Youth SAARC 2008; Asian Youth 2009
Declaration
South Asian Youth Summit for Colombo SAARC 2008 was organised by the Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) with the cooperation of several local and regional networks having several thousand member organisations such as Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and South Asian Network for Social and Agricultural Development (SANSAD) and Lions Club of Colombo Central and Nawala of Sri Lanka.
The Summit was held in Colombo Sri Lanka on 25 th July, 2008 , Chaired by Prof.Lakshman Madurasinghe, with the participation of many youths desirous of being participants in an effort at the creation of a more dynamic, thriving SAARC region for them all in the years to come.
The youth summit expresses the concern over the problems occurred when traveling within the SAARC region and suggest that they declare visa free movement of people.
We urge the need to implement a common currency for the SAARC region and arrange free trade agreements in the region. This will enhance our economic stability within the region and assist us to face global economic challenges as an integrated unit.
A large number of women in the SAARC region are found to be migrant workers in the middle-eastern countries. Non-bureaucratic mechanisms have to be implemented to ensure their human and work rights. In order to promote gender equality and empower women to achieve the third MDG in the region we demand to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education and eventually in all levels of education.
Since the SAARC region is threatened by terrorism we would like to urge the need to establish peace and encourage the youth to work towards a conflict free environment and play a greater role in creating a more coherent world.
We shall work towards enhancing social security to all civilians in the region regardless of their caste or creed. Through this we can draw a minimum income level and offer unemployment benefits or employment opportunities which will assist us in implementing initiatives to achieve the first MDG of eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Fighting hunger and to enhance food security has now become a major global threat. With the rising fuel prices which results a rapid increase in all food prices have made a great impact on the SAARC region through the civilians’ disposable income and its correlation with their nutrition levels. Through rural investment and agricultural development we could increase agricultural productivity in the region which would assist us in enhancing food security and in improving food nutrition standards within the SAARC region.
Our region has been hit by a series of natural disasters. We could implement an efficient disaster management programme to ensure proactive support mechanisms to support in disaster affected areas.
As youth leaders of the SAARC region we must encourage all children to complete a full course of primary schooling which will assist us in achieving the second MDG in the region. This will consequently lead to successful youth education in all levels and/or to obtain a substantial level of youth employment. Through this movement we would be able to increase the youth literacy rate and life standards in the SAARC region.
The youth summit expresses the concern over the issues of Child morality and maternal health in the region. We should implement initiatives in reducing the child morality and in increasing the maternal health standards in all countries of the region by increasing health infrastructure and the accessibility to local and international health services provided.
Combating HIV and AIDS is found to be a challenging global task. This can be controlled eventually by increasing awareness, youth education and health standards. Human trafficking, commercial exploitation and sexual abuse of women and children and prostitution have to be abandoned in the region.
The SAARC regional countries must take all possible measures to reduce Global warming and climate change. We must integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources to ensure environmental sustainability.
Through more aid, better market access and debt sustainability the SAARC countries can develop a global partnership for development.
Colombo 25 July , 2008
Asian Youth Network Meeting 2009
Asian Youth Network meeting was held in Sri Lanka from 18-22 November, 2009. Opening ceremony was held at BMICH, Colombo with the participation of political party representatives including Leaders of the House of Parliament Hon.Minster Dinesh Gunawardena MP, Hon. Minister Maithripala Sirisena MP, Parliamentarians Hon.Thissa Attanayake MP, Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam MP, Hon.Thilanga Sumathipala MP, Provincial Councilors Hon.Anarkalee Akarsha SPC, Hon. Buddhika Pathirana SPC and many other political party representatives and youth leaders across Asian region . A policy dialogue was held at the SUNFO House Dehiwala with Youth Representatives from Asian Region and Civil Society Leaders in Sri Lanka including Dr.Jehan Perera and Dr.Deshapriya S. Wijetunge .Key organizers were LYON President Aruna, Media Director Nisha Upendra and other officials.
