The World Youth Conference (WYC 2010) will take place in Monterrey, Mexico from August 23 rd to the 26 th 2010 at the Cintermex Convention Center.

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1 CI/II/03/ World Youth Conference Mexico 2010 Second Work Session of the International Committee World Youth Conference Concept Note Mexico City, March 1 st, 2010 I. Venue and date The World Youth Conference (WYC 2010) will take place in Monterrey, Mexico from August 23 rd to the 26 th 2010 at the Cintermex Convention Center. II. Background A participative Youth is a strategy for development The year 2010 is an emblematic year as Mexico celebrates two hundred years of independent life and one hundred years of Revolution, setting the basis of Modern Mexico. This is a year to celebrate but also to analyze the past, present and future of the country. The WYC 2010 joins these celebrations as recognition to past aspirations and ideals of Mexican youth that had been the transforming force in creating a prosperous, fair, equitable and democratic nation. At an international level, the year 2010 it is also strategic. On 2010 will be the twenty fifth anniversary of the Youth International Year, the first recognition made by the United Nations General Assembly on the importance of youth s role with the slogan Participation, peace and development. Likewise, we will be celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and beyond and the twelfth anniversary of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held in Lisbon, Portugal in 1998, which represents the only conference that has gathered governments from around the world to discuss youth issues in the history of the United Nations. Furthermore, the Millennium Declaration will be celebrating its tenth anniversary and in this context, the international community will be reviewing those recommendations and outcomes achieved to satisfy the Millennium Development Goals. Nowadays, youth generations represent the highest figures in history. They are more educated and have better health services. When they become adults, they will have fewer children than their predecessors. With proper policies they can give more impulse to economic growth; they can increase rate of working populations and reduce demographic dependency. Regardless the nations level of wealth, we all need to take advantage of this opportunity before aging of society takes it away. On the contrary, development aspirations and poverty reduction can be seriously diminished. At five years of expiring the term set by international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals agreed in 2000, Mexico together with the United Nations System invites all countries to hold the 2010 World Youth Conference as a space for discussion and reflection on the youth s role to attain those goals and to ensure long lasting and perdurable efforts. 1

2 III. Objectives Let us build consensus and join wills The conference represents a unique opportunity for government s representatives to meet with civil society organizations and to identify priority actions set for 2015 on youth issues to be included in the International Agenda for development beyond the Millennium Development Goals. This forum will allow strengthening cooperation links among countries and social actors related to youth policies. According to this purpose, the Conference will seek to achieve the following objectives: 1. To elaborate by consensus a Governments Declaration that identifies action priorities on youth and development to be submitted in the 65th Session Period of the United Nations General Assembly; 2. To promote the setting of a mechanism to give specific follow up to the youth agenda at the UN; 3. To promote dialogue between civil society organizations, governments and parliamentarians on youth and development policies and to have a better understanding of priorities and needs of world youth; 4. To share experiences and knowledge on diagnosis, policies and programs on youth and development. IV. Elements of the Conference Let us build communication links and commitment The WYC 2010 will have three different participation areas in order to achieve these objectives; each belonging to one of the three social agents that are a strategic to attain youth participation in development issues. These agents are: youngsters themselves, non governmental organism, governments and legislators. The Social Forum, the Governments Forum and the Legislators Forum are created for them as shown in the following graph: Governments Forum August 24 th to the 26 th 2010 Social Forum Global Meeting of NGOs Global Village August 23 rd to the 25 th 2010 August 23 rd to the 25 th 2010 Legislators Forum August 23 th

3 A. Social Forum Co responsibility and participation for common welfare One of the lessons learned in the last decades of organizing World Summits is that whenever broad participation of organized civil society exists, the impact of agreements increases; NGO participation also contributes to mobilize more economic, political and technical resources as well as to develop more strict schemes of assess and accountability. Mexico seeks that the agreements derived from the WYC 2010 emerge from dialogue between youth and government; that they respond to the needs and demands of young men and women and can promote participation of all social sectors, starting from the own youth sector. With that aim in consideration, the Social Forum is created as a space for youth expressions, where the Global Meeting of NGO will take place, before the Governments Meeting. There will be also a Global Village, a space to share better practices, diagnosis, concerns and technical reflections through roundtables, workshops, conferences and an informative fair. This area will also gather different young art expressions, culture, technology and entertainment. Global Meeting of NGO The Global Meeting of NGO will take place from August 23rd to the 25th In this space participation is intended to be equitable in order to ensure a world wide representation. All UN country members are invited to bring two national NGO to participate at this meeting. As Mexico will be hosting the Conference, an exception will be made, allowing ten Mexican NGO to participate. Taking into account the NGO participating as members of the Social Forum Organizing Committee (SOFOC), it is expected to count with the participation of around 420 non governmental organizations. The Social Forum Organizing Committee was created so the participation mechanisms for youth NGO respect the principles of inclusion, equity, autonomy and transparency. It is formed by global organizations and regional platforms of young people independent from governments and political parties. The SOFOC members were chosen by open announcement between the organisms that belong to a recognized international organization that has an impact on public policies and that is specialized in coordinating youth organizations, the International Coordinator Meeting of Youth Organisations. The SOFOC is in charge of formulating the call for applications for international NGO so they can participate at the Global Meeting of NGO. Some of the selection criteria will be: significant trajectory and national influence; a recognized work; to respect and promote human rights of young people, peace and democracy. Each NGO will have to propose a task to submit in the informative fair or within the academic, cultural and entertainment activities of the Global Village. The SOFOC will install a selection committee responsible to review the validated documents and technical proposals. A document of recommendations is expected to come out as a result of the NGOs meeting. The document will be submitted to the Governments Forum at its starting session so it can be considered in its deliberation process. Then, the document of recommendations will be submitted to the Parliamentarian s Forum with that same purpose. 3

4 The Program of the NGO Global Meeting will be established by the SOFOC and approved in plenary session. The general structure will be the IC s proposal that is based in the MDG with youth focus. Global Village Who can participate at the Global Village? NGO chosen to participate in the Global Meeting of NGO Youth NGO or those that work in favor of national or international youth issues, from Mexico or other countries Governments and multi lateral organisms Private foundations and firms The selection process and organizations of the attendees to the Global Village will be carried out by the IMJUVE in joint coordination with the Social Forum Organizing Committee. Global Village August 23 rd to the 25 th General public Free entrance Several products such as the global campaign to benefit youth Informative fair Conferences and roundtables on youth and development Workshops Cultural Program Theatre Exhibitions Performance Art Object B. Governments Forum All the countries together for Youth The Governments Forum will take place from August 24th to the 26th All the UN State members will be invited to participate and those non governmental organisms validated at the ECOSOC can attend the meeting as well as the representatives of international organisms. International Committee (IC) An International Committee will be installed to organize and announce the Governments Forum. It will count with the participation of a broad number of countries from all regions, UN agencies and other international organisms and representatives of the Social Forum Organizing Committee. 4

5 Announcement The International Committee (IC) will send the public announcement to participate in the WYC2010 to the UN state members. The announcement will be spread by means of letter signed by the IC president and through the Mexican Chancellor s office with copy to the permanent mission before the UN of each country. Declaration The Governments Forum will have as an outcome a Declaration that will set recommendations for the governments on the measures to be considered on youth and development topics to the year 2015 and beyond. This Declaration will be submitted to the 65 th session s period of the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the countries that endorsed it. Integration of official delegations It is recommended that the official delegations are formed by the high level officer in charge of youth policies, by experts on youth and development and at least by one representative of youth non governmental organizations. Official Delegations Ministries Responsible for Youth Representative of youth NGOs Experts or Academicians General Program of the Governments Forum The Governments Forum will start its activities on Tuesday, August 24th The opening ceremony will be chaired by the highest level of the Federal Government in Mexico and other personalities will be invited. The evening session will be devoted to choose the Board for the WYC2010, the agenda and other protocol events. This session will end in a plenary session on youth and development. On Tuesday morning, at the plenary session, the recommendations emerged from the Global Meeting of NGOs will be submitted. Afterwards, the activities of the informal group of governments will start, aiming to design and agree the Declaration Project to be approved on Thursday, August 26 th during the plenary session. 5

6 Informal Group Those members credited in the official delegations can only participate within the deliberations of the informal group. There will not be simultaneous interpretation service available; therefore, the official language will be English. The International Committee will submit two months in advance its Declaration proposal so it can be discussed previously. Likewise, it will give a proposal to integrate the recommendations elaborated at the Global Meeting of NGO that will be submitted at the informal group first session. The deliberations of the informal group will be private and will not be broadcasted. Plenary Every day, the WYC 2010 will be devoted to a specific issue regarding youth and development, linked with the MGD. The countries will have a 5 minutes presentation to set their position and ideas in one of the days established for that purpose (Wednesday or Thursday). Every country is free to set its participation according to their priorities. It is recommended to focus each country s participation in youth needs, government s tasks and of cooperation of international community. There will be simultaneous interpretation service in Spanish, English and French. It is overseen to invite key speakers. One of them will speak in the opening ceremony and two more during the session of Tuesday and Thursday. The conferences will be held in a special room with enough room so the members of the official delegations, the participants to the NGO Global Meeting and special guests can attend it. Governments Forum August 24 th to the 26 th 2010 Plenary session (Visible on closed circuit) 5 minutes participation 3 conferences Symbolic commitment with youth Group of informal discussion on the Declaration Proposal Recommendations issued by the NGO Participation in Global Village C. Legislators Forum For a total justice The Legislators Forum is a space created for senators and representatives of different parliaments of the world to meet. Aiming to set action priorities and recommendations to strengthen the juridical and institutional frameworks that favor youth participation in development, the Legislators Forum will also seek to set a dialogue between youth organizations and legislators. The Legislators Forum will be organized by the National Congress of Mexico under the initiative of the Youth and Sports Commission from the House of Representatives. All the meetings can be watched through closed circuit in special rooms and in some specific points at the Global Village. 6

7 Social Forum (Global Youth NGOs Meeting) Document of Youth NGOs Recommendations Components and products Document of Youth NGOs Recommendations Government Forum Legislators Forum Global Village 2010 WYC Declaration V. Program and contents The reference framework to the WYC2010 is integrated by the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that deploys the international agenda that includes priority commitments as of development matters refers. The WYC2010 seeks to give more visibility to young people in the international agenda in terms of development actions and meaningful participation in achieving these goals. In order to organize the discussion, a general thematic division treating the MDG from a youth perspective has been established. This way, some specific expressions can be discussed in detailed. Below, you will find the description of a preliminary theme proposal. The theme structure proposed will basically be useful to organize the different forums and the Global Village as well as the formulation of the Declaration project. I. Poverty, Social Justice and Employment 1. Eradicate poverty, discrimination and social segregation in youth, including lack of security and justice for young people; and to ensure full access to quality employment for young women and men. II. III. IV. Education 2. Ensure universal primary education and youth full access to relevant education for current and potential development. Gender Equity 3. Promote gender equity and women empowerment among world youths (Special attention should be paid to gender violence and all forms of exclusion and discrimination based on gender). Health 4. Reduce youth mortality. 5. Improve maternal and sexual and reproductive health of young people promoting universal access to relevant services. 6. Reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections of high incidence among youth. 7

8 V. Sustainable development and participation 7. Promoting youth participation in finding solutions to development problems; including environmental sustainability VI. Global partnership and cooperation 8. Develop a global partnership for development to promote access and use of information and communication technologies, training for innovation and entrepreneurial development among young people; and ensure full respect and enjoyment of human rights for young populations. VI. Pre conferences and Regional Consultations The Pre conferences of the World Youth Conference 2010 represent an area where governments of the same geopolitical region can analyze and discuss youth issues and its relevance to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. They are a space for dialogue and expression between youth organizations and governments of the region. These spaces will allow collecting experiences from every region in the world in order to set agreement during the WYC A. Objectives of the Pre conferences and the Regional Consultations 1. To collect contributions on youth issues from different regions in the world 2. To identify proposals and action lines needed for the regions youth 3. To generate a Declaration Project proposal on development and youth as well as an institutional strengthening mechanism, both issued from discussion and revision of the document circulated by the International Committee. B. Expected outcomes from the Pre conferences and the Regional Consultations 1. Regional Declaration that identifies action priorities for youth policies and development to be submitted in the World Youth Conference and to be considered in the joint declaration that will be submitted in the 65 th session s period of the United Nations General Assembly 2. Regional proposal on the mechanism that will strengthen the international youth agenda within the United Nations System 3. Recommendations from youth NGOs on the specific actions needed to encourage youth participation in reaching development. C. Pre conferences and Regional Consultations elements The Pre conference can contain some of the elements from the World s Youth Conference such as the Governments Forum and the Social Forum. However, the specific situation to a region shall determine the modality that will be followed (consultation mechanism). Government Forum: represents a space for discussion and presentation of the official delegations on the topics of the agenda. A consensus will be achieved to write down a recommendations document to be integrated into the Declaration Project of the WYC Social Forum: represents a space so members from civil society organizations can participate and set agreements and recommendations to be considered by regional government. The Pre conference s Social Forum shall precede the Governments Forum so the NGOs recommendations can be an essential input to the governments declaration at each Pre conference. 8

9 Round Tables: One way to promote interaction between young people and governments is through round tables, which are spaces where both actors will have an opportunity to meet to discuss the draft declaration from regional meetings as well as the draft declaration submitted to the 2010 WYC. VII. Organization of the 2010 WYC The Conference is an initiative of Mexico s government that includes the participation of several countries and the support of the UN System and other multi lateral organisms. The organization of the different fora for the WYC 2010 will have specific committees (with the exception of the Parliamentarian s Forum, which organization process just started). A. International Committee The International Committee will coordinate the Governments Forum and the Preconferences. It will also decide the participation mechanisms and links between civil society and governments. The International Committee (IC) is formed by the ministries responsible for youth of the eighteen countries invited by the Mexican government to jointly organize the World Youth Conference as well as the regional Pre conferences. The IC also includes the participation of sixteen holders of international organisms (ten of them belonging to the UN System and six being multilateral organisms with regional characteristics). In all cases, the holders will have the collaboration of joint holders that will participate in the working sessions. In order to ensure regional representation, two more countries belonging to the economical regions of East Africa and Central Africa will be invited to join the International Committee. Both will be fully incorporated to the IC activities once they confirm its membership. The countries invited to participate in the International Committee by means of their ministries responsible for youth are: America Africa Asia Europe Oceania Federal Republic of Brazil Federal Republic of Nigeria People s Republic of China Kingdom of Spain Republic of Republic of South Republic of Korea Portuguese Costa Rica Africa Republic Republic of Republic of Tunisia Republic of India Czech Cuba Republic United States of Kingdom of Russian Mexico Thailand Federation Republic of Turkey Kingdom of Belgium New Zealand 9

10 The International Committee will have the participation of the following representatives: United Nations System United Nations Youth Program, UN YOUTH United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA United Nations Children s Fund, UNICEF United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM United Nations Development Program, UNDP United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO United Nations Volunteers, UN Volunteers International Labor Organization, ILO World Bank Multilateral Organizations with regional features Council of Europe European Commission African Union League of Arab States Ibero American Youth Organization, IYO Ibero American General Secretary, SEGIB The IC will include the participation of two representatives from non governmental organizations members of the Social Forum Organizing Committee, who will share opinions and comments within the International Committee and will have a strategic role to ensure NGO participation at the regional Pre conferences as well as in the WYC IC Functions To design and co sponsor the Declaration Project and to promote its approval among the countries of each region; To organize, support or promote the organization of the regional Preconferences of the WYC 2010; To review and recommend on the contents of the WYC 2010 such as the program of the Governments Forum, its elements, the linking mechanisms with the Social and Parliamentarian Forums; To recommend on the creation of official delegations and to suggest on key speakers, among others B. Organizing Committee of the Social Forum Social The Social Forum Organizing Committee was installed with the support of the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations (ICMYO), which is a forum where youth organizations meet at a regional and global level and follow up the process on public policies for youth issues in the world. The Coordinator Committee of the Social Forum will be leading the promotion and coordination of the attendance of civil society organizations within the WYC 2010, in the Pre conferences and regional consultations to prepare for the WYC

11 Functions of the Social Forum Organizing Committee To organize together with the IMJUVE the Social Forum of the WYC 2010 To establish a formal procedure as well as to promote participation of youth organizations in the World in the WYC 2010 and to establish feasibility criteria to participate in the Global Meeting of NGO and at the Global Village. The members of the Coordinator Committee of the Social Forum are: Ibero American Youth Space International Falcon Movement Socialist Educational International European Youth Forum International Federation of Liberal Youth Latin American Youth Forum Pacifics Youth Council Pax Romana World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Organization of the Scouts Movement YMCA C. National Committee The National Committee (NC) is a space for agencies and institutions of the Mexican federal government to coordinate the organization of the 2010 World Youth Conference (2010 WYC). The Committee has two different roles: substantial and logistic. The former include actions aimed at enriching the contents of the 2010 WYC and furthering the achievement of its objectives. Logistic actions, on the other hand, are aimed at ensuring the provision of the different services necessary to assist, and provide security to, all the WYC participants, including services such as visa arrangements, transportation, security, and medical and tourist services, among other. Substantial activities: 1. Support in the formulation of the Governments Forum s draft declaration. 2. Coordination, promotion and organization of thematic discussion events such as forums, round tables, lectures at the Global Village (GV), etc. 3. Contribution to the federal government s information activities at the GV. 4. Sponsoring of cultural, artistic and entertainment activities. 5. Advice on linkages to civil society organizations at the 2010 WYC. 6. Support in the dissemination of the WYC s information, contents and strategies before, during and after the Conference. Logistic activities. Coordination of activities to: 1. Facilitate the entry into the country of speakers, government delegates, civil society delegates and participants from other countries in general. 2. Facilitate hotel arrangements for national and international attendees, with a wide range of rates. 3. Guarantee security for guests and participants. 4. Provide medical services in case of emergencies for national and international participants. 5. Facilitate transportation. 6. Facilitate access to tourist services. 11

12 Members: The Federal Government agencies participating in this Committee are the following: Ministry of Public Education Ministry of the Interior Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Economy Ministry of Social Development Ministry of Health Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Ministry of Tourism Public Security Secretariat National Institute for Women National Commission for the Bicentennial D. General Secretariat The WYC 2010 has a General Secretariat in charge of organizing and coordinating activities such as: planning, follow up, program design, national and international links between institutions, resource mobilization and promotion and communications, among others. The General Secretariat is formed by representative from the Mexican Youth Institute and the Direction of International Affairs from the Department of Public Education, the Direction of Multi lateral Issues from the Foreign Affairs Department and the Academic Unit of Development Studies from the Autonomous University of Zacatecas as well as by a team of individuals hired specifically for the WYC International Committee 19 different countries International Organizations: UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UNIFEM, UNIDO, UNESCO, UN YOUTH, ILO UN Volunteers, World Bank, Council of Europe, African Union, League of Arab States, SEGIB, IYO Two representatives from the SOCIAL FORUM Committee General Secretariat SEP, SRE, IMJUVE, UAZ Social Forum Organizing Committee 10 SCO Chosen in the ICMYO and the IMJ frameworks National Committee SRE, SEP, SECTUR, SEGOB, STPS, SSA, SEDESOL, SE, BICENTENARIO, IMJUVE, 12

13 VIII. Budget of the WYC 2010 The World Youth Conference will have an estimated cost of $11.8 million, of which 38% corresponds to the Government s Forum, 16% to the Global Meeting of NGOs, 24% to the Parliamentarians Forum and 23% to the Global Village. The estimated budget of the Government s Forum covers the cost of transportation and accommodation of the 192 official delegations for a 4 days stay. Official delegations were calculated on the basis of 3 members per delegation. Budget modifications can occur according to the number of representatives forming the official delegations. The amount considered for the Global Meeting of NGOs stems from the participation (transportation, accommodation and food) for two persons per country, both representing an NGO, to be joined by the members of the SOFOC. The total amount will raise around 400 participants, with an average stay of 8 days. The Parliamentarians Forum considers the participation of 200 people for a 3 day stay, each representing a member State of the United Nations. Finally, the Global Village budget foresees the cost of space, facilities and services throughout the conference. Budget Distribution per component 13

14 From the total cost, Mexico will absorb 37% while governments of other countries will take up 29%; this in order to cover their official delegations expenses. Parliamentarians will pay the costs of their participation, which represents 24% of the total, and some international agencies will contribute with 13% to transport delegates to the Global Meeting of NGOs. The Mexican government contribution, amounting $4.4 million, is intended to cover the costs of the Global Village and the participation of official delegations of the 50 poorest countries of the world as well as lodging and meals for members of the meeting global NGOs. Expenses distribution per funding source 37 % 26% 24% 13% 14

15 YOUTH ISSUES WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL AGENDA In 1985, the United Nations Organizations declared the International Youth Year. In 1995, it strengthen this commitment by adopting the World Action Program for young people up to the year 2000 and afterwards establishing a framework of national and international guidelines, policies and practices to have a comprehensive development of young population. On October 27 th 2005 at the General Assembly, it was decided to add five priority spheres that crystallized in the Supplement for that program, which includes topics such as globalization, information technologies and communications, HIV/AIDS, armed conflicts and issues between generations. Before and after declaring the Action Program, several conferences, forum or meeting have been carried out; mostly at regional level, organized by the governments and civil society, remarking the following ones: a) Conferences and meetings organized by governmental agencies: First Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Participation on youth in society. Strasbourg, France, Second Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Strategies for youth European policies facing year Oslo, Norway, I Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Madrid, Spain II Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Buenos Aires, Argentina, III Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. San José, Costa Rica, Third Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Youth mobility in Europe, Lisbon, Portugal, IV Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Quito, Ecuador, V Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Santiago de Chile, Fourth Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Young people as a majority in Europe. Vienna, Austria, VII Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Uruguay, Informal meeting of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Luxembourg, VIII Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Buenos Aires, Argentina, World Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Lisbon, Portugal, Fifth Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Young people: active citizens in the European future. Human rights participation solidarity. Bucharest, Romania, IX Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Lisbon, Portugal, X bero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Panamá, Panamá, Sixth Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Young people building Europe. Greece, XI Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Salamanca, Spain, XII Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Guadalajara, México, Declaration from the Council and representative of the State Members of the European Union regarding racism and intolerance in young people. Brussels, Belgium, 2005 Seventh Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues. Human dignity and social cohesion: youth policies answering violence. Budapest, Hungary, XIII Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. La Habana, Cuba,

16 Approval to the Supplement of the Youth World Action Program in the UN General Assembly on February 5 th Ibero American Meeting of Ministries in charge of youth issues. San Salvador, El Salvador, Eighth Conference of European Ministries in charge of youth issues: The future of the European Council in Youth policies: 2020 Agenda. Kiev, the Ukraine, XIV Ibero American Conference of Ministries in charge of youth issues. Santiago de Chile, b) Conferences and forum organized by civil society: First World Youth Forum. Vienna, Austria 1991 (including the participation of the UN and civil society). Second World Youth Forum. Vienna, Austria, 1996 (including the participation of the UN and civil society). Third World Youth Forum. Braga, Portugal, 1998 (including the participation of the UN and civil society). Fourth World Youth Forum. Dakar, Senegal, 2001 (including the participation of the UN and civil society European Conference against racism and intolerance. Berlin, Germany 2001 (including the participation of the UN and civil society ) European Conference acting for diversity and tolerance. Berlin, Germany 2005 (it had the support of the European Youth Commission and the participation of civil society) Sixth Youth Forum Asia 2008 (participation of civil society) Fifteenth Youth Conference Asia Pacific Region. Taiwan 2009 (participation of civil society) Global Youth Conference on enterprising Youth. Washington, USA 2009 (participation of civil society) Nineteenth International Conference on youth leadership. Prague, Czech Republic (scheduled for 2010) c) Conferences of civil society, governments and academicians that do not have a Final Declaration: South African Conference on Youth employment. Challenges of youth employment in South Africa: policies and programs focused on young men and women at a national level. Zimbabwe, International Conference on health investment and development for young people. Abuja, Nigeria,

17 YOUTH AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 1. To eradicate poverty and hunger. Poverty affects more than half youth people in the world; in basic life sectors such as health, education, housing, security and employment. To revert youth situation it shall be considered and understood as a main force in the struggle against poverty and marginalization fight; it is important to include it those policies focused to fight hunger and marginalization. 2. To achieve universal elementary education. Though the current Youth generation is more educated, the illiteracy levels are still not equal. Even though when the global average of illiteracy overpasses the 70 per cent; we can still find regions where that rate do not overpasses the 50 per cent. Women are the ones left apart from learning centers. Inequality in youth education is still a serious problem that we shall fight. Boys and girls who take elementary school at the beginning of the XXI Century will be young people by 2015 exposed to the risk of school abandonment. We can contribute in solving this situation if we improve participation initiatives; if we include educated young people in actions that help strengthening learning processes in order to satisfy current needs, including global problems and to provide quality education and has relation with the economies based in development. 3. To promote equality among genders and women s autonomy. Gender equity, above all is a human right. It is an indispensable requirement to overpass hunger, poverty and diseases. Gender equality implies equality at all levels of education and in all working atmospheres; equitable control of resources and equal representation in public and political life. A key element to favor equality and autonomy is the exercise that young women have in those decisions that affect their lives from the individual up to the highest levels of government. To scale up leadership of young women at a global level will allow strengthening those actions focused to achieve equality among men and women; it will allow creating alliances that foster social, economic and political growth. 4. To reduce child mortality. Nearly boys and girls aged less than 5 years died every day (21 per minute) as a result of a disease or a combination of diseases that can be prevented or healed by methods that already exist or that are of low cost. Child mortality is tightly link with poverty as most of these children live in developing countries. So, concrete actions shall be taken to allow those children becoming the future young people supporting richness distribution and including health campaigns that involve young men and women as health service providers, as creators of initiatives that inform, prevent and attend children needs. 5. To improve maternal health. Every minute a woman dies giving birth. Pregnancy is the main cause of death among young women aged between 15 to 19 years. Every year, 14 million teenagers aged 15 to 19 are pregnant. Reproductive health of teenager women depends on biological, social and economic factors. It is important to create programs focused on providing education, family planning services and pre and post natal care services to reduce morbidity and mortality among young women. Global and national initiatives shall be created to rescue different needs, skills and realities of young men and women; if reproductive sexual health is included it will fight the vulnerability they face. Changing this tendency can only be possible by adopting a comprehensive health approach that provides necessary means so young men and women participate in public policies focused on them. Health and welfare of young women represent the center to build strong and prosperous communities. 17

18 6. To fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. Half of those people living with HIV at a worldwide level are aged 15 to 25 years. Every year nearly new infections are registered in this sector of population. Due to the fact that risk of acquiring HIV infection is directly link to behavior, it is essential that young men and women have access to information, to prevention tools and comprehensive health services. To include diagnosis, treatment and counseling within these services shall also be a priority in those joint actions taken. Other diseases are damaging vitality and hope of inhabitant of the development world. Every year, Malaria causes 1 million mortal victims. Tuberculosis has revived, disease considered eradicated; sexual transmitted infections are a serious health problem among Young population. Another challenge for governments is to reduce drug use and abuse among young population. In order to attain these difficulties, it is important to actively involve young people who face them. Invite them to participate on designing public policies and prevention programs and promoting peer education gives an opportunity that cannot be set aside. 7. To ensure environmental sustainability. Inclusion of the principles for sustainable development into national policies is a key point to have a successful implementation and promotion of environmental sustainability. Involving young men and women in leading responsible project that promote the use of renewable energies and foster new ways of sustainable consumption will allow protecting complex ecosystems. It is crucial to promote, support and ease duplication of young initiatives within this goal as well as to facilitate cooperation among inhabitants will allow increasing the scope and impact of every action taken. 8. To develop global partnership for development. The existence of a global economy demands new challenges for governments with regards of young population. To seek financial stability at international level will not be possible without the participation of young men and women; therefore, increasing opportunities so young population access quality jobs will be a strategy that allows creating conditions for development. Including new information technologies and communication recognizing youth leadership is another way to strengthen global actions. Creating alliances between generations will allow moving forward in fighting existing inequalities among rich and poor countries and at the same time it will help attending human and social needs to sustain and increase development. 18