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Young people engage Heads of States in the Kampala dialogue

7 December 2007

Youth forum delegates participated in a historic dialogue with Commonwealth Heads of States

On Friday 23 November, an unprecedented and therefore historic dialogue took place between Heads of States and young people at Munyonyo, Kampala.

Before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) retreat, a dialogue was held comprising of nine Heads of Government, eight young people selected from across the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, the Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) and the Regional Director of the CYP Caribbean Centre.

The one hour long session was chaired by the President of Uganda, and included the leaders of the following countries: Dominica, Guyana, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and Zambia. The nine Heads of Government were represented of the general Commonwealth and included attendance from the host countries of the four CYP Regional Centres.

The debate dubbed the ‘Kampala Dialogue’ began with opening remarks by Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General who set out the challenge, which was then responded to, first by Dr Fatiha Serour, Director of CYP, and second, by the two spokespersons of the eight young people who participated at the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF). An open dialogue and debate then ensued amongst the Heads of Government and youth representatives.

The young people warmed to the Heads, especially to Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica at just 35 and Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana not much older at 43.

The young people, mostly made up of the Commonwealth Regional Youth Caucus members reaffirmed their commitment to work with Governments and leaders to develop their nations and societies. They recommended that Governments adopt a 3 point plan for youth development:

1) Youth Participation as central to National Development: This includes the involvement of young people in meaningful and constructive engagement on national and global levels through inclusion in discussions at all Commonwealth Meetings, developmental national processes and in bodies such as National Youth Councils and National Youth Parliaments.

2) Creating an enabling environment that speaks to matters of sustainable development: This includes the adoption of technologies and developmental processes geared towards fighting poverty, unemployment and environmental degradation, while promoting trade policies which are fair, equitable and provide a level playing field for all countries.

3) Substantial investment for young people: Ensuring that greater financial and other resources are provided to the implementation of youth policies in line with the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment. Additionally, that support for agencies such as the Commonwealth Youth Programme and the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council along with Ministries responsible for youth are strengthen and properly resourced.

Speaking before the start of the dialogue, Don McKinnon, the outgoing Secretary-General said “I care passionately for the young people of the Commonwealth and believe that this short meeting can help secure strong support and commitments in the final communiqué. It’s a legacy issue for me”.

The youth dialogue was the first opportunity that young people have had to directly engage in discussions with Commonwealth Heads of States in the margins of CHOGM, but it is hoped it won’t be the last. The young people present made a strong case for the dialogue to become a permanent feature of future CHOGM.

The objective of the dialogue was to reaffirm political commitment by Commonwealth Heads of Government to youth priorities and to secure the necessary resources to implement the youth programme mandate.

“We hope that this dialogue results in outcomes that will positively impact on youth ministries and CYP’s ability to contribute to the youth development agenda” said Dr Serour.

The outcome of the dialogue was that the nine Heads would convey the dialogue’s conclusions to fellow Heads in the ensuing CHOGM retreat; inspiring all leaders to return to their countries with new ideas and new commitments to make youth a central plank of national development; and securing a new financing agreement for the CYP.

CYP is very pleased with the outcome of that lobbying. In the final CHOGM communiqué, Heads reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to young people and recognised the Commonwealth Youth Programme as a longstanding and unique instrument for promoting youth empowerment and development.

Heads noted with concern the severe shortfall in funding for the CYP which is seriously constraining its capacity to deliver its current mandates and therefore agreed that countries should live up to their financial commitments to the budget to the CYP.

They endorsed efforts to strengthen the CYP’s four Regional Centres to become centres of excellence, and in this regard, they appreciated India’s support to develop the CYP Asia Centre as a focal point for cooperation and learning in the field of youth and local governance.

Heads endorsed the Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE) adopted by the 6^th Youth Ministers’ Meeting, and took note with appreciation of the communiqué of the sixth Commonwealth Youth Forum held in Entebbe in November 2007. Heads noted the importance of developing national youth policies and also of including young people in all possible aspects of national planning and budgeting.

Read the full text of the CHOGM communiqué:

http://www.thecommonwealth.org/document/34293/35232/173044/chogm2007finalcommunique.htm