While our neighbour country India is extensively engaged in its election; globally many children, adolescents and youths are also busy in promoting importance of votes. But, this vote the youth are advocating for is not for any political parties. It, however, has a political impact globally from developed countries to developing ones.
When the world stepped into the new millennium, the whole world came together and decided to set new goals since the world had new challenges and the new generation was in move. After massive discussions, consultations, meetings, interactions and, of course, some debates finally the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were drafted. These days we all know about the MDGs not only because of its importance, also because it is about to expire and again the world is looking forward to post-2015 development agendas. That’s why, through every possible platform, all the organisations, civil societies and UN agencies are discussing and consulting with people to know their issues, strategies and ideas for after 2015. Post-2015 is an issue of all people, organisations, development partners and UN agencies.
While I was discussing with youth,
I came to know that many of them are not aware of it and some of them are aware
because it's going to expire. In overall, this means most of the youths are not
aware about the goals which have LARGE impacts in their own life during the
implementation of the MDGs. If so, how can we make our voices heard? In recent
years we have realised that the UN and other development partners are very much
keen to listen to youth and some milestones have already crossed globally. In
Nepal also youth-focused, youth-led organisations are mushrooming and
development partners are taking concern about their issues.
To dig out and prioritise the
issues and development agendas for the period after 2015 globally, an online
voting initiative called 'My World' was started. Anyone can vote what they
think their priorities for development projects should be at http://vote.myworld2015.org/. Also various group
discussion and consultations are going on. We all know if any issue comes as a
global goal, then obviously huge investment plan and allocation will be made
and if we do not vote, then we might not be able to get support. I am not
saying we should vote so that we get money from INGOs or UN agencies. As a
youth and a Nepali, I would love to see my country independent and our
government could rule the donors exactly the way country wants and needs but
there is another factor which we should not forget is we need supports as well.
The amount we are getting from development partners is doing a good job for the
lives of many Nepalis. Nevertheless, the issues of transparency and its real
impact is still a matter for discussion.
This is the very first time that
the United Nations is allowing people to
have a direct say in shaping a better world. Today, around 1.7 million
have already voted for the world they want to see after 2015 and the UN is
aiming more votes because each vote counts. The more people we have to raise
their voices, the stronger our issues will become. The stronger our voices, the
more pressure we can create to work on them. To emphasize importance of vote
and to collect more votes globally, 'My World' has decided to celebrate 'Global
Action Week' with the aim to collect 500,000
additional votes from 5-11 May, 2014. While you are reading this article,
many youth around the world are discussing the World Youth Conference in Sri Lanka on the
world they want to see. On the other hand, many children, adolescents and youth
are claiming their rights through votes in different parts of the world including
different parts of our country.
According to Nepal’s
2011 Census, there 6.4 million adolescents aged 10-19. This means adolescents
consist about 24% of the total population, while the youth population aged
15-24 is 5.3 million or 20% of the total population. Our government defines
youth as people aged between 16-40, and according to the Central Bureau of
Statistics (CBS) the total population of youth in Nepal is 8,952,143. Globally
and nationally the current population of youth is a somehow huge, that’s why
our population is also defined as a youth-bulge. Owing to our share in the
population, the views of our generation can play a vital role from national to
global level.
Nepal has already launched the Nepali
Adolescents and Youth Charter for the Post 2015 Agenda on
September 9, 2013 for which around 500 adolescents and youth from 16 districts consulted.
Also during the South Asia Youth Conference held in Kathmandu from 15 to 19
December 2013, 70 youth from South Asian Countries including Malaysia and
Germany (as observers) came together to discuss on their regional priorities. After
that on 28-29 December, the Association of Youth Organizations of Nepal (AYON)
in coordination with Ministry of Youth and Sports and other agencies organised a
National Youth Assembly where more than 150 youth from 53 districts got
together to discuss various issues. The SOS and Ministry of Women, Children and
Social Welfare also organised an consultation on 'MDG and Children in Nepal'. Similarly
many child and youth rights-based organisations are also doing great job in
terms of collecting the views of children and youth of our country.
I believe that if we do effective and appropriate lobbies with the documents
we came up during those conferences, the outcome of these documents can make a
vital impact at global platform. So here are two points to think on. One,
whatever we have been doing or planning to do, we can link it into the post-2015
discussions. We can link what he have done so far to start advocating on it. If
we observe the findings of above
mentioned documents we can see today's generation is looking for equalities,
meaningful participation, employment opportunities, quality and skillful
education and is also concerned with climate change.
What can be done, then?
As many as 13,486 people who filled up the 'My World' ballot from Nepal
say their major priorities are better education, job opportunities, better
healthcare, honest and responsive government whereas children wish for support
for them who can't work, more than honest government. This is not an end, we
still have our say and this is the right time for hammering them. We can do
lots of things in order to collect the views and make them heard.
First, you can do vote through the internet. Use your social media (Facebook,
Twitter etc.) to promote this campaign and encourage people to have their say.
You can also organise discussions and interactions at local level, at
your schools or colleges and offices on the MDGs and post-2015 development
agenda. And, of course, whenever you need any support, you are always welcome
to contact this writer.
Dear friends, lets come together and have our voices on the matter which
concern us, have impact on our lives. If we do not speak up, they will never
realise that we do have our voices and never understand our issues and it won't
be heard. Let them know we have voices and then they must listen to us!
Writer is co-founder of Yuwalaya and
has been advocating for voices of children and youths in post-2015 development
agenda.
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