lundi 2 mars 2009

some news from UN Youth flash

UNESCO - Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest 2009

Through the annual essay competitions, UNESCO and the Goi Peace Foundation encourage young people to share their vision for the future. The theme for this year's contest is "The role of science in building a better world". Scientific progress has brought many benefits to humanity, while some applications of science have had adverse impacts. Through the competition young people will answer questions such as "What kind of science and technology do you think is needed for realizing a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable world for all? The deadline for entry is 30 June 2009. Please see the complete guidelines at http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0901.html

UNESCO Biodiversity awards for young scientists

Young scientists from around the world working on projects ranging from working to conserve mangrove forests in Iran to conserving orchids in Cuba have been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for their work on biodiversity. Eleven people have been selected as winners of UNESCO's 2009 Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Young Scientist Awards, and they will each receive a cash price of up to $5,000 for their research on ecosystems and biodiversity focusing on sustainable interaction between people and their environment. Biosphere reserves are sites taking innovative approaches to conservation, ecological sciences and sustainable development which are recognized under UNESCO’s MAB Programme. Currently, there are 531 such sites in over 100 countries. More information: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29934&Cr=unesco&Cr1=youth

mardi 27 janvier 2009

About UN YOUTH Delegate in Rwanda

Early in 2009, NTEZIMANA Aloys and UTAMURIZA RUSARO Karine have sent the proposal for setting up UN Youth Delegate programme in Rwanda.

this proposal has been sent to Ministry of Foreign affairs and cooperation, Ministry of Youth and to National Youth Council. However, one could wonder why to have UN Youth Delegate?

In fact, Youth - officially defined by the UN as people aged 15-24 - makes up one-sixth of the world Population, these young people should be considered as as a precious and vital resource of great potential, capable of answering the challenges societies face with innovation and invention.Thus they should get involved in national and international decision-making. Besides, all issues that affect the world population also affect youth, often to a greater extent due to their social and economic status within society. The United Nations General Assembly has recommended four times that Member States include a youth representative in their delegations, starting in 1981 with Resolution RES/36/17. In particular, the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, which was adopted by the 50th plenary session of the General Assembly, repeated this in calling upon Member States to:“…Include Youth Representatives in their national delegations to the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations meetings, thus enhancing and strengthening the channels of Communication through the discussion of youth-related issues, with a view to find solutions to the problems confronting youth in the contemporary world.” Another resolution in 2004 reiterated this recommendation, but acceptance and implementation of these recommendations by Member States has been slow. In 2008, only -Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, Bulgaria, Ghana, Slovakia,Romania, Switzerland, Jamaica, Finland, Norway, KOREA, MEXICO, Sri Lanka and Sweden -sent a youth representative as part of their delegation. As a member of the United Nations,and a model developing country in this continent that has already involved youth representative in its Parliament, RWANDA should set an example to others by including youth delegates in their missions. In particular, 2009 represents a perfect opportunity for RWANDA to launch its Youth Delegate programme.

Role of Youth Delegate

delegate One focus of a youth delegate's work is in the Third Committee, the part of the General Assembly that deliberates on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Issues. In past instances,youth delegates have delivered statements on issues of concern to young people in the Third Committee. While the role of a youth delegate varies within delegations, most youth delegates draft and deliver a statement to the Third Committee of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY on an issue relating to, or of importance to, youth. Furthermore by cooperating with the missions of their countries and through attending a range of meetings, receptions and informal negotiations youth delegates have the possibility to give input to deliberations about youth issues at the UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, in particular the resolutions on “policies and programmes involving youth”. In recent years youth delegates have been more and more effective in giving theirinput to resolutions. Youth delegates at each GENERAL ASSEMBLY can work towardsstrengthening existing phrases to the benefit of young people.In addition to giving input to the resolutions on “policies and programmes involving youth”,the youth delegates work together to promote and further youth participation and input at the UN. They do so by organizing a side event on one of the youth issues on the agenda and by lobbying delegations to include youth delegates in the future.Youth delegates work with a common agenda whenever possible and sometimes also coordinate their speeches.Some youth delegates participate in the general work of their Missions by providing assistance in monitoring general debates and drafting reports.The length of time the youth representatives are based in New York ranges from eight weeks to one week.Before departing to New York, many youth delegates conduct tours of schools, universities and youth-led organizations. On these tours, they hear the views of young people about the youth-related issues on the agenda of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY. On their return from New York, many youth delegates again tour schools and universities to share their experiences from the General Assembly with other young people. This serves to educate young people about the UN and international politics, as well as encourage youth to get involved with decision making processes in their own communities.

The importance of UN Youyh Delegate for Rwanda and our policy for making it fruitful as required

SUMMARY

ITS IMPORTANCE

Owing to UN Youth delegate position or status; it is possible for UN Youth delegate to participate in improvement of livelihood \living standards \lifestyle of both rural and urban young people in Rwanda by:

-Providing information

-Helping them to create different initiatives and get funds or helps from primary UN Agencies and other International or regional NGOs

-Increase youth competitiveness or empowerment

-Making advocacy in several ways

-Marketing Rwandan youth’s activities

-And so forth

And therefore, playing great role in development of Rwanda by resolving different challenges young people are experiencing in Rwanda, such as:

-Extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy, laziness, drug abuse and juvenile delequent, reduction of HIV/AIDS, lack of employment and so forth.

OUR POLICY TO MAKE THIS PROGRAMME FRUITFULL ONCE SELECTED AS UN YOUTH DELEGATE

We, NTEZIMANA Aloys and RUSARO UTAMURIZA Karine, we outline our plan to implement and achieve the above mentioned goals throughout students districts association based in NUR and by creating different initiatives both at local and national level as well as by initiating communication channel among these districts associations and even between them and UN Agencies, different NGOs and other young people from all over the world.