Another day
has come and gone over Bali ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum.But as days
come and go, the discussion intensifies and young people are more demanding to
their governments, religious and traditional authorities, parents, and society
at large.
Universal
access to education,inclusive education, relevant education, quality education ,financing
and partnerships, as well as ccomprehensive sexuality education were identified
by participants at the ICPD beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum participants as
being vital for comprehensive education to become a reality in our world and
were thus recommended in that other for discussion by the United Nations and
possible inclusion in its post-2015 international development agenda.
Transitions
to decent work, and famiies,youth Rights and well being are the themes which
were on the discussion table today.These being of course issues which are
relevant to every young person irrespective of
where he/she hails, the debate in the plenary was so intense and
continued into the various work groups.
During the
plenary on transitions to decent employment, it was revealed by the
International Labour Organisation’s representative that we now have the highest
number of unemployed youths that the world has ever. Also, during this plenary
it was disclosed that 1 in 9 young workers in Africa are in the informal
sector, 4 out of 10 young workers are working on a temporary basis, and 5 in 10
low paid persons are youths.
Productivity, fairness, and rewarding are the
major characteristics of a decent job as defined by the International Labour Organisation(ILO).
If one is to go by this definition, one will have no choice but agree with the
above statistics. One other area in which there was total agree is on the fact
that stronger families, respect of youth rights, and the well being of youths
are the basis for any society and so for
a world at peace with itself, there was need for these issues to be
tackled with maximum care.
According
to Mr.Anatole Makosso, the president to the conference of African youth
ministers and youth minister of Congo Brazzaville, there exist three reasons
for governments to carefully consider the above mentioned issues and ensure
that the needs of youths are met: They are the majority, they are the future,
they will not identify with any decisions taken without them.
Another day
is come and gone, and the desire for
action by youths on the part of their governments has not faultered Youths want
to make the Bali declaration not only a declaration but a platform for action.
Hear our voices.
