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AT UN FORUM AHEAD OF WORLD SUMMIT, YOUTHS APPEAL FOR GREATER ROLE IN CIVIC LIFE |
| New York,
Sep 13 2005 12:00PM Young people must do active community service, participate in social change, contribute to policy and take the initiative to make governments listen to their ideas on all the issues to be discussed at this week¡¦s World Summit in New York, said youth speakers at a United Nations-sponsored forum in Bangkok, Thailand. Under the theme of ¡§Young Voices for Change¡¨ the 2005 UN Youth Forum saw 300 local and international young people from schools, universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of Thailand gather yesterday at the UN Conference Centre. ¡§Young people in Thailand have a hard time, because children are taught they must obey and do what adults say,¡¨ said one youth presenter. ¡§Even if it is against our rights or dignity.¡¨ The topics covered by the Forum included the full range of issues to be discussed at the World Summit, including Kofi Annan's ¡§In Larger Freedom¡¨ report, and the areas of development, security and human rights. During the day¡¦s proceedings, the Thai pop star known as Lydia, Sarunrat Visutthithada, urged young people to take part in decision-making. ¡§Our voices are so important,¡¨ she said. ¡§We can get active and lobby our communities to fight poverty, hunger and disease. We can lead by example, showing the world that inequality and discrimination are not acceptable. Our voices have the capability to influence decisions and create change.¡¨ The problem of HIV/AIDS, in particular, garnered much discussion at the Forum. Youth worker Wannakanok Pohitaeda, from Thailand¡¦s southern province of Yala, spoke about the problems young people in Muslim communities are facing as they try to protect themselves from diseases and teenage pregnancy. She said condoms are starting to gain acceptance, but many other issues remain unresolved. The 2005 Youth Forum was organized by the UN Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). 2005-09-13 00:00:00.000 |