Office of Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth's 8 Recommendations to Incorporate Young People and their Priorities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Based on the inputs of young people in the MyWorld2015 and World We Want online surveys, the national consultations, the Bali Declaration of the Global Youth Forum on ICPD Beyond 2014, the Rio+20 Youth Blast, the Sierra-Leone Regional Youth Development Declaration Summit on Post 2015 Agenda, and after consultations with the relevant UN organizations and entities, the following is a set of recommendations to incorporate the human rights and development priorities of young people in a sustainable development framework which seeks to address development challenges for the current as well as the future generations:
1. Youth Participation and Empowerment
Recommendation: Young people expect the establishment and strengthening of institutional mechanisms that allow for meaningful youth participation in decision-making, particularly for those most marginalized, ensuring young people have access to the information they need to exercise their human rights, and strengthening the capacities of youth-led organizations and networks in order to enable them to fulfil their potential as active and equal members of society.
2. Governance
Recommendation: Young people expect a firm commitment to democracy, justice, transparency, integrity and equal representation in all governance processes, in such a way that enables youth to participate in the process of national development, including creating access to opportunities for employment, innovation and shared wealth-creation.
3. Education
Recommendation: Young people should be engaged in the design, content and delivery of education to ensure that it is responsive to the real and current needs of those people to whom it is intended to benefit. Youth need access to quality, relevant education beyond primary education, which integrates life skills, vocational training, comprehensive sexual education, peace-building and sustainable development, promotes global citizenship and utilizes informal education methods.
4. Employment
Recommendation: Young people call on the elimination of challenges they are faced with as the largest unemployed portion of the global population and within the period of transition to integrate the work force, including difficulties to access employment and economic opportunities that encompass fair wages, possibilities for funding and mentorship, equal opportunities, job and social security, career development and training, as well as entrepreneurial and innovation skill development opportunities.
5. Health care
Recommendation: Young people, particularly adolescent girls, urgently need universal access to affordable, quality health care and youth-friendly health services, including sexual and reproductive health. Countries must aim to ensure that all adolescents enter adulthood with the highest attainable standard of health, without unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, unsafe deliveries, violence, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, with a healthy weight and free of substance abuse.
6. Gender
Recommendation: Young people expect a firm commitment to ensuring equal and equitable representation of young women in politics, promoting girls’ access to secondary and higher education, and addressing harmful practices against young women and girls, including forced and child marriage, gender-based violence/discriminations and violence against women.
7. Inequalities
Recommendation: Young people expect a sustainable development approach which integrates education, human rights and youth participation to tackle the effects of inequalities in employment, governance, health and other areas of their roles in society, in a way that ensures young people are treated equally, regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and with special attention to youth with disabilities, youth in conflict zones, youth with HIV/AIDS and youth at risk.
8. Climate Change and Environment
Recommendation: Through concrete contributions and engagement in environmental protection efforts, young people as agents of change, durably influence the mindsets, attitudes and behaviour of their peers and communities. Provided with education on practical skills in disaster preparedness and adaptation to climate change, as well as on the potential consequences of climate change and global environmental degradation, youth can make sustainable choices with regards to consumption and lifestyles as well as green jobs. 

Chairperson's Message on the Anniversary of YOAC

It is my great pleasure to share with you all that Youth Action Nepal (YOAC) completes its decade long journey from May 27, 2013. We are very proud to obtain this achievement. We are also happy about our decade long contribution to promote youth social movement in Nepal.

To set up and run a youth organization was not an easy job in Nepal. It was during the time of armed conflict, thus it took more than six months to complete the registration process of YOAC. Generating resources was a very complicated and competitive task for YOAC, as we had to compete with other adult-led professional organizations. Thus, there was no funding (besides our personal contributions of time and money) in the first one and half years of YOAC’s establishment. YOAC had only hand-counted people in its core team and that was also depleting month by month because YOAC could not properly engage many of its important people. We were only limited in Kathmandu and a couple of districts. We were also lacking substantive projects, campaigns, and advocacy actions. Most importantly, we were not adequately trusted by many concerned actors because YOAC being a youth led and youth focused organization. Despite all these challenges, we had some strength; we had a clear vision about the future of Nepali youth movement; we were very determined what we wanted to achieve; and we never gave up our mission for making YOAC as a leading organization to promote youth movement in Nepal. As a result, YOAC has marked 10 years of its establishment.

From past to present, YOAC has focused its work on issues around human rights, peace, democracy, migration, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). YOAC still works as a leading youth organization to deal these issues from youth perspectives. YOAC took a lead role to convene Nepal Youth Social Forum (NYSF) since 2006 until now. NYSF is the largest non-partisan youth forum in Nepal, organized in every two years. YOAC also had taken a lead role during the national youth policy formulation process. Due to its persistent advocacy since 2004, YOAC has been able to establish foreign labour migration as a major youth agenda of Nepal. YOAC initiated SRHR focused advocacy and campaigns since 2005 when this issue was only dealt with from service delivery perspective. YOAC’s grassroots focused democracy promotion initiatives have been very successful in organizing and empowering hundreds of youth and their networks. Youth representation has been increased in our working locations. For instance, District Development Committee of Dang has formed a Youth Committee after our long advocacy. YOAC is now serving as an advisor of this committee. YOAC has dozens of success stories of these kinds. Similarly, our peace projects have prepared dozens of youth peace builders in our working districts. YOAC facilitated Friend of Youth Action group since 2007, which has been able to organize and engage more than 150 active and semi-active youth in a number of volunteering and community service projects. Human Rights Training and Study Session and Annual Peace School have been established as a popular educational programs for district level youth leaders. YOAC has also taken lead role in several national level advocacy and campaigns related to its working theme. One of its staffs has also selected as a UNFPA global youth fellow to work at the UN Headquarters New York. YOAC’s staffs, members, and volunteers have also participated in nearly 150 international events.

So many people and institutions have played a very prominent in the course of our ten years long journey. I would like take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to our volunteers, local partners, youth networks, well-wishers, donors, government agencies, youth and student political organizations, advisors, general members and staffs. It was impossible for us to continue our journey without your incredible supports, suggestions, and feedbacks. It will be injustice if I do not acknowledge the significant contributions of our founder members to make this organization alive. Thus, I also would like to highly acknowledge their works.

I hope we will get similar kind of love, support, and encouragements even in the future.

Thank you!

Best Regards,

Gopi Krishna Bhattarai

Chairperson

Consultation on UNHLD held

Youth Action Nepal along with MFA Nepal Chapter organized national consultation on the 2^nd UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development. The consultation was held on 25-26 April at Kathmandu. Consultation aim was to make effort to engage in the UNHLD. The consultation focused on the CSO seven points agenda for a 5 year action plan that was submitted to the UNHLD. The consultation came up with recommendations in line with the 7 points agenda.

Together Towards Prosperity

Third World County like Nepal, youth involvement is poor in any program because the senior citizens believe that youth lack experiences as well as ideas. It is useless to involve them senior people think. And also they don’t think youth involvement is important for the betterment of the village or a community. There was a period where in any program; meeting youth involvement was not at all. On such particular program senior people are active member. But now it has been changed and youth involvement and participation are seen rapidly in the village.

According to the Ram Chandra Acharya , youth of Kailali district Chumala VDC are begin to appreciate by the villagers' for their work. In any program, meeting or conflict arise in the village, youth steeped out to solve it. Chumala VDC Youth networking President Archarya said they also take consent of the senior people and work for the betterment of the community. Beladevipur Youth Networking Vice President Gyanu Chaudhary added senior people themselves want youth to take part. This situation arise because of Youth Action Nepal said Bijay Rana, member of Beladevipur Youth Network. After the program regarding interaction between youth and parents organized by Youth Action Nepal, the thinking has been changed of those parents for the youth. They appreciate their work and also praise them what they deed.

Youth of Beladevipur demand their participation on the meeting of the village. At first their demand are ignored by the people but gradually they perform their best for the development of the village and are being acknowledged said Ramdayal Chaudhary.

Youth Action Nepal had introduced such kind of program to gather all the youth for their as well as village's development. It was quite effective also. Youth Action Nepal carried out the awareness program like human rights, reproductive health and rights, youth rights, youth personality development, public hearing etc. These programs are implemented since 2065B.S and due to this around 300 youth from 5 VDC of Kailali are being initiated said Taparaj Joshi, coordinator of Youth Action Nepal, Kailali.

Different awareness program, workshop and work camp, interaction are launched by Youth Action Nepal for the upliftment of youth to developed their leadership skill and betterment of their locality.

Bitter Reality of Foreign Employment

Yagya Prasad Sapkota life became beyond his imagination and thinking as well. He went for foreign employment by taking debt and in the hope that he will give his family a good and better life. But the expectation and desire became vain as he return back home after a month. He became seriously ill and compel to returned back home. He said he did not get good work in a company as he was promise before going to another country. He was able to returned back home due to the help of Nepalese workers.

After returning back home, he suffer from serious economic crisis. So with the hope of getting some help he joins youth action in 2068 and also involve in the program. Knowing about his condition and willingness to do something they help him. Youth Action Nepal provides 20 thousand to him and from that money he opens a small hotel in Rajipur bazaar. From the income of that hotel, he is able to deduct his debt. Gradually from the income he fulfils his family needs as well. Further he added, 'Youth Action has shown me the way and bring me here.'

In a few period of time, Yagya Prasad Sapkota brings positive change in his life and became an example in his village.

YOAC Elected in NEOC

Youth Action Nepal (YOAC) elected in Vice- President of National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) of Kathmandu District Chapter on April 30, 2013.

NEOC is a coalition of human rights organization, civil society organizations and distinguished individuals. It coordinates the election monitoring process in close cooperation with the Election Commission.

युवाहरूले पुस्तकालय सञ्चालनमा ल्याए

युवा कार्य नेपालले गठन गरेको चापपानी युवा सञ्जालले शान्ति पुस्तकालय सञ्चालन गरेका छन् ।चापपानी गाविस र युथ एक्सन नेपालको आर्थिक सहयोग एवम् भौतिक सहयोगमा उक्त पुस्तकालयको थालनी गरिएको हो ।

पुस्तकालयमा जिल्लाका चापपानी, बरांगदी, दर्लमडाँडा, यम्घा, खानीगाउँसहित आधादर्जनभन्दा बढी गाविसका युवाहरूले सेवा लिन सक्नेछन्।

पुस्तकालयको माध्यमबाट स्थानीयतहमा रहेका युवाले सूचनालगायतका विषयमा ज्ञान पाउने युवा कार्य नेपालका अध्यक्ष गोपिकृष्ण भट्टराइले बताउनु भयो ।

चापपानी गाविसका सचिव एकप्रसाद ढकालले ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा रहेका सर्वसाधारणलाई पुस्तक पढ्ने बानीको विकास गराउन पुस्तकालय सहयोगी हुने बताउनुभयो । उहाँले चापपानीका युवाहरूले जिल्लामै उदाहरणीय कार्यको सुरुवात गरेकोमा युवाहरूको यस्तो कार्यमा गाविसले सदैव सहयोग गर्ने बताउनुभयो ।

गाविसभित्रका युवाहरूको संस्था चापपानी युवा सञ्जालले गत ३ वर्षदेखि गाविस कार्यालयमा सूचना केन्द्र सञ्चालनमा ल्याएका थिए । ती युवाहरूले सूचना केन्द्रसँगै पुस्तकालयलाई समेत निरन्तरता दिने कार्यको सुरु गरेका हुन् ।

स्वास्थ्य चौकी भवनमा सञ्चालनमा ल्याएको उक्त पुस्तकालय कक्षमै कम्प्युटर, फोटो कपि, ई–मेल इन्टरनेटको सेवासमेत प्रदान गरिने अध्यक्ष अर्यालले बताउनुभयो ।

Strategic Planning

Introduction

Youth Action Nepal (YOAC-2003) is a leading youth NGO committed in the field of Democracy, Peace and Social Harmony, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Human Rights issues. YOAC believes on Duty Culture, Partnership, Volunteerism and Youth Participation as valued principles of change and holistic development. No Youth No Development: because Nation Building is in the hand of Youth. Hence, 'Youth Involvement for Nation Building' is what YOAC alone stands for.

Vision

Youth work in the democratic environment in the nation building process where human dignity is respected

Mission

YOAC educates, engages, and empowers diverse youth in national building process by making them responsible to contribute at the local, national and international.

Objectives

• To develop YOAC as a Human Rights Leaning Center to prepare multiplier frontline HR activists from grassroots to national level. 
• To increase meaningful youth participation by promoting democratic culture in decision making level
• To engage 40,000 youths in SRHR to establish youth friendly SRH service and advocate at decision level
• To engage 500 local youth peace facilitators to build five model villages for social harmony.
• To initiate activities for institutional development and promote human resource development within YOAC, among partners and volunteers.

Core values

Youth Participation                                                 Duty culture

Partnership                                                              Volunteerism

Working issues

Human Rights                                                           Peace and Social Harmony

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights      Democracy

Module of activities implementation 2009-2012

1. Human Rights

• To develop YOAC as a Human Right leaning center
• To develop YOAC as a Human Right leaning center for youth to be educated and practiced HR norms and values
• To develop YOAC as a Human Right leaning center prepare multiplier frontline HR activists at local level (grassroots)

Tool	Activity
Intensive course (study session)	Regional Level Human Right Study Session (5*25=125)
Youth Human Right Defenders conference	National level-200 /regional level  -100*5=500
Youth Human Right Activist capacity Building	200*4=800 frontline activist
Build as a Human Right Resource center
LYOEF	10 - 20 organization
Where?	2009-2010(ten organization ) 2010-2012(15 organization)
How Many?	200*4=800 front line activist
Advocacy	Ratification CMW and nationalization process

2. Democracy

• To enhance participation in decision making level ensuring democratic values and principle
• To increase youth participation in democracy process and advocate for youth participating in decision making level
• To enhance youth participation to promote in democratic culture/ affairs at the decision making level and transforming culture of peace and non violence
• To increase meaningful youth participation by promoting democratic culture in decision making level

Tools	Activities
Enhancing youth participation in decision making level	research on youth participation in political party Youth Status report Advocacy (5 district 25 VDC) Civil Society monitoring on implementation of youth chapter of Interim plan 2065-2068
Transforming youth towards democratic values at local level	Baseline survey (10 district  50 VDC) Training and education working areas Youth networks Democratic dialogue Federalism Resource center
Youth Participation Constitution making process(CMP)	Youth Consultation-Youth Charter (10 district 5 regional 1 national ) Youth CA members vision for new Nepal YUBA" kaslai ke chahinchha" case study collection and publication

3. Peace and Social Harmony

• To make/empower youth engaged in community peace building/development initiative
• Ensure 4000 youth engaged in community peace building/development initiatives.
• To ensure peaceful society, youth at the grassroots are engaged to transform a culture of peace of peace and harmony.
• To engage 400 local youth facilitators to build five model villages for social harmony.

Tools	Activities
Nepal Youth Social Forum (NYSF)
Youth march for social harmony	( Yuva Janayatra) -  21 district of Tarai region - around 10, 000 people
Cross cultural learning camp
Peace leadership camp	5 districts, 125 person yearly Youth Work Camp - 5 districts, 125 person yearly
Peace Pathashala	Yearly for 30 participants ( one month)
Social harmony program	Tarai( Madhes) - SAJHA SAWAL
Campaign against BANDHA -aGbnfO{ aGb u/f}+, aGbsf ljsNk_
Skill base training for conflict victims?
Social re -Integration program  -4G4af6 kmls{Psfx?sf] ;fdflhs k'g Plss/0f sfo{qmd_

4. SRHR

• Ensure the vulnerable young people and youth to be avoided risky behaviors and practices and promote for youth friendly service on SRH
• To aware 40000 youth on SRH and advocate for the follow/ adaptation of national and international instrumental for youth friendly services
• To engage 40000 youths in SRHR to establish youth friendly SRH service and advocate at decision level

Tools	Activity
SangSangai Awareness Program/ Advocacy Advocacy SRH Service	Station run My Body My Rights campaign Advocacy for Youth friendly SRH services, SRH services in community level ICPD + 15 review, state commitment ( Preparation of alternative report) Training program for local journalist
Where?	Five District
How Many?	40000