First global forum on youth policies
Youth has become a global entity, and so has youth policy. The youth bulge is no more an isolated phenomenon to be addressed at provincial or national levels. It has to be coordinated locally, regionally and globally. A milestone in taking forward youth policies in the twenty-first century, UN-backed First Global Forum on Youth Policies (GFYP) was held in Baku-Azerbijan in the last week of October 2014, where 700 delegates from 165 countries participated to make youth voices heard. Government officials, parliamentarians, academicians and experts joined from across globe. It is pertinent to understand historic background of the global forum which dates back to 1965, when a declaration was endorsed by member states of the United Nations to promote ideals of peace, mutual respect and understanding among youth. Later, from time to time, the significance of addressing youth issues was highlighted through bench mark events, specifying it in accordance with emerging needs. Two decades later, in 1985, the UN General Assembly declared it as youth year with themes participation, development, peace to signify the role of youth across the globe. This time guidelines and planning for the suitable follow up in the field of youth was endorsed by the General Assembly in order to identifying their potential contribution to youth development, linking with the ideals of the United Nations charter.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year in 1995, while responding to the challenges to youth in the 21st century, a new form of commitment to youth development came up by adopting an international strategy, the World Programme of Action for Youth to the year 2000 and beyond, which laid out 10 priority areas for action including education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug-abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure time activities, girls and young women, and also full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision making to increase opportunities and participation of youth.
Now the World Program of Action for Youth has commemorated its 20th anniversary through First Global Forum on Youth Policies. It is further narrowing the direction of youth development to bring forth tangible results in the lives of billions of youth in the world
Now the World Program of Action for Youth has commemorated its 20th anniversary through First Global Forum on Youth Policies. It is further narrowing the direction of youth development to bring forth tangible results in the lives of billions of youth in the world. The emphasis in the current effort was on ensuring formulation of youth policies in each country through inclusive and participatory models. The three important dimensions of the forum were thematic, structural and region-specific, which allowed diverse groups to put in their share through experiences and lessons learnt to serve as way forward for others. The slogan “investing in youth” adds a message and meaning to the cause.
In regional thematic discussions, the Asian regional group adopted two recommendations forwarded by Pakistani delegates. These included (i) youth quota in local government on the model of the Punjab Youth Policy and (ii) constitutional, legal and procedural coverage to implement inter-departmental coordination and cross-sectoral synergy of the policy. This was meant to have meaningful youth participation in decision-making and political process and institutions, which was also reflected in the Baku Commitment to Youth Policies, a charter endorsed by all stakeholders in taking forward the youth development cause in a specific, achievement oriented and pragmatic manner.
In Pakistan youth is a much highlighted segment by political parties, government institutions and civil society. On the other hand tangible action is required by ensuring technical and thematic expertise, which is a weak side of the picture
Pakistan was among 122 countries which showed up as having formulated a youth policy. Punjab Youth Policy 2012 was acknowledged as a policy that followed youth participation model by Deputy Executive Director UNFPA Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen in her opening remarks to the forum.
GFYP provided an opportunity to showcase the UNFPA/Bargad work on youth policies, especially the Punjab Youth Policy 2012, through interaction and discussions with other youth policy workers from other parts of the world.
The mega effort to consolidate youth development work through youth policies was initiated by UN General Secretary’s Youth Envoy Ahmed Alhendawi, a Jordanian who visited Pakistan back in June 2014 to closely examine youth development work and its coordination among government, civil society and UN agencies. He appreciated the provincial efforts and interest in taking forward youth policy work in the wake of 18th amendment to the constitution of Pakistan.
In Pakistan youth is a much highlighted segment by political parties, government institutions and civil society. On the other hand tangible action is required by ensuring technical and thematic expertise, which is a weak side of the picture. There is a visible missing link between provincial, national and regional coordination on youth development framework. Governments, institutions and organisations need to invest in technical and thematic expertise in order to produce results.