Commonwealth Youth Forum closes

The 6th Commonwealth Youth Forum was the most successful yet, with the highest number of delegates and the highest quality of debate, said Joseph Okwakau, Chairman of the Forum, at the closing session on 20 November 2007.

“These seven days have enhanced my belief that young people are mature and in charge of their destiny. They are the present and positive future of the Commonwealth. Without them, there is no future of the Commonwealth.

“Young people today can no longer wait for promises, but want action.”

The week-long Forum, held in Entebbe, Uganda, prior to the high-level Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), ended with music and celebrations involving over 150 delegates, representing 48 Commonwealth countries. The theme of the Forum was ‘Breaking Barriers: Unleashing Young People’s Potential for Development’.

The final communiqué, which will be presented to Heads of Government at CHOGM, was handed over to Gilbert Bukenya, Vice-President of Uganda, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon.

Mr McKinnon was praised by Mr Okwakau for his commitment to young people during his tenure at the helm of the Commonwealth.

The Secretary-General said he has told Heads of Government that “we have to do a whole lot better for Commonwealth youth, and that they need to show leadership and commitment.”

Mr McKinnon also said that “our hopes for the future” lie with young people. He called for young people to be “continuously” involved in areas such as “health, education, business, the environment, and politics” where their “concerns and considerations” should be fairly represented.

“Every government decision and activity can and should have a youth dimension, a youth policy, and a youth budget,” he added.

Also present at the closing ceremony were Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha, and James Kinobe, the Ugandan Minister of State for Youth and Children’s Affairs.

Major Kinobe told assembled delegates and guests: “The young people have spoken, demanding that their voices be heard. Let the barriers be broken to unleash their potential.”

Drawing on one of the major conference themes of climate change, he said it had very far reaching social, political, economic and environmental consequences. And he appealed to delegates to go back to their home countries “and push, and push, and push until leaders of countries can also cry out about this important thing.

“Don’t ask what the Commonwealth can do for you, but what you can do for the Commonwealth. I want you to actualise all the issues that you have been speaking about.”

To read the final communiqué, please click here

Secretariat Links:

• Youth
• Country Profile: Uganda