• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

ASEAN Youth at the ASEAN Summit 2014: Representing All Voices and Claiming our Space

by onlinecitizen
15/05/2014
in Community, Current Affairs
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

11 May 2014 served as a historical and monumental day for ASEAN Youth. Despite challenges in terms of time, space and genuine representation, we, the young people, asserted our right to claim our space and amplify our voices at the ASEAN Summit. It was the first time that Young people shifted their discourse from mere actors of cultural exchange to active and relevant stakeholders for a youth-driven, rights-based, people-centred, sexuality-embracing, open, transparent and accountable ASEAN community. We are most proud of the Myanmar youth team who had tirelessly and passionately worked to make this happen.
While only three countries, Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar, were genuinely represented (from the ASEAN Youth Forum) at the interface meeting, we forged all possible measures to negotiate with government-appointed youth. Amid heated debates and differences in terms of socio-political awareness, we were still able to convince all to embrace and endorse the Yangon Declaration (ASEAN Youth Statement 2014).
Our work won’t stop here. It is most important to meaningfully engage beyond those four walls in Nay Pyi Daw. Now, we all have the leverage to monitor our recommendations and push our governments to stay committed to the strong calls of ASEAN young people!
We have to stay true to our main vision and we will not stop until we reach this end. We will remain committed, especially for those who could not access spaces to express their voices and those who are not able to claim their rights and freedoms. This first giant leap is for the present and future young people of the ASEAN.
[spacer style=”1″ icon=”none”] We are proud to share the speech of Ms. Phwe Yu Mon, a passionate and committed youth leader and ASEAN Youth Forum core team member from Myanmar, at the ASEAN Youth Summit Interface:

First of all, we would like to convey our gratitute and appreciation to the government of Myanmar for providing the space for ASEAN youth to participate meaningfully at the ASEAN Summit Interface Meeting.
We would like to call for a youth civil society-centred, independent selection process for future official representatives of the ASEAN Summit Interface Meeting.
We, the young leaders from the ASEAN Youth Forum, would like to demand that ASEAN give full recognition to the collective voices of the ASEAN young people based on the Yangon Declaration ASEAN Youth Statement 2014.
We also call for the full recognition of the ASEAN Youth Forum as a youth-based, autonomous and independent regional institution that represents the voices of young Southeast Asians, and to monitor and evaluate the implementation of youth-related policies, agenda, and recommendations
We, the young people of ASEAN, aspire for the promotion of non-discrimination, equality, peace, protection, sustainability, and inclusive development of the ASEAN community that is in line with the principles and values of human rights, democracy, justice and freedom in all aspects of our lives.
We, the young people of ASEAN, strongly call for the creation of a sustainable rights-based, inclusive, people-centered, and youth-driven regional community. Henceforth, we demand for the full participation for the reviewing of the Terms of Reference of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to ensure it functions as a fully independent, transparent regional human rights authority, to strengthen human rights protection mandate, owned by the AICHR.
Among our demands are, AICHR should be able to receive complaints of human rights violations cases, form a fact-finding team of human rights cases in ASEAN, support the efforts of the selection and recruitment of the AICHR representatives in all ASEAN countries from among the independent authority for the AICHR, as well as encourage the formation of the Court of HUMAN RIGHTS in the ASEAN. In addition, leaders should also ensure the AICHR can complete the agenda of civil society involvement guideline with AICHR.
We, the young people of ASEAN, strongly call for affirmative action in ASEAN countries to create an enabling environment at regional, national, and local levels that highly addresses the needs, fulfills the aspirations of young people and ensures youth-embracing Post-2015 Development agenda for the region.
We, the young people of ASEAN, must always be able to freely access and shape local, national and regional spaces to lead, claim our rights, and drive a people-centered ASEAN community. We thereby, call for meaningful youth participation by providing them access to information and demand a transparent and accountable policy especially the ones that have impact to the youth.
Meaningful participation of youth in all sectors is highly important to ensure the above, with emphasis on young vulnerable groups including adolescent girls, LGBTIQ (young people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expression), young political prisoners, young persons with disabilities, indigenous people, religious minorities, migrants, stateless people, people living in poverty, language minorities, women, pregnant girls, children, people living in the context of war and humanitarian contexts, sex workers, people living with HIV and AIDS, dropouts, drug users and internally displaced peoples; with genuine democratic consultation, sufficient funding allocation and provision of other resources, and protection on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
We demand the immediate reform and repeal of policies & laws that indirectly criminalize and discriminate against young people based on their political views and status, SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression), religion, and social economic status.
Further, we call for an Immediate action to fully address and work with young people on issues related to:

  •  Role of Young People and Impacts of Peace and Reconciliation
  • Good Governance, Democracy, and Freedom of Expression:
  • Ensuring Decent Work and Livelihood for the Youth of Southeast Asia
  • Quality education for all Young Southeast Asians
  • Empowering Young People’s Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights (gender, sexuality,  access to  health, and comprehensive sexual education)
  • Youth in Migration: Assuring Safety, Freedom, and their Rights (trafficking, refugees,  statelessness, and migrant workers)
  •  Actualizing and Maintaining a Regional Environment (self-determination, preservation of local  wisdom  and indigenous culture)

Youth Rights are FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS!

 

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI
Indonesia

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023
Commentaries

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives
Singapore

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

02/02/2023
US businesses ‘fear internet curbs in Hong Kong’
AFP

Hong Kong offers free flights after COVID isolation

02/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?
AFP

Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

02/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled
AFP

India’s Adani empire loses more than US$100 bn after fraud claims

02/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

02/02/2023
US businesses ‘fear internet curbs in Hong Kong’

Hong Kong offers free flights after COVID isolation

02/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

02/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani empire loses more than US$100 bn after fraud claims

02/02/2023
Former political prisoners calls for abolishment of ISA and apology from PAP Govt on 60th anniversary of Operation Coldstore

Former political prisoners calls for abolishment of ISA and apology from PAP Govt on 60th anniversary of Operation Coldstore

02/02/2023
Indian state picks new capital after kicking out Singapore consortium

Indian state picks new capital after kicking out Singapore consortium

02/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
32

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
59

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
69

...

May 2014
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr   Jun »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz