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Young Asians pledge to campaign for poverty eradication

Young Asians have gathered recently in Indonesia to frame a youth agenda for eradicating poverty and inequality in Asia. Youth delegates numbering 65 from Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, China, and Australia converged in Jakarta last August 13 to 16 for the “Be Seen, Be Heard Youth Participation for Development: Synergizing Youth Initiatives in Countries across Southeast, North, Central Asia, and the Pacific.”

The conference served as a venue for the young anti-poverty advocates to discuss among themselves the situation of the Asian youth in the context of the global clamour for poverty eradication. It developed as well a youth agenda and a plan of action for building a strong network of youth anti-poverty advocates in the region.

Coordinated by the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) with support from the Global Call to Action against Poverty - Southeast North Central Asia (GCAP SENCA), the conference catalyzed a deeper understanding of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the issues around it.

“The conference provided a space for sharing the youth situation in various countries across Asia and the Pacific, for understanding the root-causes of poverty and inequality, and for synergizing actions and activities towards the active engagement of young people in the struggle against social injustice,” said Sofyam Nur Salim, IPPA youth volunteer.

Day one of the conference saw country presentations highlighting the situation of the youth and related MDGs issues. The youth delegates observed the real condition of the poor people living in the river and near the river of Jakarta on the second day of the conference. An Action Plan for national campaigns and a Jakarta Declaration 2007 were produced.

The declaration states: “We, the youth of SENCAP pledge:

•         To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (reduce by half by 2015)

•         Improve quality, comprehensiveness and access to basic education for all, and ensure youth have the opportunity to complete basic education.

•         To improve the maternal health and services and reduce infant mortality.

•         To ensure gender equality at all levels of society and provide equal opportunities for all genders.

•         Improve quality of health services for people who suffer from HIV & AIDS and other communicable and preventable diseases.

•         To educate the youth on environmentally sustainable development.

•         To make a strong, active and accountable regional network to support “A global partnership for development”.

•         To ensure the participation of the youth in decision making processess at all levels.

•         To uphold the responsibilty of all developed countries to support developing countries in achieving the MDG’s.

•         To increase youth awareness of and mobilization for the anti-poverty movement

#ENDS

For information, contact:

Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association

Jl. Hang Jebat III/F.3, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12120

Phone: 62-21-7207372 Facsimile: 62-21-7394088

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