An online discussion is taking place, ending on the  26th of August, around the 11 priority areas for the World Program Action for Youth (WPAY).

This process is being facilitated by the United Nations Youth Program (which is managed by a Department within the UN)  in partnership with Regional Youth Platforms.  The online dialogue is to gather the views of youth from around the world to inform the upcoming draft resolution on youth in the 64th session of the General Assembly which is starting in September 2009.

Just to refresh our memory:  in 1995, on the tenth anniversary of International Year of the Youth, the United Nations strengthened its commitment to young people by directing the international community’s response to the challenges of youth into the next millennium. It did this by adopting an international strategy — the World Programme of Action for Youth for the Year 2000 and Beyond — to address more effectively the problems of young people and to increase opportunities for their participation in society.

In gathering your views, a webpage has been created to have this discussion by Pacific members, something like facebook, and it is by invite only. Therefore we would like to invite as many youth advocates, volunteers and workers from around the Pacific as possible.

The e-forum discussion will be around the following 11 WPAY priorities: armed conflicts, environment, girls and young women, Health, HIV & AIDS, Information and Communications Technologies, International relations, Juvenile Justice, Leisure Time Activities, Participations in Society and Decision making and Substance Abuse.

For each of these 11 areas, we would like to hear your views on the following:

• How are young people affected (both in a positive and negative way)?

• What role can various stakeholders (e.g. Governments, the United Nations system, the private sector and youth-led organizations) play to improve the situation of youth with respect to this area?

You don’t have to make comments on all the areas, you can just focus on the areas that you are interested in.

If you’re keen to take part, just kindly register your email and those of others that may be interested with jacquekoroi@gmail.com, so that the invitation link can be sent to your account.