On 28-30 October, the 1st Global Forum on Youth Policies took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. IFLRY President Christian Scharling participated and was invited as a panellist for a debate on making youth policies cross-sectoral.
The forum looked to monitor the implementation of the World Programme Action for Youth (WPAY) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995. Therefore the forum was seen as a sharing of best practices between youth, youth researchers and governments on successful youth policies. A record-high number of governmental representatives and ministers dealing with youth attended the forum, making it the most governmental visited youth event since the 1990’s.
From IFLRY’s side the main argument was that governments had already committed to the WPAY, therefore governments needed to focus on implementation rather than new policy discussions. IFLRY also raised concerns to the Council of Europe and the United Nations (organizing partners of the event) about having Azerbaijan as a hosting country, when the country is failing its Human Rights commitments (see previous statements, ).
The outcomes of the 1st Global Forum was put into the “Baku Commitments”. Find all information on the forum and its outcomes here.
Following the 1st Global Forum on Youth Policies, ICMYO the network of international youth organizations and regional youth platforms held its Annual Meeting. IFLRY had served on ICMYO’s steering committee, the Task Force, between 2012-2014 and decided to let new organizations take the responsibility for the coming year. Therefore IFLRY had a central role in chairing internal ICMYO discussions and elections.
IFLRY was highlighted for its hosting of the Annual ICMYO In-Person Task Force meeting at the IFLRY premises in London earlier in the year and in general recognized for its international youth work. IFLRY will stay a committed member of the ICMYO network and is looking forward to unfold its newly achieved UN ECOSOC status to interact even further on a global level. Get more information on the ICMYO network, the Annual Meeting and its newly elected Task Force here.
For any questions regarding these two events, please contact IFLRY President Christian Scharling.