth organizations trained in methodologies to enhance the delivery of services to the target group. IEC materials in printed form in English and the local languages of the participating countries. Documentation of successful approaches. LIST OF DOCUMENTS Document No. |