United Nations Population Fund Youth Advisory Panel

YPSEA CONFERENCE 2011 Report

The Youth Progressives Southeast Asia (YPSEA) in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Commission on Human Rights conducted a conference with the theme: YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

The conference was held at GHotel Manila, from September 30 until October 3, 2011. Participants came from various countries in Southeast Asia. Conference proper: Day 1 September 30 Here are the points from the country reports as delivered by their representative/s:

Situation of HR for Youth in Indonesia Lacks reproductive health access Gang fight and bullying Child abuse and trafficking Emerging of ideology against HR

Education: Higher education is still expensive Youth involvement: the political structure in Indonesia still ruled by old and corrupt generation

Problems in Malaysia KL Tegang Our government is saying that demonstrations are violent, but I can guarantee that those mobilizers are not harmful. Most of the participants in the mob are youth. I know because Im one of them. Only with the changing of the government that we can embed new ideologies. Youth struggle in Cambodia In our country, company, organization and government still put age as their criteria for job recruitment. (On Youth and HR) Right to full participation is violated. Young people are ignored in decision making. (On Youth and HR) If you run out of money in your pocket, no more treatment. Human rights and youth rights as violated in the Philippines Extra Judicial Killings Contractualization of workers Lack of Housing, Urban Development and Housing Act Prosecution of Brig. General Jovito Palparan LGBT Rights Sangguniang kabataan youth participation Indigenous peoples rights Closure of Marcos atrocities Day 2 September 31

Discussion on the following: UDHR Bill of Rights How to Protect Human Rights Human Rights in the ASEAN Critics on the UDHR: Not well represented Universality (not for a specific group) Expensive implementation Declaration only not legally binding Too structural 3 Basic Individual Rights Right to life Right to dignity Right to develop to our full potential 3 Basic Collective Rights Right to survive Right to self determination Right to develop to our full potential Categorizing Rights 1. Civil and Political a. Rights that the state only need not intervene b. Proposed by the liberal, republican, democratic USA 2. Economic, Social and Cultural a. Emphasized by the socialist superpower b. From the Soviet union and other socialist states 3. Solidarity a. Emphasized freedom to nation and state building without foreign intervention b. Demanded by colonies and newly independent states As the paragraph 5 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action puts it: Human Rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. This interrelation provides limited usefulness to the categorization of HR because one category would not stand alone without the other. Three state obligations in HR: 1. Respect not interfere with traditions 2. Fulfill provide means 3. Protect for the vulnerable groups WHERE CAN YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGE? A change of attitude cast aside dehumanizing tendencies Dont limit yourselves. Go to the field.

Have some basic masses integration so you can feel the people Ask yourself: Are you actually helping these people on the ground?

Last point: Poverty is the worst form of violation! *** Day 3 to 4 October 1 to 2 Youth Rights Barometer Workshop

The Youth Rights Barometer Youth or young people, ages 15-24, comprise about 20% of the worlds population. The bulk of these, about 85%, are concentrated in developing countries; 60% of which can be found in Asia (WDR, 2006). According to the World Development Report (2006), this large number of young people provides both great potentials as well as risks. The potentials lie in harnessing the big numbers of young people as human capital for fast-tracking the development of their countries. The risks, on the other hand, are due to the challenges facing young people in most developing countries such as: low access and quality of education, unemployment, among many others. If these are not addressed within the time frame calculated in the demographic windows of opportunity, much human capital is wasted. Economic stagnation and extreme poverty, as well as violence, await the future of these young people and their country.

By sheer numbers and their role in development, young people drive or hinder the growth of their countries. The tilt of the balance will be dependent on the quality and dignity of their lives, as ensured by their inalienable human rights. Since youth is a critical period for growth and development, necessary interventions should be in place in order for young people to realize their full potentials. As early as 1965, the Member States of the United Nations have recognized that, the imagination, ideals and energies of young men and women are vital for the continuing development of the societies in which they live (UN Declaration). Then, in 1985, the UN General Assembly declared 1985 as the International Youth Year, with the theme, Participation, Development, Peace. In 1995, during the 10th Anniversary of International Youth Year, the UN launched the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and beyonda policy framework for national action and international support to improve the situation of the youth. This further reaffirmed the said bodys commitment to young people. August 2010 2011 has been declared by the UN as the International Year of the Youth. Furthermore, young people have specific rights to education, employment, health and participation. Still, young people, particularly in developing countries in Asia, face thought challenges in education, health, employment and participation. While young people, no matter from which country, share universal rights; their rights are not observed and respected in varying degrees in different countries. Furthermore, this situation is not systematically documented. The Youth Rights Barometer (YRB), a work in progress, is designed to be an in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system for youth rights situations in Asia. The YRB is a self-assessment exercise based on criteria from international protocols and declarations. It is intended as a public document which can be used as a lobbying tool to push for the improvements of youth rights based on international standards. The International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)), the Asian Human Rights Charter, and other related international and regional declarations and protocols, are used as references to develop a set of indicators. The indicators are particularly focused on youth rights to education, employment, health and participation, which are identified as among the top concerns of young people. Objectives: 1. Develop an in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system of youth human rights situation in South East Asia 2. Bring focus and attention on youth human rights particularly on education, employment, health and participation 3. Empower youth organizations through information and action pertaining to their rights.

Here is the report of our group with the comments that were made in order to improve the barometer for Health:

Day 5 October 3 Closing ceremony of the conference

Prepared by: VERONICA L. GREGORIO Youth Advisory Panel November 15, 2011