8 October 2009 – Bangkok, Thailand
The ASEAN Youth Movement is organized by youth networks and civil society organizations from around the ASEAN region. Youth activists, NGOs, students and social entrepreneurs have joined together to form a voice for social justice and sustainable development. We are currently focusing on three main issues: education, the environment and human rights. We seek to develop a strong and active network to facilitate communication and coordination between ASEAN youth. We have members throughout ASEAN, with a strong presence in the Mekong sub-region. Since early 2008, we have organized several youth camps and forums that have formed new relationships and strengthened our solidarity. Last year’s ASEAN Youth Camp produced the first ASEAN Youth Statement.
The ASEAN Youth Movement is currently organizing the ASEAN Youth Forum, which will be held in Phetburi, Thailand from October 14-17. The Forum will be an opportunity for ASEAN youth to come together, exchange their experiences and ideas, and formulate youth recommendation to ASEAN and as well as plan future activities. We will produce an updated and concrete ASEAN Youth Statement, which will be utilized during the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum from October 18-20 and presented at the 15th ASEAN Summit, from Oct. 23-25. Youth voices are an essential part of civil society’s engagement with ASEAN. The ASEAN approach and policy-making decisions regarding these issues have important impacts on youth and the communities in which we live and work.
ASEAN governments have claimed the phrase “empowering young people through education,” yet we understand the current educational system to be overly career-oriented and lacking in the teaching of real life skills and respect local wisdom in their communities. This kind of education does not allow us to know ourselves, and limits our ability to support our communities and society as the whole. We have the right to access alternative education and learn freely about local wisdom in our communities and our societies.
Education about the environment and local ecology will not only help build awareness about environmental problems, but foster a conservation ethic and empower youth to take action for environmental sustainability. Furthermore, mega-project development plans for the Mekong River or other energy sources are not only environmentally unsustainable, but the source of serious human rights violations. Youth are increasingly aware about human rights issues and violations throughout Southeast Asia. We envision a role in educating our communities and learning together with civil society in ASEAN societies about human rights.
The ASEAN Youth Movement is a new network of youth activists, NGOs, students and social entrepreneurs. We are working to educate ourselves about critical issues in our region and
strengthening social and environmental alternatives for ASEAN communities, which is based on peoples’ center.
Contact:
Bennett Haynes and Jaruwan Supolrai
ASEAN Youth Movement Media Team – aseanyouthmovement.org
(+66) 0867941588 and (+66 0810722714)
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