International Youth Day- Mental Health, Lets Act

“The youth is the hope of our future.” ~Jose Rizal

Youth is the time of life when one is young, but often means the time between childhood and adulthood (maturity). The specific age range that constitutes youth varies from one region to another.

International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day selected by the United Nations and observed worldwide on 12^th August every year. The purpose of this day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. Youth day is one of the many extensive efforts of the United Nations to help member states reach out to their youth and understand all challenges faced by them. Besides, it aims to promote ways to actively engage youth in making positive contributions to their communities.

IYD is also an annual celebration of the role of young people as the essential partners in change.  Along with ensuring their rights, an equally important goal of IYD is to shape the youth not just as a passive beneficiary of development efforts, but as a force for positive social change.

IYD focuses on the rights of young people to have full access to education, adequate healthcare, employment opportunities, financial services and full participation in public life. In a climate of economic uncertainty, it is important for countries to invest in opportunities for their youth to learn, earn and grow so that the common future lies in good hands. During IYD, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials as well as youth organizations take place around the world.

The theme of International Youth Day 2014 is ‘Mental Health Matters’ in which special focus will be given on the stigma and discrimination attached to the theme. Youth with mental health conditions often experience stigma and discrimination which can lead to exclusion and discourage them from seeking help due to the fear of being negatively ‘labeled’. Efforts are needed to overcome this stigma to ensure that young people with mental health conditions are able to enjoy full and healthy lives free of isolation.

Together with this year’s theme, World Assembly of youth encourage both Member States and the general public to understand the needs of young people, to implement policies to help them overcome the challenges they face, as well as to support young people and their contribution in the decision-making process. This is also to bring youth issues to the attention of the international community and realize the potential of youth as partners of betterment in today’s global society. Recognizing Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we believe in an equal opportunity to be given to all young people regardless their limitation. Thus, in line with this year’s International Youth Day,  all stakeholders are urge to work from grassroots level in calling to the end all kind of discrimination and stigma addressed to young people with mental health conditions. 

Happy International Youth Day!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: ‘BRIDGING THE GAP: IMPLEMENTING THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’

I support the indigenous people anywhere in the planet ~Edward James Olmos

Indigenous People are a significant and important portion of humanity. Their heritage, their ways of life, their stewardship of this planet, and their cosmological insights are an invaluable treasure for society. Indigenous live in every region of the world and in all varieties of climates ranging from Arctic cold to Amazon heat. They often claim a deep connection to their lands and natural environments. Thus, many indigenous people value the natural world as a source of food, health, spirituality and identity.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is commemorated  annually on 9^th of August to promote, protect and endorse the rights enshrined in the United Nations Declaration particularly on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). This day also presents an opportunity to honour diverse indigenous cultures and recognize the achievements and valuable contributions of an estimated 370 million indigenous people all around the world.

This year’s theme which is on ‘Bridging the Gap: Implementing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ aims to highlight the importance of implementing the rights of indigenous people through policies and programmes at both the national and international level by working together with Governments, the United Nations and other stakeholders with the aim of bridging the gap between indigenous people and our society.

World Assembly of Youth (WAY) in observing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, will work to support national governance systems to be more effective in addressing discrimination and structural inequalities that can disproportionately affect indigenous peoples.  WAY believe that by guaranteeing access to opportunities and supporting as well as enabling environment where indigenous peoples are empowered, they will be able to develop their full potential to lead dignified lives in harmony with their world vision and traditional values.WAY always insists on making indigenous youth a priority by having all necessary recommendations flowing from the permanent forum to promote better integration and coordination of their issues, including youth issues, across the globe.

Today, as the world is celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, WAY will continue to support robust engagement and collaboration and further build alliances between different partners to put the end to exclusion and discrimination as well as to enable indigenous people to exercise their full rights in free and diverse societies.

Happy International Day of the World’s Indigenous People!