Ministers want youth involvement in sustainable development

The Asia Region Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting today passed a resolution with a slew of initiatives with main focus on youth participation for sustainable development.
The Meeting, chaired by Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, also called for focus in their countries in programming and interventions at national and regional level to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and indicators.
All eight member countries from the Commonwealth Asia region attended the AsR-CYMM, of which five were led at the ministerial level. Delegates included ministers, senior government officials and youth representatives, as well as youth development stakeholders and experts.
The timing of the AsR-CYMM, occurring just two months before world leaders finalise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030 at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), gave delegates the opportunity to deliberate national youth development priorities in that context.

Delegates at the meeting expressed their sincere condolences to the Government and people of India on the passing away of A P J Abdul Kalam, former President of India.
In recognition of the important contribution of young people as partners in regional and national development, delegates considered recommendations submitted by the Youth Leaders Forum of the AsR-CYMM, particularly on decent employment, entrepreneurship and skills development, professionalising youth work, peace building, strengthening national youth participation structures and developing and implementing National Youth Policies.
The ministers agreed strategies/key actions to ensure youth empowerment and development priorities are included in national and regional development frameworks, especially in light of the new SDGs.

Ministers agreed to champion a youth focus in their countries in programming and interventions at national and regional level to achieve the goals of the SDG targets and indicators. They also supported the call by youth leaders for a youth-focussed monitoring mechanism for the SDGs, including the disaggregation of data, and analysis using the Commonwealth Youth Development Index.