Announcing of the establishment of International Youth Steering Committee

Welcoming the initiative of the Government of Sri Lanka to host in 2014 a world conference on youth in Colombo, with a focus on the participation and involvement of youth in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals,

E/CN.5/2013/L.4

 International Youth Steering Committee.

International Youth Steering Committee, A body facilitated by the Government of Sri Lanka in line with past practices in all major World Conferences on Youth would have the most important role of leading the global youth led process to mainstream youth perspective in post 2015 Development Agenda.

It has recommended that IYSC would have bimonthly meetings and the work of the platform would be facilitated by a Secretary General appointed by the members of the IYSC.

International Youth Steering Committee just like the SOFOC in 2010 (Social Forum Committee set up by the Government of Mexico in 2010 with the support of ICMYO a network of 30 largest youth led organisations in the world) would be established by International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations (ICMYO) under the facilitation of the Government of Sri Lanka. The International Youth Steering Committee with a total membership of 8 youth representatives (ICMYO and other UN associated Youth representatives would have equal representation, 4 / 4) would steer the process of the World Conference on Youth in 2014 in regional and Global discussions, processes and events in supporting youth perspective in those respective discussions.

The IYSC will feed into and be part of the Global Reference Group who will include governments, Agencies representatives from the United Nations System, and the SG Special Envoy on Youth as well as the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Advisor for Post-2015. 

The IYSC will be responsible for approving the program (contents, panellists and speakers, informative fair and cultural program) of the WCY 2014 and of the pre-conferences as well as the selection criteria for non state participants. It will also participate on the promotion and funding strategies and the follow-up and evaluation of the Conference activities.

Following objectives has been recommended for the International Youth Steering Committee which has already been accepted by stakeholders to the process.

·      To facilitate a process that strengthens effective youth participation in the decision making of post -2015 development agenda with a special attention to UN led processes of HLPF and Open Working Groups.

·      To facilitate effective partnerships with youth and youth organizations in the implementation of the post -2015 development agenda.

·      To create an inclusive platform with youth that enables them to review the progress of MDGs, share ideas, experiences and innovative approaches for effectively contributing to the post -MDG agenda and its implementation.

·      To establish a follow- up mechanism that support young people as partners in the global implementation of the post -2015 development agenda.

The makeup of the IYSC is as follows:

    -*10 Members*: 5 from ICMYO organizations, 4 other young
    people selected by Sri Lanka and ICMYO, and the recently appointed
    UN Secretary General's Envoy for Youth.

Each of the representatives of these organizations comes from a unique background.  Also, these representatives have experience in a variety of thematic areas, including sustainable development, the Post-2015 development agenda, and UN advocacy.  

1. Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi-Invited, Asia-Pacific (Jordan)
   Recently appointed UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, links with Arab States, UN development process and International Youth Council.
2. Ms. Ishita Chaudhry, Asia-Pacific (India)
   Founder of the YP Foundation with a great deal of experience in realm of HIV/AIDS as well as sexual and reproductive health.
3. Mr. Rinaldi Ridwan, Asia-Pacific (Indonesia)
   co-host and youth focal point of the Youth Multi-stakeholders’ Meeting during the March HLP Bali, Indonesia, Board member of the Youth Coalition, lead organizer of the Global Youth Forum with strong links to UNFPA
4. Mr. Romulo Dantas, Latin America & Caribbean (Brazil)
   Executive Secretary for Youth Empowerment of the World Alliance of YMCAs who has been an active liaison between the UN System and ICMYO organizations
5. Ms. Costanza Gomez Mont, Latin America & Caribbean (Mexico)
   One of the Lead organizer of the WYC2010 in Mexico and extensive experience with UNDP and development projects. Well connected globally.
6. Mr. Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Western Europe & Other (United Kingdom) 
   Vice-President of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), co-facilitator of UNCSD Major Group for Children and Youth Post-2015 Working Group, YFJ lead on post-2015 and fellow of Royal Society of Arts.
7. Ms. Christine Sudbrock, Western Europe & Other (Germany)
   Deputy General Secretary and Project Officer of the International Falcon Movement-Socialist Educational International, co-author of “Youth and the MGDs” with a strong background in the organization of training courses, study sessions and festivals.
8. Mr. Christopher Dekki, W. Europe & Other/Asia-Pacific (USA/Syria)
   Coordinator of the IMCS – Pax Romana UN Advocacy Team in New York, from a migrant family from the Middle East, is active in UN processes, and has a history of involvement in the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
9. Ms Anush Aghabalyan, Eastern Europe (Armenia)
   Senior Advocacy Coordinator of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts with strong credentials in the empowerment of women and girls in terms of the MDGs and the Post-2015 development agenda.
10. Ms. Waruguru Wanjau, Africa (Kenya)
    Engaged with the thematic Post-2015 development agenda from the perspective of health who also has strong links to the World Health Organisation, is a Medical Student and part of the UNCSD Major Group Children and Youth.

Stages of the Conference and Its Process:

1)      The Preparation 2012 – 2014

Preparation itself will have three main drivers:  (a) National Steering Committee, (b) International Youth Steering Committee, (c) Global Reference Group of Governments, UN Agencies and Stakeholders from Youth led organisations.

It is envisaged that this process will support youth led processes in the post -MDG agenda that enable their effective participation in contributing to key sessions that will shape the post-2015 development agenda. It will be vital to work closely with Governments, UN agencies, Youth organizations. The preparations will be fully facilitated by the Sir Lankan government.

2)      World Conference on Youth 2014

The conference itself will allow for joint reflection, consolidation of experiences from the preparatory processes and also act as a spring-board for strengthening the partnership with youth in the implementation of the post -2015 development agenda.

Outcomes will be:

1.       An international youth statement; and

2.       A joint declaration from youth delegates, governments and UN Agencies on the involvement of youth; and

3.       A commitment to further develop youth development indicators and more regular or permanent forum(s) for youth.

3)      Follow -Up 2014 and beyond

Past lessons clearly show that lack of investment in follow -up can derail the work, enthusiasm and energy to reach the next significant milepost. Sir Lanka will present the outcome documents to the General Assembly as well as commit to support engagement in post-2015 development agenda through an establishment of a youth sub-working group in the Open Working Group process and the further consideration of the establishment of a preferment forum for youth (Youth 21)

Preparation of the Road map and the Conference Structure:

Strong consultation with relevant stakeholders (UNMC, UNDESA and CSO’s) was carried out during Rio+20 and 67th UNGA by the Hon Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development and also during 51^st CoSD. It was widely recommend to us further action on how best to strategies the integration of “UN led processes Sri Lanka had proposed targeting World Conference on Youth” with the “UN Processes on Post 2015 Development Agenda”.

We have prepared a detailed Road Map for the achievement of the Conference Objectives highlighted in the Formal Concept Note of the Conference. Thus, taking the Road map and the Concept Note in to Consideration which was prepared by studying the previous practices of past Two World Conferences on Youth in 1998 in Portugal and in 2010 in Mexico, the following document has been prepared.

Relevant time sensitive developments related to the post 2015 development agenda discussion at global level has been introduced to the document in consultation with relevant UN stakeholders, ICMYO, Major groups and other important member states and governmental agencies in Sri Lanka. 

Conference would have three main structures to take the lead in the process.

1.       The Global Reference Group.

·         International Youth Steering Committee

·         Members states, UN agencies, other civil organisations and interest parties.

·         Special Envoy on Youth, Special Advisor on MDG

2.       National inter Ministerial Steering Committee.

3.       Special Working group/ Group of Interest parties/ Ad Hoc working Committee in the Open Working Committee’s on Sustainable Development Goals in mainstreaming youth. (Sri Lanka and other interested states)

Advocacy Goals of the Conference to achieve goals and objectives.

·         Building elements and gain support for UN resolutions on Mainstreaming Youth in Development Agenda to obtain the necessary support to MAINSTREAM YOUTH in Open working groups and High Level Political Forum and UN led initiatives.

§  That there is a need to mainstream Youth in Development Agenda.

§  Post 2015 Development Agenda discussions in UN system and among other Intergovernmental bodies and Youth Organisations as well as the future of Millennium Development Goals is the best platform to mainstream Youth in to the future Development of this world.

§  That Sri Lanka can facilitate, fully fund and organise a World Conference on Youth and bear the responsibility for its full process and facilitate the follow-up of the conference.

§  That Sri Lanka can organise a true global process owned by member states and other non state stakeholders and will incorporate the needs and voices of Young People from top to bottom and vice versa.

·         Facilitate the make a true global process for the conference and then for the follow up.

·         Gain concrete support from the Global Youth Movement and Youth councils and their respective federations.

·         Gain concrete support from UN Interagency Network on Youth Development.

The World Conference on Youth 2014 has three stages: (1) preparation 2012-2014, (2) World Conference on Youth itself, (3) follow up 2014 beyond. 

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