KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Nepal Youth Forum 2013 organized by National Youth Federation Nepal (NYFN) with Ministry of Youth and Sports and Youth Time International Movement concluded on Friday at Staff College in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, with the participation of 250 youths from 70 districts across Nepal and 20 international youth delegates.
The three-day long conference began on February 6 with the slogan ‘Youth Contributing for Peace’. Leader of Nepali Congress Dr Narayan Khadka; Pradip Gyawali of CPN-UML; Upendra Yadav, Chairperson of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum; President of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Sarita Giri; Nilambar Acharya, former Chairman of Constitutional Committee (CA); spiritual thinker Chintamani Yogi and economist Dr Chiranjibi Nepal had jointly inaugurated the program during the opening ceremony at Nepal Academy Hall.
NYFN President Kabindra Burlakoti speaks while representatives of NYFN and Youth Time International Movement on the dais and youth participants look on, during the closing ceremony of Nepal Youth Forum on February 8 at Staff College, Jawalakhel. (Photo: NYFN)
The program on Wednesday began with a signature campaign pressuring the government to lower the voting age to 16 and a peace rally that started from Bhrikutimandap to Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi.
Over the period of three days, the participants discussed various issues related to federalism, constitution making process, peace process, civic responsibility, climate change, sustainable economy and leadership. Experts from related fields mentored these discussions and presented papers on “Peace Process and Transitional Justice in Nepal”, “New Constitution and Issue of Federalism”, “Sustainable Economic Growth”, “Building Communal Harmony and Role of Media”, “Ethics, Civic Responsibility and Youth Leadership” and “Sustainable Development and Climate Change”.
The forum concluded with the demand for immediate implementation of National Youth Policy 2010 which has the provision of National Youth Council to address youth issues in the country. A 44-point charter was also issued on the last day of the program which includes demands like materializing the potentiality of youth leadership, support to the vulnerable youth, acknowledgement of contribution of youth during the political transformation and formation of Employment Promotion Board.
“The current role of youth should be like a bridge to connect between various communities, cultures and ethnicities at a time when our society is heading towards polarization,” said Prabin Thapa, a representative from Salyan district.
Similarly, Petra, one of the international delegates from Croatia, said “Youth in Nepal don’t have only problems but brilliant ideas to resolve them. Youth throughout the world share similar concerns. This gathering has encouraged us to launch a global youth movement to ensure greater representation of youth in international forum.”
Youth Declaration--NYF 2013
• Today Nepal is in very critical and transitional phase. There is no constitution to rule the nation. Our political leaders are involved in greed for power rather taking the nation towards peace process and sustainable development. There is no rule of law. Thus, the first and the important role of today’s political leader are to address the need of people and nation rather than getting involved in fulfilling their own interest.
• The main reason behind the failure of constitution assembly is federalism. Our political leaders couldn’t go beyond the issue of ethnicity. Ethnicity isn’t the only issue of Federalism. Thus political leaders should review all the issues again and come to the political agreement as the soon as possible.
• Secondly, the role of youths in sustainable development and peace making process is zero. Thus the political leaders should also give place to youths in national policy making level.
• Youths are the heart and soul of nation; they are the power house of energy and enthusiasm. Thus, today’s youths should involve in ideological revolution, government should address the youths and youth should also compel the political leaders to bring peace at any how by any means.
• Regarding the transitional justice in Nepal there has been some remarkable job. For instant establishment of truth and reconciliation commission for disappeared people.
• We commit to follow the moral culture starting from individual to the nation as a unit.
• Making society to enjoy the diversity, awareness activities are to be conducted for which youth leadership will be promoted and enhanced.
• The government should formulate appropriate youth policy in order to maintain the communal harmony; the policy should address the needs and voices of all the groups’ independent of caste, gender, religion and class discrimination.
• Every youth above the age of sixteen should get voting rights which are only guaranteed by the constitution. Since Nepal is deprived of a constitution due to greed’s of power among the political leaders, the first and foremost task of all the political parties is to come to an agreement and save the nation from drowning.
• Regarding the communal harmony, the role of media is to update the truth of society without being politically biased.
• Modernization and commercialization of agricultural system by the use of technology, fertilizer and productive seed with the help of Nepal government, its local governance and farmer themselves so youth have to play the role of monitoring and evaluation in this process.
• Holding government accountable by engaging youths in tourism festivals and promotional activities, we strive to develop tourism friendly environment.
• Holding government accountable by engaging youths by evaluating and monitoring infrastructure development, availability of raw materials and investment friendly environment.
• For the preservation and utilization of natural resources youth have to play vital roles by plantation, getting engaged in sustainable development of resources with the coordination of government.
• Holding government accountable by engaging donor, energy ministry and commercial sector in alternative energy production by plantation, promotion, evaluation and monitoring for the establishment of solar energy, biogas, wind mill and hydropower plant.
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