FOCUS September 2002 Volume 29

Asian Youth Network for Human Development

(Editor's note: This is a slightly edited version of the Regional Plan of Action that came out of the Regional Youth Human Development Education Workshop held on 28 July - 1 August 2002 in Bangkok.)

Regional Plan of Action
Preamble

As a follow up to the UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa in 2001, a Global Youth Network was created to implement the WCAR International Youth Declaration and Plan of Action.

The Asia Youth Network for Human Development comprises of youth from five sub regions, namely, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Central Asia, Western Asia and Pacific. It aims to promote the establishment of local, national and regional networks to implement the WCAR and address human rights issues affecting young people in the region.

This Plan of Action is based on the outcomes of the WCAR International Youth Declaration and the Asian Youth Charter developed as part of the 'Speak Your Mind' campaign organized by the Levi's R Brand, MTV Asia and UNICEF.

Organizational Structure
1. We will strengthen the steering committee and members of the Asian Youth Network for Human Development in order for us to cooperate better as a regional collective and hence strengthen the network in the Asian region.
2. We will develop a website for the Asian Youth Network for Human Development in order to share and disseminate information on the outcomes of the WCAR, the Asian Youth Campaign and the follow-up processes. The website will act as a networking tool to empower young people to work on practical follow-up activities toward social change.
Training and Education
3. We will use the knowledge acquired from the regional human rights education workshop held on 28 - 31 July in Bangkok, Thailand to host a national human rights training workshop in each of the 26 countries represented in the regional workshop upon returning to our respective countries.
4. We will distribute copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to non-governmental organizations, formal and non-formal educational institutions and local community groups.
5. We will run a series of Interfaith Programs such as forums and workshops to promote dialogue among young people from various faiths as a reconciliation tool against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
6. We will work in cooperation with United Nations and other International Organizations on conflict resolution skills training workshop for children and young people.
Systematic Advocacy/Lobbying
7. Upon completion of the research on regional priorities, we will share the information with UNESCO, OHCHR, UNDP, UNICEF and international, national and local organizations.
8. While recognizing that education is relevant to employment opportunities, we will attempt to analyze and review the formal education policies in order to incorporate teaching of languages of various communities. We will emphasize the study of human rights.
9. We will monitor the media and new information technology including the Internet and respond to biased representation of issues relating to the themes of the WCAR and the Asian Youth Charter.
10. We will lobby to create a media campaign focusing on the themes of the WCAR and the Asian Youth Charter.
11. We will advocate for grassroots health programs especially to support young people suffering from the deadly effects of HIV/AIDS and related sexual transmitted diseases.
12. We will identify options for enhancing opportunities for young people to be involved in policy-making structures at local, national and international levels.
13. We will lobby and advocate for people who are under foreign occupation to allow the exercise of their right to self-determination and liberation from foreign occupation.
14. We will lobby and advocate against the use of terror methods on innocent civilians to solve any kind of conflict.
Research and Policy
15. We will do a survey to identify regional priorities in the areas of racism, colonialism, caste, foreign occupation, religious persecution, terror and violence.
16. To educate young people in the history of colonization in the Asian region we will encourage the compilation of available materials including oral histories of Indigenous and traditionally oppressed people and identify areas that need to be addressed.
17. We will collate information on best practices against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that young people in the region are currently working on and share the information through the Asia Youth Network for Human Development website.

For further information, please contact: Sheryl Wong, Vice President (Youth) Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia, and Coordinator, Asian Youth Network for Human Development1 Grover Court, Leeming, Perth, Western Australia 6149, ph 61 8 9310 3387, fax (618) 9227-5460, e-mail: sherylwong@iinet.net.au

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