World Youth Conference- 24 August 2010

Today was the final day of the NGO conference, before the Government delegations arrive tomorrow so the focus was on finalizing the NGO declaration to present to the Government Forum on Wednesday.

After a day and a half of negotiations and consultations in workshops and plenary on the 12 themes of the conference, the NGO delegates spent until midnight voting on the forty page document to be submitted as their recommendations on youth and development. The 300 strong NGO forum went through the document in detail, voting on specific additions, deletions and amendments. 

After a long and sometimes difficult process, the WAGGGS delegates emerged from the poliforum tired but mostly happy.

This document will now be presented to the Government forum, who will be negotiating the final text of the conference, which will be handed to the UN General Assembly in September.

Alongside the delegate deliberations, the Global Interactive Forum continues to host over 25,000 youths, engaging them on the MDGs and youth issues through concerts, interactive media stands, learning activities and presentations and games.

A highlight today was the UNIFEM Young Women´s Forum, a day of discussions on issues ranging from violence against women, women in conflict and as leaders in the peace process, empowerment through technology, young women´s leadership role in the response to HIV and AIDS and the image of young women in the mass media.

Opening the Forum was Margarita Zavala, First Lady of Mexico, who spoke passionately against violence against women and girls.  Ms Zavala also visited the WAGGGS MDG stand in the Global Interactive Forum, where she received a Guide scarf and spoke to the Guide delegation, including the 20 young Guides volunteering at the conference.

The WAGGGS MDG stand has been busy all week as Mexican youths stream into the conference. At the stand they are recording their UNICEF films to ensure their voice is heard, they are learning about the MDGs through non-formal education activities and are getting their photos taking in the WAGGGS boat, symbolizing that in the fight against poverty and inequality, “we are all in it together.”

Rwanda´s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Kampeta Sayinzoga, who is only 29 years old, summed up the day with a challenge to the young people at the conference.