By Gil Harper, for World Alliance of YMCAs
(18 July 2010, Hong Kong) Youth need to adopt a “nothing about us, without us” approach to become fully involved in of decision-making that affects them and that contributes to a more just world – one that focuses on global citizenship, justice and peace.
This was the message of Mr Liberato Bautista, President of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), to 400 young YMCA leaders from 68 countries, gathered in Hong Kong from 17-19 July.
The International Youth Forum is a pre-event to the 17th World Council of YMCAs, from 19-24 July, a gathering of world YMCA leaders held every four years.
Addressing the theme of ‘Global citizenship: youth and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’, Bautista said that it was a shame that we have all the sophisticated implements of war and intimidation but lack the infrastructures that make for peace and social justice.
“Globilisation has meant more the spread of inequality rather than the just sharing of resources. A globilisation that consigns people to poverty unless they are productive, that values and measures how much we input into production, and that deifies the market and commodifies the earth and its resources in the interest of profit and capital, must be challenged, if only so that a globally community can be had and can be prospered.”
When 189 heads of state agreed to the MDGs at the 2000 Millennium Summit of the General Assembly of the UN, it was “meant to be a commitment by these states to work together to build a safer, more prosperous and equitable world for all.” The following targets were set for 2015:
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
“The lackluster commitment to financing for development, including the flow of official development aid there is, and whatever commitments government have already said but not matched by political will and actual cash layout, are already threatening the non-achievement of the MDGs.
“Add to these the multiple crises that have visited upon our world in the decade of the effort to implement the MDGs – the crises of food, finance and fuel, and the crises in our economy and ecology – and here we have a potent mix of spoilers that will imperil the achievement of the MDG targets,” he said.
On the link between global citizenship and achieving the MDGs by the stated date of 2015, Bautista said it is about empowerment and capacity building to reduce vulnerability on the one hand, and enhancing participation on the other. And central to this is the active involvement of youth.
He congratulated the youth on their proactive role in both the theme of the International Youth Forum and their determination to define a different world order that they will ultimately take leadership of.
“Our YMCA family is a dynamically diverse one. In a world riddled with conflict, we are at a critical moment in time. Although there is so much that could divide, we have the opportunity to leverage our common denominators and come together to fight for common causes like the MDGs. I am excited to experience this Forum on an action-orientated level – where words, thoughts and dialogues are intentially transformed into tangible outcomes,” said Courtney Lawrence of a youth participant from the USA.
“Global citizenry must be about upliftment and empowerment of peoples and their communities so they can evolve, harness and push politicians to muster political wisdom in their decisions and political courage to see through their implementation.”
As the target date of MDG achievements draws ever-near, Bautista commented that it is hard to maintain the enthusiasm of that was exhibited by governments and the UN on setting the targets for the MDGs.
“It is even harder to convince the world’s poor and hungry that social and economic indicators are pointing to improvements in their lives come 2015. More that statistical indicators, what is visibly seen and personally experienced is what people believe. And they see and experience greater hunger, more climatic changes, more unsafe childbirths, and more epidemics. And then less cooperation for development and unspecified resources to be mobilised.
The MDGs remain to be seen and experienced, according to Bautista, who urged that more than ever, increased partnership with all stakeholders, including the youth, is needed to keep trying to achieve the targets. “An investment on any and all of the eight goals is an investment in today’s youth.”
We may not for instance, achieve the goal of eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, he said.
“The poor may be with us always, but poverty need not be. The MDGs are placed in the right direction to address the blight of poverty and hunger, and possibly the scourge of war. Empty coffers and grumbling stomachs make for chaos and conflict to lurk”
He urged them to take up the task of claiming their global citizenship, without illusion and knowing that at times it is risky and dangerous, but necessary if in the global community, youth citizenship is to be meaningful and valued.
For media information, please contact:
Gil Harper (World Alliance of YMCAs); Tel: +852 5167 9520 / Email: media(at)ymca.int
