After the low levels of attendance at the Civicus Youth Plenary - delegates to the Youth Assembly developed the following document to capture the key points that had emerged from the Youth Assembly - and to act as an opening for ongoing conversation and collaboration in future World Assemblies...
Some of the drafting process was captured over at http://www.youthconferences.org/ and the final text below was presented in the closing plenary:
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A Call for Intergenerational Collaboration – Make Change Happen
26 May 2007
As
young people from across the world who have gathered as delegates to
the 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly, we call all people of this assembly
and the world to adopt this document as a personal resolution to
action. We view this as the first step of an extended intergenerational
dialogue and collaboration to tackle the key challenges we presently
face. These challenges will continue to affect us, and future
generations, everyday for the rest of our lives.
A key strength
of CIVICUS as a world alliance lies in its firm roots in the global
South, and its ability to gather and mobilise organisations and
individuals from across the world. This unique capacity will be further
strengthened by increased inclusion of and collaboration with young
people.
The issues below are all interrelated and their solutions
must be innovative, integrated and holistic, taking into account the
interconnectedness of human and environmental concerns. The lived
experience of and impact upon marginalised groups, including but not
limited to gender, disability and socio-economic status, must be vital
considerations in all action to address these issues.
This is a
call for every individual to mobilise their power to effect change in
their own sphere of influence, and to act together to contest the
continued existence of inequality and injustice.
Intolerance and discrimination
Young
people have inherited a world where they are subjected to bullying,
intolerance, discrimination, social conflict and genocide on the basis
of age, sex and gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religion,
disability and other social factors. We have had enough.
Therefore,
we call on all human beings to interact and engage with compassion and
respect; celebrating our differences and diversity, and serving as
examples for our communities as we act to eliminate intolerance and
discrimination in all its forms.
Poverty
The systematic
inequalities and double standards of the current global social,
economic, and political systems continue to condemn many young people
to a poverty-stricken existence. Factors such as unfair production,
trade practices, and policies; corruption;, transnational corporate
hegemony; and the rich-world domination of key international
institutions have a profound effect on the lives of young people across
the world.
Therefore, we call for a zero-tolerance policy on
poverty. We commit – in our spheres of influence – to seek out
innovative solutions, promote fair trade and redistribution of wealth,
and act to end poverty in all its forms.
HIV and AIDS
HIV
and AIDS are leading to the death of millions of young people, leaving
others as orphan heads of their households, and affecting every aspect
of socio-economic life. Actions to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS
are hampered by economic interests, lack of access to treatment, lack
of political and corporate will, and individual social irresponsibility.
Therefore,
we commit to protect ourselves by acting in a responsible manner, and
being tested for HIV/AIDS; and call on all other individuals to do the
same. We commit to act – in our spheres of influence – against the
spread of HIV and AIDS, and to extend the treatment for those infected;
to hold civil society, governments and pharmaceutical companies
accountable for their action or inaction; and to ensure the social
inclusion of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Limited Access to and Quality of Healthcare
Many
young people are sick and dying from preventable causes, often because
they have no access to healthcare services. In other cases, poor
quality healthcare undermines young people's wellness, growth and
development. Quality healthcare uses a holistic and loving approach to
physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Therefore, we commit to work – in our spheres of influence - towards accessible, comprehensive, and holistic healthcare.
Limited Access to and Poor Quality of Education
A
large number of young people across the world do not have access to
education. Those with access, are mostly subjected to poor quality
education, undermining their opportunities for future growth and
development.
Although we appreciate the Millennium Development
Goal aiming to have Universal Primary Education by 2015, we are highly
disappointed at the lack of reference to the quality of that education,
and lack of real commitment to seeing it achieved in a meaningful way.
Therefore,
we commit to act – in our spheres of influence – and call on all others
to join us, to ensure the provision of high quality education for young
people.
Adverse Effects of Technological Development
Many
young people are disadvantaged by lack of access to relevant technology
and/or skills to participate in a rapidly changing technological
environment. Furthermore, some technological developments have harmful
effects (whether intended or otherwise), such as the proliferation of
nuclear weapons.
Therefore, we commit to act – in our spheres of
influence – to promote access for all young people to appropriate
technologies; and to promote the responsible development and use of
technology.
Lack of Economic Opportunities for Young People
Young
people are the most affected by a lack of economic opportunities, which
perpetuates the cycle of poverty and social injustice. In many cases,
young people are excluded by poor education and lack of skills, and are
further marginalised by perceptions concerning their lack of ability,
exploitative labour practices and lack of opportunity for upward
mobility.
Therefore, we commit to act – in our spheres of
influence – and call on business, government, and civil society, to
halt exploitative labour practices. We call for enabling environments
for young people to gain access to economic opportunities, and for
young people to be valued for their skills and competencies rather than
their level of experience. We call on every young person to take up all
opportunities open to them for the development of their livelihood.
Unfulfilled Human Rights
Despite
written and verbal commitments to fulfilling human rights, in practice
the rights of young people are hardly ever realised. Furthermore,
obscene injustices such as the use of child soldiers, human
trafficking, and slavery, have not yet been adequately addressed.
Therefore
we commit to act – in our spheres of influence – to uphold the rights,
which are often invoked in pledges,promises, speeches, and
declarations, yet seldom fulfilled. We further call on all individuals
to meet their corresponding responsibilities to these rights.
Ecological Crisis
Young
people are those who are currently feeling, and will continue to feel,
the brunt of the depletion of natural resources, climate change and the
loss of biodiversity. Although some steps have been taken, the current
economic and political system has shown almost no commitment to finding
meaningful solutions to the ecological crisis. If trends continue at
current rates, ecological disaster will devastate life on Earth,
rendering all development efforts futile.
Therefore, we commit
to act – within our spheres of influence – to take immediate and firm
steps to reduce our own ecological footprints, and further call on all
others to do the same, in order to secure our lives and livelihoods.
This
call to action is more than a request by young people, the most
vulnerable and affected in society, that their voice be heard. This is
a call for all people to engage in a creative, empowering and inclusive
conversation and to make change happen.