UNITED
TO COMBAT RACISM: A YOUTH VISION!
INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH SUMMIT STATEMENT
Final Declaration and Plan of Action
August
26th ~ September 8th 2001
DURBAN,
SOUTH AFRICA
Organization
of the Youth Statement:
The International Youth Committee and the South African Youth Task Team with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights held its first two working sessions in Geneva during the Preparatory Committees of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; both members held approximately 20 meetings during both sessions.
The final version of the International Youth Summit was drafted by an international drafting team composed of 40 representatives from the four regions of the world, a secretariat composed by members of the International Youth Committee and the South African Youth Task Team during a period of 10 days in the context of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa August 26th to September 9th 2001.
Attendance:
The
session was attended by representatives of the following UN regions, observers,
and United Nations bodies, other entities, and youth representatives from
the:
South African Youth Task Team ~ Youth
Secretariat
United Nations Bodies ~ UNHCHR
Youth Representatives 750 from all four regions of the
world
Organization of work:
As
a concrete result both committees approved:
(a). The number
of representatives from each region of the world, therefore, ensuring a broad
perspective in the preparations of the International Youth Summit and during its
realization.
(b). To continue
all discussions through an internal list-serve that was created, IntYouthCmt@yahoogroups.com,
ensuring an accurate mechanism for communication.
(c). A Youth
Summit Program was developed and made available for commentaries from all youth
representatives present during the third session; as well as a framework and
proposed operational work plan for the development of the International Summit
Statement. Program and agenda that was agree upon during the opening of the
Youth Summit.
The Youth Declaration was developed based on the statements from the regional preparatory meetings and the different position papers. A Youth Compilation of all Youth Declarations was developed and made available. The Declaration has a maximum of 35 pages and the original (for al legal purposes or any reference to specific use of terminology) to be done in English.
The
committee on its first session agreed to develop a Plan of Action composed of 11
chapters: Education & Employment; Health; Environment; Justice (Legal
Measures); Poverty & Economy (Globalization); Media & New Information
Technology (Internet); Minority Rights; Multiple Forms of Discrimination
(Intersection & Young Women); Human Rights and Citizenship; Colonialism and
Foreign Occupation and New Forms of Apartheid.
All Chapters were drafted in conjunction with members who were coordinating or co-facilitating the Thematic Working Groups during the Youth Summit; and with a maximum number of 25 pages. The final version is to be prepared in English and then translated into Spanish and French and any other language at the regional or national levels.
The work done in the thematic working groups during the Youth Summit also contributed with concrete proposals to the development of the chapters of the POA and its further enhancement. Each chapter includes the describe victims lists in the framework of the Youth Statement, three levels of commitments, the State Actors, the Non State Actors, and Youth at the International, Regional, National and Local level with very concrete actions and proposals. Responding at the same time to the objectives of the Youth Summit.
Final
Version to be made available September 4, 2001.
The
International Youth Statement contains appendixes of positions documents, result
of regional youth conferences, youth caucus consultations, issue specific
declarations, groups specific declarations and key background
documentation.
The
original and last version is to be provided in three different languages.
English, Spanish and French.
The
IYC and the YTT will be the team to assure the translation of the draft
documents, but noting that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
has agree to provide the translation of the last version of the Youth Summit
statement and to contribute to its promotion during the NGO Forum and World
Conference.
PART
ONE:
PART TWO:
-
Mission
Statement
-
Global
Framework
-
Chapters
of the Plan of Action
-
Global
View on Youth Commitment “ Moving Forward”
PART
THREE:
Closing Remarks
Preamble:
We the young people of Africa, Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe,
having met in Durban, South Africa from the 26th to the
27th of August 2001, within the framework of the United Nations World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance;
Expressing our deep appreciation to the South African Civil
Society, the South African National Non Governmental Organization Coalition
(SANGOCO), and the South African Youth Task Team for hosting the International
Youth Summit;
Further Expressing our gratitude for the support and efforts made
by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the
International Youth Committee to realize the Youth Summit;
Acknowledging the work of the United Nations Members States and
Observer Countries in contributing to the process of raising awareness about the
needs and hearing the voices of young people from around the world in the
context of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;
Taking into account the outcomes of the various regional youth
consultations organized at Coventry (United Kingdom), Santiago (Chile), Malaka
(Malaysia), Kigali (Rwanda) and other contributions from youth organizations,
Indigenous Peoples and African and African Descendant youth organizations, Non
Governmental organizations, and human rights practitioners; organized in the
framework of the preparation of the world conference;
Noting the contribution made by the International Youth Caucus and
other regional youth caucus formed in Tehran (Iran), Dakar (Senegal), Santiago
(Chile), and Strasbourg (France) to promote and provide a space for the full
participation and involvement of youth in the process of the World Conference
Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related
Intolerance;
Emphasizing the key role that young people around the world play in the struggle to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, through inter alia community and national based programs and projects;
Considering that youth, particularly young Indigenous Peoples,
African descendants, Roma People, Dalits and people of oppressed communities and
ethnic groups within their States, have been discriminated against, excluded
from, and marginalized in the decision-making processes at all levels and
resulting in limiting their full and active political, economical, social and
cultural participation;
Recognizing the existence of multiple forms of discrimination,
based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, caste, ethnic and national origin, nationality, class, age,
religion, colour, languages, social–economic and other status that affect young
people in a particular way;
Noting that youth representation has traditionally been
marginalized by Governments and Non Governmental Organizations, Inter
Governmental Organizations or Agencies, in international events and regional
conferences, thereby, denying their participation in decision-making
processes;
Realizing that there is a lack of resources to ensure equitable
geographical participation of young people in an effort to promote diversity of
young leaders from all parts of the world in the international human rights
movement; we hereby have prioritized the preparation and participation of the
youth in the International Youth Summit from countries from the South including
representatives of migrants, immigrants, refugees, displaced youth, African
descendants, Indigenous Peoples youth, Roma people, Dalits, youth living in
occupied territories, and young women from the women’s movement, young people
from the most disadvantaged sectors in their societies;
Recognizing that access to adequate and affordable health care is
a fundamental human right for all people, we acknowledge that contributing
factors to discriminatory health practices and services such as: ethnicity, age,
language, disability, sexuality, gender, socio-economic background, religion,
geographic distance, must be addressed in consultation with affected community
leaders and young people;
We hereby, in a spirit of friendship, peace, solidarity and harmony join together and call upon all young people, States and their Governments and Non State Actors to fully commit themselves to the implementation of the understated Plan of Action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance all over the world, and hereby adopt the Durban Youth Declaration and Plan of Action: United to Combat Racism - A Youth Vision!
Having
considered the dreadful effects of multiple forms of discrimination often
afflicting young people pertaining to the most disadvantaged groups in the
society, particularly those of Indigenous Peoples, Africans and People of
African descent, Roma people, and other minorities, as well as people living
under conditions of caste system, foreign occupation, colonialism, as well as
refugees, migrants and displaced persons, or any disability, or other grounds
based on their identity, such as sexual orientation, religion, language, ethnic
and/or national origin, culture, colour, class, and race and their
gender;
Reasserting the views and role of young people as actors of change
and promoters of Human Rights and democratic values in the Third
Millennium;
Acclaiming the richness and diversity among the peoples of the
world and stressing that we all belong to one human race, we acknowledge the
positive contribution of youth in upholding this rich diversities through the
promotion of respect, solidarity, and justice for and of others from different
cultures, religions, gender, ethnic and national origin, colour, languages,
class, social and economic backgrounds;
Themes:
Sources, Causes, Forms and Contemporary Manifestations of
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
We recognize and affirm that slavery, the slave trade and other
forms of servitude, conquest and colonialism represents the primary sources and
causes of contemporary manifestation of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance and we firmly condemn the injustices that
were committed through these practices, and we therefore, stress the need for
all Governments, and non state actors engaged in such historical practices to
acknowledge the grave human tragedies they caused and the heinous racist acts
consequently experienced by youths all over the world;
We repudiate the brutal crimes and injustices that were committed
and continue to be perpetuated against Indigenous Peoples, Africans and People
of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, Roma people, religious
minorities, women, victims of war, children, caste and other groups who were
subjected to slavery and other forms of servitude that represents at all times a
grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity, paying particular
attention to the violation of human rights during the transatlantic slave trade
committed against Africans and people of African descent and Indigenous
Peoples;
We affirm that colonialism historical and current, and present-day
foreign occupation are primary causes of human rights violations also affecting
children, adolescents and youth and have severe negative consequences on their
lives;
We recognize and deplore institutional forms of racism,
perpetuated by State Institutions such as Immigration departments, Justice
Systems, Police, Social Services, Health Services, Education and Employment
companies, the effects of which are reinforced by the stereotypes and prejudices
promoted by the media, including the Internet and other forms of new information
technologies, principally affecting young people, particularly young women of
different ethnic and national origin, those under caste system, foreign occupation or in colonies as
well as migrants, refugees, displaced persons, people with disabilities,
particularly African and People of African descents, Indigenous Peoples, Roma
people, Dalits and other minorities;
We strongly affirm that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance in our current educational systems, represent serious
threat to the eradication of those scientifically false ideologies and practices
of racial supremacy which further reinforces the perpetuation of stereotypes
that affect particularly children and youth, especially young women from the
most marginalized sectors of the society;
We note with great concern that the lack of proper legislation and
efficient monitoring mechanisms on discrimination often tend to reproduce the
sources of contemporary forms or manifestations of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
We recognize that the disparities between the rich and the poor
are increasing, poverty and particularly the feminization of poverty affects
young people and constitutes a main cause and source of the continuation of
racist prejudices and attitudes which are further compounded by the policies of
globalization, neo-liberalism, foreign occupation, slavery and the slave
trade.
We acknowledge that HIV / AIDS is a global youth concern affecting
more than half of all newly HIV infections among youth aged 15 – 20 years old.
Youth currently represents 1/ 6 of the world’s population, and HIV / AIDS
constitutes a contemporary manifestation of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance;
We affirm that colonialist countries must be declared responsible
for the poverty and continued marginalization and underdevelopment of Africa and
other colonized countries and economies and their direct or indirect involvement
in the exploitation and pillage of their natural
resources.
We
further
affirm that the impoverishment of Africa and other third world countries and
colonized territories has been further exacerbated by the discriminatory liberal
economic policies mandated by international financial institutions, such as
structural adjustment programs;
Victims of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance
In the context of the International Youth Statement, the term “racial
discrimination” means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference
based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin, religion, caste,
citizenship status, culture, language, class,
which has the purpose of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment,
guarantee or exercise on an equal footing of Human Rights, and fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, cultural or any other field of public and
private life.
Further noting that the term “racial discrimination” should
include distinction, exclusion, restriction or non preference of Indigenous
Peoples youth, young people of African descent, minorities, Roma people, Dalits,
refugees, migrants, displaced people, people living under occupation, people
with disabilities, and others.
We recognize and salute the memory of young people all over the
world who are and had been victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia,
and related intolerance;
We acknowledge that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance in most countries, target youth due to their race or origin,
as Africans and People of African descent, Asian and people of Asian descent,
Indigenous Peoples, minorities, Roma people, Dalit people, refugees, migrants,
displaced, people living under foreign occupation, caste system, and people with
disabilities;
We affirm that young people suffering from HIV/AIDS and other
diseases in developing countries, due to poverty in many cases can not afford to
get or buy medication because of profit motivated policies established by
multinational pharmaceutical companies and therefore, they continue being
victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance;
We note with great concern, the rise of racist – intolerant,
xenophobic, discriminatory acts against migrants, displaced persons, asylum
seekers, refugees, particularly focusing on young women and
children;
We note that certain immigration policies, practices and
regulations are xenophobic, racist, homophobic and therefore, reinforces the
negative images portrayed by states which perpetuates a lack of mobility of
young people and also prevent them from enjoying their full human rights with
particular respect to the right to education, health and
employment;
We observe a continuing discrimination against youths of African
descent, Indigenous Peoples, Roma people, Dalit, and Africans with regard to
their full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to fully
incorporate the oral history of their ancestors in the educational curriculum of
the states where they reside and to recognize the lack of this information in
the current system, as well as their right to land and culturally appropriate
services;
We recognize that Indigenous Peoples, Africans, people of
African descent, Roma people, Dalits and other ethnic groups have been victims
of discrimination for centuries, therefore, we re affirm their freedoms and
equality as human beings who should not be subjected to discriminatory
practices, colonization, and genocide on the basis of their origin and
identity;
We repudiate the systematic and continuous racial discrimination
faced by Indigenous Peoples because of their origin and identity, the African
People and African descent who faced centuries and continue suffering slavery,
systematic social and economic exclusion; the Roma people who have suffered
slavery, forced assimilation, “Porajmos” in the Holocaust; Dalits who suffer
systematic human rights violations in the form of caste discrimination based on
work and descent and “untouchability”; and for all these groups for the social
exclusion and marginalization resulting in high levels of poverty and
unemployment;
We identify that Indigenous Peoples, African descent, Roma
people are living in conditions of extreme poverty, especially in the Latin
American and Caribbean;
We recognize the lack of access to basic human rights, including
quality education, health services, employment, housing and others which have
the potential of exposing young persons, in particular, those of African descent
to criminalized social conditions and delinquency, with the risk of being
unjustly imprisoned and abused by law enforcing
institutions;
We recognize that people who had been displaced, people that are
refugees around the world are in many occasions forced out of their lands,
territories or countries of origin due to ethnic conflicts, poverty,
colonialism, foreign occupation, religious incarceration, hate speech and other human rights violations
specifically targeted to displaced youth. Noting that as a result of such
misguided practices, displaced youth are being deprived of their fundamental
human rights as human beings;
We reaffirm the rights of asylum seekers to gain access to basic
human rights during their displacement with access to economic and social
benefits rightfully accorded to citizens of the host country. We believe that
special attention should be given to children and youth in order to protect them
against the violation of their rights as refugees in refugee camps and detention
centers;
We repudiate the systematic and continuous discrimination faced by
the Dalits, and others significant groups in the world population (260 millions
in South Asia). Dalit people have been subjected to discrimination based on
their work, descent, caste system for a long period, and as a result are
suffering from humiliation base on various forms of castism and untouchability
and gross violation of their human rights in India and in many other countries
in the Asian region;
We recognize that colonialism and foreign occupation constitutes
institutionalized racial discrimination and we, therefore, reassert the right of
people living under foreign occupation to defend their human rights by any means
under international law.
Recognizing that the continued subjugation of Palestinians, including
grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention, constitutes a new form of
apartheid. Recognizing that the
people of Tibet continue to suffer institutionalized forms of discrimination
under the Chinese regime;
Expressing our solidarity with the people of Palestine,
Southern Sudan, Swaziland, and other regions and countries that continue to
suffer economic marginalization and poverty due to their struggle against
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, caste and related intolerance. We
express our solidarity with the Saharoui populations and we support the
solutions adopted by the United Nations in order to provide a political
resolution to this problem;
We express our solidarity with the people of Cuba and demand
that the economic blockade by the United States be lifted, since it constitutes
a violation of the human right to self-determination and national
sovereignty;
We
recognize that discrimination on
the basis of disability is a fundamental violation of human rights. We reassert
the rights of the people with disabilities to enjoy their full human rights
within the states;
Measures of Prevention, Education, and Protection aimed at the Eradication of
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at the
National, Regional and International Level.
We demand the universal adherence to and the full implementation
of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination as a paramount of great importance for the promotion of equality
and non-discrimination in the world;
We demand that States should adhere to the democratic principles
and ensure transparency and accountable governance as a practice by all
governments with the ultimate objective of upholding their own constitutional
principles and international treaty obligations and work towards the full
enforcement of rights by all people regardless of their origin, culture, race,
social class, caste, colour, ethnic origin,
language, religion and sexual orientation or because they are Indigenous
Peoples, African and People of African descents, Roma people, Dalits and any
other groups that is in a disadvantage position;
We emphasize the importance of dialogue led by youth among
cultures and civilizations as it emerges as an intrinsic demand for human nature
itself, as well as of culture. Dialogue leads to a recognition of diversity and
opens the mind for mutual acceptance and genuine national, regional and
international collaboration and solidarity by all people. Dialogue remains the
cornerstone to eradicate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance;
We demand and recognize that quality education, elimination of
illiteracy and access to free intercultural education for all promotes more
inclusive societies, equity and harmonious relations and friendship between
young people of all nations to build a culture of peace, fostering mutual
understanding, solidarity, social justice and respect of human rights for
all. We demand that dialogue must
include the reintroduction of the languages of Indigenous Peoples around the
world which have been lost through colonization, along with the languages of the
disabled and not include any references that are discriminatory, racist, or
exclusionary;
We call for the development and implementation of progressive
legislation aimed curtailing racism, racist motivated attacks, xenophobia and
related intolerance on the basis of culture, race, class, colour, national
origin, ethnic origin, language, religion and sexual
orientation;
and other Measures at the National, Regional, and International Levels.
We recognize that massive institutionalized human rights
violations through the acts of slavery, slave trade, colonialisms, caste system,
apartheid and new forms of apartheid in the occupied territories of the
Palestinians requires unreserved apologies from historical and current
perpetrators to the victims and theirs descendants;
We acknowledge that slavery, slave trade, foreign occupation and
colonialism had and continue to have a lasting effect on the socio-economic,
physical, psychological, emotional and political status of the
victims;
We therefore demand that perpetrator nations mainly in the north,
involved in slavery, slave trade, foreign occupation and colonialism formerly
apologies to victims and descendents with a just and fair compensation and
reparations such as the immediate withdrawal from the occupied territories, the
right of return to peoples own land, social development programs, cancellation
of the foreign debt and any other form of reparations considered appropriate by
victims;
Strategies to Achieve Full and Effective Equality Including International Cooperation and Enhancement of the United Nations and other International Mechanisms in Combating Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and Follow-Up.
We recognize the importance of the role youth play within civil society to cooperate at all levels, from the national, regional and the international level in the struggle to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
We recognize the important role of youth to develop and implement national, regional and international networks across and beyond the boundaries of race, origin, gender, culture, sexual orientation, class, caste, religion, language, ethnic origin and colour in an endeavor to engage youth at all levels as torchbearers in the struggle to combat all forms of discrimination within the context of all internally agreed upon United Nations instruments and any other regional instrument of particular relevance to youth in their own regions;
We call for the creation and operation of an International Youth Network financially supported by the United Nations Members States, NGOs, Regional Structures and civil society that is composed of youth representatives from all over the world. The Network will be based in community and trans-regional activities and projects that will work to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
We believe that States, the United Nations and major International organizations can play an important role in ensuring respect to the effective implementation of all the International instruments aimed at eradicating racism, xenophobia and other related intolerance; and to promote networks that work in it;
------.
We resolve to affirm our dedication to address the constraints and
obstacles and thus enhancing further advancement and empowerment of all youth
over the world, and agree that this requires urgent action in the spirit of
determination, hope, cooperation and solidarity, now and to carry us forward
into the next century.
We affirm our commitment to young people, to struggle for their
rights, to focus on their development and to be determine to live in the society
of today and look into the society of tomorrow, to recall that we the young
people are “subjects to our own rights” and hereby adopt the Declaration of the
International Youth Summit because: United to Combat Racism ~ with a Youth
Vision! Can come to a true realization;
Mission Statement:
The Plan of Action of the International Youth Summit is a practical
oriented agenda for youth empowerment. It aims to accelerates the implementation
of the United Nations Charter with particular attention to the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (CERD), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), The Rome Statue of the International
Criminal Court of Justice, the International Convention on the Protection of the
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (MWC), the 169 ILO
Convention on the Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, and other relevant
international and regional international instruments.
The aim is therefore, to ensure youth participation in all spheres of
public and private life, through a full and equal share by women and men in
economic, social, cultural and political decision – making.
This means that the principle of shared power and responsibility should
be established between women and men at home, in the workplace and in the wider
national and international communities.
A transformed partnership based on equality between women and men is a
condition for people-centred sustainable development, people of Africa, Roma
people, African descents, Indigenous Peoples, and other minorities, particularly
people living under conditions of occupation, colonialism, with the status of
refugees, displaced, migrants, and because of their caste, their work and
descents, the disability and other facets of their various
identities.
The Plan of Action of the International Youth Summit reaffirms the
fundamental principle set forth in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of
Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, that the human rights
of youth and particularly young women and the girl child are inalienable,
integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. As an agenda for
action, the Plan of Action seeks to promote and protect the rights of all young
people, and their fundamental freedoms.
The success of the Plan of Action requires a strong and firm commitment
on the part of State Actors, Non state actor and youth that are at all different
levels to implement the demands, but it requires the allocation of adequate
funding, resources to youth organizations, to non governmental, and other
relevant bodies, as well as the adequate mobilization at the national and
international level around the issues of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance.
Global Framework:
The International Youth Summit is taking place in the context of the
United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the NGO Forum looking into practical
action oriented mechanism at all levels to combat Racism ~ with A Youth
Vision!
The Plan of Action upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(CRC), the Conventions of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(CERD), and proposes to builds upon the Compilation of All Youth declarations
from the regions, and countries, as well as all relevant resolutions adopted by
the Commission on Human Rights and other UN Specialized Agencies. The formulation of the Plan of Action is
aimed at establishing and giving priority to actions that should be taken to
promote, protect and implements the rights of youth and children
rights.
The Plan of Action recognizes the importance of all regional documents
and position papers and the agreements reached at the World Summit for Children,
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the World
Conference on Human Rights, the International Conference on Population and
Development and the World Summit for Social Development, the World Conference on
Women, as well as the Decades to eradicate Racism and Racial Discrimination
which has been launched by the Secretary General, the International Decade for
the World’s Indigenous Peoples are processes which have also emphasized the
issues of youth, their development and their rights in the context of racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The
objective of the Plan of Action that is in full conformity with the principles
of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, is the empowerment
and development of youth from all over the world.
Chapters of the Plan of Action:
Actions
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
Revise and change the curricula and the education systems so that they are adequately resourced and respond to the needs of the community. It must address the legacies and impacts of colonization, slavery, racism, caste systems, foreign occupation, religious persecution and migration.
Education
systems must recognize and value Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent,
Africans, Roma people, Dalits and other discriminated against groups’ knowledge
and ways of learning and provide education in peoples’ own
language.
All
educators need to proportionally represent the racial communities that they
serve.
All
youth should have equal access and a curriculum related to experiences and
perspectives they live and experience.
Anti-racism curricula should be
introduced in early childhood education.
Antiracism
and intercultural training within an anti oppression framework must be mandatory
for all educators and staff including officers in positions of power and the
authority, in educational institutions as a pre requisite to employment and as
on going-process.
A comprehensive public awareness campaign that debunks myths around and positively portrays, immigrants, refugees, Indigenous Peoples, people of African Descent, Dalits, Roma people, and any other disadvantage group in the society need to be put in place.
Non-formal
educational sectors must recognize and value the ways of learning and knowledge
of Indigenous Peoples, Roma People, Dalits, Africans and people of African
descent and include these people in the design, development, implementation and
provision of education in their own language to support the full development of
young people towards a positive self image and awareness of their
identity.
Governments
should combat all forms of segregation in educational
institutions.
States
must provide the necessary professional orientation that answers to the needs of
the labor market. Also encourage the exchange of methodologies between formal
and educational institutions and the non-formal educational
sector.
Governments
should provide young people with space to come together to engage in an open
dialogue without exclusion, interference or intimidation for and by young people
providing everyone with opportunities to appreciate diversity as a
gift
Governments
should include young people in the decision-making processes and bodies of
curricula reform and exchange programs.
By Non State Actors:
Multilateral Financial and development Institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and regional development institutions, and by any development cooperation:
Provide
and support mechanism for all youth to have access to free and quality
education.
Provide
equal access, through the public sector, to technology, specifically access to
the Internet and corresponding training to use it
effectively
Provide
financial assistance for programs which will lead to the training of future
leaders, to provide cultural exchange programs and opportunities for affordable
overseas studies which will provide young people with exposure to other cultures
and thus increase the levels of respect for other peoples.
To
recognize the importance of vocational development as a means to providing
people with the skills to have access to better jobs and at higher
levels.
To
promote and allocate the resources for constant “sensitivity training” (knowing
others by knowing yourself) towards respect among educators and leaders in the
educational field as well as in exchange programs.
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political parties, United Nations
Specialized Agencies, and development organizations:
Provide
professional and institutional support for migrant youth and oppressed
nationalities and ethnicities within a state to deal with the trauma that can
restrict their access to learning.
In
respect to the lack of education of young people on the true history of the
world, consult with UNESCO in order to rewrite educational texts to include the
histories of traditionally oppressed peoples of the world.
Develop
a sustainable far-reaching anti-racism educational campaign that is implemented
and facilitated at a communal level.
Promote
non-violent and peace methods of conflict resolution in the education system in
order to promote respect, understanding and a culture of
peace.
Urge
all boards of education in the respective countries to include representation
from all ethnic and cultural groups in order to promote racial and intercultural
harmony.
Actions
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
Health
is a fundamental human right. Governments should provide free universal
healthcare acknowledging the needs and ensuring equitable access of young people
from ethnic, religious, and racial minorities, refugees, Roma people, people of
African descent, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders youth, youth with
disabilities, Indigenous youth, and young women regardless of health problems
they face.
To
protect, promote and respect the reproductive and sexual rights of young
people.
States
need to reform and adopt a community development approach to their health
systems on all levels, to bring specific attention to areas of mental health,
while, at the same time, they continue to maintain a primary focus on preventive
medicine and traditional medicine with an emphasis on attention towards young
people and building a relationships with their
communities.
Youth
should have healthcare regarding distribution access of free condoms, preventive
measures, education, support, and treatment of HIV / AIDS as well as other
infections and sexually transmitted infections. We call upon developed countries
to contribute 10.00 billions dollars to the global Health Fund. Pharmaceutical
companies should reduce prices on retroviral drugs and other products of daily
demand in developing countries.
To
translate all health information material and educational material into all used
languages in the country. Provide
training and mentoring to youth participants to assist in their effective
participation and empowerment in the field of health.
To
respect and promote traditional health system, always bearing in mind the basic
healthy standards of all patients. Health programs should be holistic,
integrated ensuring the inclusion of traditional medicine, practices and
developed in consultation with relevant communities.
Ensure
that there is a better representation of marginalized groups in all levels of
decision- making in the public health system.
Given
the detrimental impacts of invasion, colonization, displacement, environmental
degradation on the cultural identity, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual
health well being of Indigenous Peoples. Legislation ensuring self determination
equitable legislation access full rights of Indigenous Peoples, African
descents, Africans, Roma, Dalits and other ethnic groups to their traditional
lands fishing and hunting sights, this should be implemented and monitored.
Health
services should employ experienced intercultural (bilingual) staff and
interpreters with specialized knowledge of the culture they work with and in,
understanding of the country, and consultative skills. Cross-cultural training should be
compulsory and ongoing to ensure staff are culturally competent and have the
ability to interact with and be accepted by clients from culturally diverse
groups.
Research
and resources into youth suicide and mental health problems and development
prevention programs should be increased.
Programs should be peer-lead, driven and developed in consultation with
young people that belong to historical excluded groups, culturally and linguistically diverse people, refugees, Roma,
religious minorities, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender
people.
States
should create and enforce laws and penalties against multi-national
pharmaceutical companies that export inferior, harmful, and faulty drugs to
developing countries for experiments and profits that should include protection
from malpractice, discrimination, and negligence in the health system. Young
people should be provided with adequate health care, especially counseling,
information on drug and alcohol abuse
Increased
funding, resources support to crisis outreach services for young people at risk,
including long term accommodation, drops in centers, counseling, training,
preventive programs that adopt a community development
approach.
By
Non-State Actors:
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political parties and United
Nations specialized Agencies and development
organizations:
To
implement grass roots health programs and to provide the support and resources
for the ones that are already in place.
To
institute independent reviews on sexual and reproductive
rights.
Emphasis
should be placed on integrity of the family whenever possible. Moreover, single
parents should be provided with a wide range of services to assist them in
caring for their children.
Acknowledging
that HIV / AIDS is a global issue where more than half of all newly HIV
infections taking is among youth. Youth currently represents 1/6 of the world
population and should be paid to the plight of HIV/AIDS in orphans. In this
respect, care models need to be introduced to empower caretakers of HIV/AIDS
orphans.
In
and effect to curb the transmission of HIV/AIDS in children, pre and post-natal
medications must be made readily available to all.
Actions
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
We
deplore the widespread environmental degradation of the land and river sources
as well as its impact on Indigenous Peoples and other vulnerable, disadvantaged
or marginalized groups. We call for immediate action to protect the environment
and the health of these people, especially workers exposed to unsafe working
conditions.
We
call on the World Conference to recognize and campaign against environmentally
racist policies that target Indigenous Peoples, poor, disadvantaged and
vulnerable groups for environmental degradation or destruction, including
nuclear testing, dumping of chemical or nuclear waste, using storing or
deploring toxic, nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, deforestation,
irresponsible mining operations, oil pollution, timber logging and military
bombing exercises on colonies, former colonies or occupied territories such as
Vieques, Puerto Rico. We call on
past and present polluters to provide the detoxification of polluted sites and
the people who live near them.
We
call on the states to fully reinforce legislation and policies that protect all
of society from dangerous practices and toxins like lead and asbestos that tend
to pollute the environment and cause adverse affects. We call on States to fund research,
environmental impact studies, technical assistance, and health resources to
Indigenous Peoples, African and African descent, disadvantaged people, and
communities impacted by environmental racism, pollution, contamination, and
degradation. We call on the States
to cease the appropriation and exploitation of Indigenous People, their
traditional medicine and traditional food sources.
We
call on the states to force multi-national corporations to abide by
international safety norms and offer compensatory measures to affected
communities and guarantee a healthy and sustainable existence for all members of
society and cease the use of deceptive practices that promise economic resources
to Indigenous Peoples and disadvantaged people without revealing information
about adverse health effects or environmental degradation as a result of
proposed sitings, such as megadams that displace people from their
homes.
We
call on States to cease the land appropriation and land exploitation of
Indigenous Peoples, African and African descent, and farmers from disadvantaged
or vulnerable groups.
We
call on States to provide equal access to all forms of transportation and
housing.
We
call on States to provide adequate housing for vulnerable groups including equal
access to running water, heat, electricity and to provide accessibility,
security and private sanitation, especially protection from forced eviction for
Roma people, Indigenous Peoples, African and African descents and all other
marginalized groups.
By
Non State Actors:
Multilateral
Financial and development Institutions, including the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and regional development institutions, and by any
development cooperation.
Ensure
opportunities for young women, including Indigenous women, African, and African
descent, to participate in environmental decision-making at all levels,
including as managers, designers and planners, and as implementers and
evaluators of environmental projects.
Facilitate
and increase youth access to information and education, including in the areas
of science, technology, agriculture, and economics, thus enhancing their
knowledge capacity for self determination, skill and opportunities for
participation in environmental decision making.
We
call on governments to provide funding and resources to develop implement
research, clinical and technical facilities to address and treat environmental
health problems.
Chapter 4. JUSTICE (LEGAL MEASURES)
Actions
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
We
demand that Governments should acknowledge and compensate peoples affected in
various forms and observe legal instruments and institutions to ensure human
rights of all people.
We
recommend the establishing of a Human Rights Unit as part of the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights to dealt specifically with racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, with a specific Youth Unit
to be an integral part of this monitoring and call upon the Secretary General to
provide the required funding for its effective functioning and
implementation.
We
demand to mainstream and intersectional analysis of various forms of
discrimination, including racial and gender discrimination, into design and
implementation of programs of the UN system in social, economic and political
domains;
We
call on States to take all the appropriate measures to combat segregation of
settlements of Roma people, Indigenous Peoples and any other groups particularly
affected by these policies;
To
eradicate law practices that portray youth as criminals, which are classify
frequently based on stereotypes of race, social class and/or sexual
orientation.
We
demand the elimination of the substantive norms, laws and judicial processes
that condemn children (child as defined by the International Convention on the
Rights of the Child) to sentencing as adults and incarceration with adults, the
use of the death penalty and life imprisonment without
parole.
Call
for the creation, unilateral acceptance, and ratification of a Universal
Declaration of Youth Rights by all members States and its active
implementation.
We
demand UN members States to integrate the Human Rights framework in their
judicial systems; specifically the mechanism of protection and international
instruments, in order to ensure the existence and application of laws that
protect youth.
Understanding
that the death penalty unfairly targets disadvantaged groups we call on States
to eliminate the death penalty for all persons.
We
call for swift and effective punishment of all crimes against youth, especially
those committed on account of their culture, race, gender, class, color, ethnic
origin, language, religion and sexual orientation or because they are Indigenous
Peoples, African, or people of African descent.
Children
under 18 should not be forced to fight in armed conflict or war. Children can not volunteer in military
services. We call for all states to
ratify the additional protocol and the United Nations to ensure its
enforcement
We
urge States to devise and enforce legal provisions for the protection of people
belonging to communities with a distinct ethnic identity, such as Sikhs. Individuals belonging to such groups
face discrimination on a complex interplay of racial, ethnic, cultural and
religious barriers and therefore may not be covered by existing legislation and
policies that protect race or religion.
We
call for monitoring of deaths in custody of marginalized people and increase
funding, resources and support for deaths in custody watch
committees.
We
call government to provide legislation to interdite political parties who have
political principles against human rights, as fascist, racist, nazi, or another
form of intolerance.
We
call all States to implement and adopt to its national constitutions the
additional Protocol on the Rights of Children in Conflict which prohibit the
enrollment of children under the age of 18 into armed forces.
We
demand that youth under 18 should not be obligated to fight in armed conflicts
or wars.
Young
people should not be coerced by their governments or military forces to join the
military service.
Governments
should grant amnesty to all child political prisoners as well as child prisoners
of war. Furthermore, special
attention should be paid to redress the particular challenges facing child
political prisoners and child prisoners of war such as solitary confinement and
torture. This amnesty and attention
of redress should be inclusive of imprisoned children as well as adults who were
imprisoned as children.
We
urge governments to eliminate the presence of police and armed law enforcement
in educational environments and to create and implement alternative programs to
address youth offenses that occur within educational institutions such as: peer
to peer counseling, qualified alternative schools, parent, school and teacher
counseling.
We
call on States to provide resources to enable NGOs and Youth Groups to implement
programs that support equal access and equal treatment of young
people.
We
call on UN Member States to integrate the human rights framework standards and
protection mechanism in their judicial system, especially the mechanism of
protection.
We
call on States to provide full citizenship rights to all youth and not to
discriminate against youth of a particular group on the basis of citizenship or
their status or condition of residence.
We
call for the design, implementation and enforcement of laws to stop transitional
shipment of hazardous wastes and toxic substances and medicines banned in their
country of origin.
We
call on States to legalize all of the citizens living in the countries to ensure
the access to basic need and full citizenship on a residence
basis.
By
Non State Actors:
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political
parties.
Promote
the implementation of alternative programs that assure adequate social
reintegration of young offenders; such as providing financial resources for a
cultural and community centers and skills building to prepare for useful
participation in the society.
We
encourage the NGO community to promote diversity understanding in the
application of the law and to provide support for the access to legal bodies in
your own languages, or with the adequate translation.
Mandatory
sentencing laws should be repealed and replace with prevention, early
intervention and rehabilitation programs, which are developed and implemented in
consultation with indigenous peoples communities. Young people should be provided with
interpreters when police charges are laid and in the prison
system.
We
call for all developed countries to introduce international student cards that
would enable the basic right of free movement to the African victims of racist
discriminatory laws and all other youth affected by this
policies.
NGOs
should help further utilized all their means for fostering reconciliation with
regards to conflict resolution among the most vulnerable groups in the
society.
We
recommend that NGOs help integrate immigrants into local communities by
developing workshops and programs that can be widely implemented on the communal
level.
Chapter 5. POVERTY & ECONOMY (GLOBALIZATION)
Action
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
We
call state actors to recognize that poverty crisis propounds racist attitudes
and problems of poverty must be addressed as a stepping stone towards
eradicating racism.
We
demand that states adopt the most effective methods in order to discourage sex
trafficking and labor practices that are exploitative of young people. With emphasis on conducting an
investigation of the role of globalization in the increased profits from sex
trafficking and labor practices that are exploitive of young
people.
We call on
governments to recognize that the poverty crisis propounds racist attitudes and
we therefore, state that Poverty is a violation of human
rights.
Oppose a world that
increasingly resembles a global system in which the forces of globalization
disproportionately benefit the Western Nations and rich individuals and
disproportionately harm the poor and the developing nations in terms of poverty,
environmental degradation, and social disintegration.
Demand that
government institutions recognize that they have responsibilities towards the
Indigenous and local people whose land they have destroyed through their project
development.
We demand for the
land restitution program that will address the land quest for historical
dispossess communities, especially ex colonial countries.
Demand that
multi-national corporations no longer be allowed to patent the resources of
Indigenous Peoples and people around the world or to deny them access to their
traditional ways of life.
By
Non State Actors:
Multilateral
Financial and development Institutions, including the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and regional development institutions, and by any
development cooperation:
Demand
that multinational corporations no longer be allowed to patent the resources of
Indigenous Peoples and people of African descents, and Africans or to deny them
access to their traditional ways of life.
We
call for a revision of the current World Trade Organization, the International
Financial Institutions policies and regulations involving young people; in order
to create and environment which will allow developing countries to be
responsible for fixing, monitoring and controlling the prices of their products
and resources produced or extracted on their countries.
Insist
that multinational corporations that employ young people provide for safe and
humane working conditions at living wages that allow them to provide a
meaningful income for their families.
Insist
that multinational corporations be prohibited from using the lands and
territories of Indigenous Peoples and African and People of African
descent.
We
demand that the private sector provide humane and safe conditions for all
workers, paying special attention to young workers; that allow them to be
employed and to receive job training.
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political
parties:
International
NGOs need to provide financial aid to local NGOs to combat the effects of
racism, racial discrimination on the ground.
We
request international bodies and organizations to unconditionally cancel the
debt for developing countries that are unable to further economic development
due to the high burden of debt servicing.
Chapter 6. MEDIA & NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES (INTERNET)
Action
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
We
recommend that governments take more responsibility for disallowing the
propagation and normalization of racist images in the media and that they take a
proactive approach to promote positive images of all peoples, specifically the
combination of the media’s negative portrayal of young African and African
descendants and the lack of promotion of positive images.
We
recommend that states strengthen the broadcast of public service channels, and
that governments use the media to increase awareness of economic, employment and
other opportunities, that are available to each immigrant, refugees, Indigenous
Peoples, Peoples of African descents.
We
demand the provision of equal representatives of different racial, national,
ethnic, religious groups existing within the states in all public
media.
By
Non State Actors:
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political
parties.
We
urge all international and national non-governmental organizations to develop
and promote campaigns that encourages youth participation in decision making
within the media.
We
commit ourselves to develop and implement projects around monitoring acts of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance with
particular reference to reports and publications covering African and African
descendants, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, refugees, of both public and
private media institutions.
Young
people must be encouraged to speak out collectively for their rights and issues
of concern. Increased funding and
resources for media, Internet and public speaking training programs for young
people to facilitate self-representation and community
participation.
Action
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
Develop
and implement educational programs in ORIGINAL LANGUAJES aimed at encouraging
the participation of young people from minority
background.
Allocate
the necessary funds to allow youth organizations working in the field of
minority rights to successfully carry projects aimed at involving young people
from minority background in the society at all levels.
Facilitate
the participation of people from minority background within the Governmental
structures and in the decision making processes
We
call for the eradication of systematic barriers to education, healthcare,
housing, unemployment and other social services that prevent minority
communities from developing, including the development of programs aimed at
promoting intercultural understanding among young people.
By
Non State Actors:
Multilateral
Financial and development Institutions, including the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and regional development institutions, and by any
development cooperation.
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political
parties.
Youth
organizations can play a very important role in the inclusion of young people
from minority background through their activities and their structures.
Particular attention should be paid to the way in which policies and positions
taken can affect young people from minority background and their participation
in youth organizations and in society in general. [As well, Youth Organizations need to
assume leadership in the fight to eliminate discriminatory behaviors as well as
advocate the faithful implementation of laws and policies.]
Chapter 8. MULTIPLE FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION & INTERSECTION (YOUNG WOMEN)
Actions
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
Review
and modify, with the full and equal participation of all women, especially young
marginalized women, in macroeconomic policies and social policies with a view to
achieving the objectives of the Plan of Action.
Analyze
from a gender perspective, within an intersectional framework, policies and
programs including those related to macroeconomic stability, structural
adjustment, external debt problems, taxation, education, health care, social
security, social services, justice systems, immigration and refugee policies
specifically about women African descent, Indigenous Peoples, African, Dalit,
Roma, investments, employment, markets and all relevant sectors of the
economy-with respect to their impact on poverty, on inequality and particularly
on women; assess the impact on their well being and conditions and adjust them,
as appropriate, to promote more equitable distribution of productive assets,
wealth, opportunities, income and services.
We
demand from State actors to recognize the special status of Indigenous Peoples
and national minorities, including those who have become national minorities
through a process of colonization and dispossession of their land, and to ensure
that their social, economic, political and cultural rights are protected by
law.
Develop
a systematic and coordinated information, education and advocacy program on
peace, respect for children, women’s rights and cultural
differences.
Develop
and implement anti-poverty and self-sufficiency programs, including resources
for women’s community organizations that improve access to social and economic
services and decision-making mechanisms, for women living in poverty and women
working in the informal sector.
In
partnership with women’s organizations, implement measures to promote and
protect the human rights of young marginalized women and children who are
victims of all forms of violence, including sex trafficking, armed conflict,
ethnic cleansing, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, displacement and
dispossession.
Recognize
the role of police, military and other state actors in perpetrating violence
against women – especially Dalit women, refugee, immigrant, Indigenous Peoples,
African descent and minority women and women living in occupied territories –
and take immediate measures to eliminate all state violence against
women.
Implement
anti-discrimination measures that recognize that women from certain ethnic
communities and national minorities with a distinct identity, such as the Sikhs,
Roma people, Indigenous Peoples, African descent, Muslims face discrimination on
a complex interplay of racial, ethnic, cultural and religious
barriers.
Develop
and implement programs and mechanisms, particularly youth led strategies, to
ensure full participation in decision-making of young marginalized women at all
levels of society towards their empowerment, enjoyment of equal rights, and
development of their full participation.
Further commit adequate resources and funding to these
strategies.
We
urge governments to legalize abortion in States where it is not already legal in
order to ensure women’s access to sexual health education and quality health
services.
The
physical and psychological violence, forced sterilization, forced pregnancy and
female genital mutilation must be recognized as a universal crime without
regarding cultural prejudices. The
Member States must guarantee day-care centers in universities and workplaces and
free access to education for young women.
Governments
must adopt effective action to combat sexual tourism and exploitation that
especially affect children and young women.
Develop
and implement programs to achieve the full participation of young women in
society at all levels
By
Non State Actors:
Multilateral
Financial and development Institutions, including the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and regional development institutions, and by any
development cooperation.
We
reject “structural adjustment programs” that have been imposed by the above
organizations and other similar organizations that eradicate the sovereignty and
eliminate the self-determination of the people.
We
demand social and economic development programs that address the needs and
guarantee the full enjoyment of citizenship of all historically discriminated
groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, caste and class including women,
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people, disabled, poor, indigenous,
immigrant, and those living with HIV/AIDS.
Similarly, Youth NGOs should review the international and national laws
which exclude the above mentioned people.
Human rights must not be violated under the justification of cultural and
religious sovereignty.
We
recommend that the World Health Organization must have an integral and holistic
vision about health, multi-ethnicity at different levels, and develop public
policies especially addressed to children and young women.
In
accordance with the commitments made at the World Summit for Social Development,
seek to mobilize new and additional financial resources that are both adequate
and predictable and mobilized in a way that maximizes the availability of such
resources and uses all available funding sources and mechanism with a view to
contributing towards the goal of poverty eradication and targeting women living
in poverty;
We
demand for an International parallel process for youth to discuss and shape
their attitude and contribution towards the World Summit for Sustainable
Development which is due to take place next September and many other
international conference to take place over the next coming ten years.
We
further demand for the establishment of an exclusive Youth Secretariat to work
with focus in ensuring the youth input from National, regional and international
level.
Ensure
that structural adjustments programs are designed to minimize their negative
effects on vulnerable and disadvantage groups and communities and to assure
their positive effects on such groups and communities and to assure their
positive effects on such groups and communities and to assure their positive
effects on such groups by preventing their marginalization in economic and
social activities; take actions to reduce inequality and economic
disparity.
Create
and enabling environment that allows women to build and maintain sustainable
livelihoods.
By
National and International Non-Governmental organizations and religious
institutions, civil society organization, and political
parties:
Mobilize
all parties involved in the development process, including academic
institutions, non governmental organizations and grass roots and youth groups to
improve the effectiveness of anti poverty programs directed towards the poorest
and most disadvantage groups of women, such as rural and Indigenous women,
refugees and migrant women and women with disability
Ensure
that structural economic adjustment programs in their many forms are designed to
eliminate their negative effects on vulnerable and disadvantage groups and
communities and to assure their positive effects on such groups by preventing
their marginalization in economic and social activities; take actions to
eliminate inequality and economic disparity.
Youth
organizations should play the fundamental role of ensuring the active and full
participation of young women [in decision-making processes] both in their
activities and in their structures [especially in issues such as health and
environment].
Action
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
Equal
opportunity and human rights should have the power to act on discrimination
cases, without the victim lodging a complaint. Increased funding of legal aid
and advocacy services, to assist young people to make charges against racial
discrimination.
The
governments should substantially increase immigration intake under the family
and humanitarian/refugee programs to ensure there is equity in different
streams. The immigration intake
policy should not discriminate on the basis of health and disability and other
disadvantage groups.
Mandatory
detention of refugees should be repealed and replaced by a model of integrating
and supporting refugees in the community.
Restrictive social welfare policies that have denied migrants assistance
during their most vulnerable period in the world should be
repealed.
We
demand from state actors to ensure that all citizens have equal access to state
controlled resources, including land, natural resources and government budgets
allocations, and that this right to be protected by law.
We
call upon the states to review and enact all the discriminatory citizenship
laws, especially those regarding naturalization.
We
urge States to devise and enforce legal provisions for the protection of people
belonging to communities with a distinct ethnic identity, such as the Siks,
Muslims, and Jewish people; as individuals belonging to such groups may not be
cover by existing human rights legislation and policies which are based on
limitations and reasonable groups that protect race or
religion.
Action
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
We
demand from state actors to respect and implement international law that
protects the rights of all refugees and displaced persons in particular their
right to return to their lands and homes, and for those refugees who are not
protected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to be provided
with effective and permanent United Nations protection, until their situation is
resolved according to principles of international law.
We
demand from state actors who continue to oppress and subject peoples under
foreign occupation, colonialism and new forms of apartheid, particularly Israel
to cease and desist from the excessive and lawful use of force against
Palestinian civilians, especially children and young people, we demand from the
United Nation members states provide immediate measures including economic and
trade sanctions, embargoes, cutting off all sporting diplomatic and other ties
until the abolishment of foreign occupation, colonialism and new forms of
apartheid.
Human
rights observes have noted that since September 2001, more than one-third of all
Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers are youth under 18 years
old.
We
call from an unconditional Israel withdrawal from all territories occupied in
1967 in accordance with UN resolution 242 and the Palestinian peoples right to
self-determination.
We
call the United Nations member’s states to stop further military aid to Israel
(currently at $ 3 billion a year) on Israel’s compliance with the US Arms Export
Control Act of 1976 and Foreign Act of 1976 and Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,
which prohibit the sale of US weapons to countries that violate human
rights.
We
demand the countries involved to provide referendum for Puerto Rico and Tibet
under international monitoring in order to express their own willingness for
sovereignty and any other political options.
We
demand and end to the targeting and execution of human rights defenders and to
stop the continued violations of human rights in Tibet.
We
demand that the dollarization of economies in the Americas be recognized as a
form of colonialism.
We
note that the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in other parts of the
African Continent has destabilized and restricted growth in the entire African
Continent. We support the
withdrawal of all foreign troops in the various continental conflicts and call
for complete measures to be instituted to ensure democratically elected
governments. The UN fund a
substantial peacekeeping force.
We
support the millennium partnership for the new African Initiative as proposed by
African leaders and ask that it be officially adopted, accepted and supported
internationally.
By Non State Actors:
Multilateral
Financial and development Institutions, including the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and regional development institutions, and by any
development cooperation & National and International Non-Governmental
organizations and religious institutions, civil society organization, and
political parties:
We
urge for the immediate formation of a UN observer force to the region, including
Israel and territories occupied in 1967.We further call for the investigation
and prosecutions of crimes against Palestinian people perpetrated by the
Israelis.
We
urge the Secretary General to allocate the necessary funding for UNWRA to meet
its mandate, particularly re: education and women’s health
services.
We
call on international NGOs to engage with their Palestinian and Israeli
counterparts working for and end Israel occupation and the creation of
frameworks for a just and lasting peace in the region. Palestinian and Israeli
women’s NGO’s in particular have taken courageous stand on the current conflict.
These groups should be recognized and supported by international NGOs working in
the region.
We
call on business worldwide to divest from the Israeli economy until such time as
Israel abides by UN Resolutions and international human rights
standards.
We
call for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to investigate and bring to
justice those who may be guilty of war crimes, acts of genocide and ethnic
cleansing and the crime of apartheid which amount to crimes against humanity,
that have been or continue to be perpetrated against people who lived and
continue to live under foreign occupation, colonialism and new forms of
apartheid.
We
call on the UN Security Council and in particular the United States to lift the
sanctions against Iraq.
We
call upon the UN to put pressure on countries that exercise gender apartheid and
caste as they rob women of their basic human rights.
We
demand UN Member States to convene a Youth Conference on the rights of
Indigenous Peoples in 2004.
Actions
to be taken:
By
State Actors ~ Governments:
Recognizing
that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, we urge all
states to officially recognize that slavery (e.g., the enslavement of Africans,
child slavery, the Dalits, sexual slavery and the enslavement of indigenous
peoples) is a crime against humanity, that those who were and still are directly
involved benefited economically from forced labor, and that the victims of the
slave trade (including the descendants of these slaves) must be compensated for
the violation of their human rights.
We
call upon for the transformation of the UN security Council particularly on its
permanent membership status to be open up to other UN members states from other
regions and its veto right. We further demand for an unconditional uplifting of
the sanctions against Iraq and Cuba from the Security Council and in particular
the United States of America.
We
demand that:
All
states declare slavery as a crime against humanity;
To
put pressure on the government of Afghanistan to demand the rights of human
rights workers particularly women.
All
states that benefited economically from slavery officially recognize their
involvement and take concrete measures to compensate the victims of the slave
trade by allocating funding to various education, health, economic and political
empowerment programs developed, directed and implemented by the descendants of
enslaved peoples and guaranteeing the active and effective involvement of youth
at all levels (this may occur in the form of investment in the Fond Mondial de
Solidarité);
All
states that were actively involved in slavery (notably the United States,
Western Europe, and Middle Eastern countries) or colonial practices must
compensate enslaved peoples (and their descendants) for the damages inflicted
upon them and must create, implement, financially support programs designed to
empower these peoples;
The
United Nations create an affiliated, international organ within existing
instruments in order to monitor and improve the treatment of the descendants of
enslaved peoples;
The
truth about slavery, its victims and its perpetrators (including state actors
and multinational corporations) must be incorporated into all history books
which are used in all schools across the world and resources are allocated to
ensure that education is accessible to all people;
Ensure
that member states of the United Nations ratify the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the Child Rights Commission, the CERD, and CEDAW and that further
legislation be formulated and implemented in which minority groups are involved
in all levels of the formulation and implementation
processes;
That
states demonstrate solidarity to the citizens of politically destabilized
states, which are administered by corrupt regimes and actively combat
contemporary forms of slavery
The
debts of African, Caribbean, Latin American and Asian governments which are owed
to foreign governments and international lending agencies be cancelled, that the
governments and institutions invest in the revitalization of these countries
through initiative organizations and program implementations such as the New
Africa Initiative, and that states return stolen art from
Africa;
Programs
designed for the descendants of slaves do not discriminate unfairly based on
region, country, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion or
disability;
General
amnesty for political prisoners across the world, especially those in the United
States, and the demilitarization of occupied zones such as Vieques in Puerto
Rico and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba; and
All people are given the right to self-determination and universal health care including medication for HIV/AIDS.
That
the International Community recognize that chattel slavery and other forms of
involuntary servitude imposed in past centuries on Africans and their
descendants and on Indigenous Peoples of the Americas as well as the slave trade
itself, constituted crimes under the domestic law of the time in some cases, and
today, could constitute crimes against humanity under International Law;
Resultant damages to these communities require the allocation of substantial
international and national resources for their redress.
We
join other organizations in advocating the establishment of international
reparations measures that will allocate funds for the economic, political,
cultural, and social development of people of African descent in Africa and the
Americas.
Urges
State Actors that have not yet done so without delay to sign and ratify and to
allocate the required financial support for its full implementation of the
following instruments:
a.
The
Convention against Discrimination in Education, adopted by the General
Conference of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural
Organization;
b.
The
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, with
a view to achieving universal ratification within five years, and to sign and
ratify the Optional Protocol;
c.
The
Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No.138)
and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No.182) of the
International Labour Organization;
d.
The
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 and (No.169) of the International
Labour Organization and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and revise
Convention No.169, in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, to overcome its
deficiencies, in order to progress in the eradication of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
e.
The
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers
and Members of Their Families of 1990, and to prohibit and prevent
discriminatory treatment against foreigners and migrant workers, inter alia
concerning the granting of visas, work permits, family conditions, housing and
access to justice, and health systems base on race, colour, descents or national
of ethnic origin;
f.
The
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;
g.
The
United National Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially
Women and Children supplementing the Convention, in order to end practices that
lead to various kinds of servitude and exploitation such as debt bondage,
slavery and sexual or labour exploitation;
As
well to provide specific attention to:
The
International Youth Summit calls on States to financially and morally support
the creation and operation of an Independent Non-Governmental youth-driven
Global Youth Network to advocate youth issues in the framework of the youth
Declaration and Plan of Action.
We
also call for an annual monitoring mechanism to ensure that youth organization
representatives to meet and exchange information and best practices fight
against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance.
We
call for the co-operation of the aforementioned Global Youth Network with other
existing youth networks, such as the World Youth Forum of the UN Youth Unit, The
Regional Youth Forums in Africa, Europe, The Americas, The Asia-Pacific and
world wide issue-based youth networks including Human Rights, Environmental,
Religious and peace movements.
The
States should ensure that youth organizations representatives are greatly
supported in participating in the development and implementation of the Tent
Year review of the WCAR Plan of Action through the provision of resources and
political support to contribute to the elimination of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance both at the International and
domestic level, emphasizing the value of children’s and young people’s
experience and encouraging exchange programs that allow all children and young
people to work with their peers from all over the world, in order to enhance
international bonds of solidarity.
CLOSING
REMARKS
Gratitude
to the great efforts made by the members of the Drafting Committee and the
International Youth Committee, and the South African Youth Task Team, the final
version was adopted on September 2, 2001 at 1:00 am in the Criket Stadium in the
context of the United Nations NGO Forum for the World Conference Against Racism,
Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Durban,
South Africa 2001.
Note
of Appendixes:
-
Compilation
of Youth Declarations
-
Members
of the Drafting Team by region
-
Members
of the South African Youth Task Team
-
Members
of the International Youth Committee
-
Participants
during the International Youth Summit
-
Note
of Protest by United Nations Association of China on the question of
Tibet
-
Note
of Protest by the European Union of Jewish Students on the grounds of facing
anti-semitic views express by participants of the NGO
Forum.
·
Compilation
of Youth Declarations and Programs of Actions:
Europe:
-
Declaration
of Europe: “Values Have No Boundaries – Action for the
Millennium”
[Coventry,
United Kingdom ~ 10.16 August 2000]
European
Youth Forum Position Paper
[Brussels
~ 19.20 May 2001]
Americas:
-
Declaration
of the Americas Regional Youth Caucus
[Santiago,
Chile ~ 3.7 December 2000 / Quito, Ecuador ~ 12.13 March
2001]
Asia / Pacific:
-
Declaration
of Asia: Asian Youth Statement
[Melaka,
Malaysia ~ 20.27 July 2001]
Africa:
-
Declaration
of Africa: Pan African Youth Forum
[Kigali,
Rwanda ~ 18.23 August 2001]
Africa
Youth Declaration
Durban,
South Africa 2001
·
International
Youth Caucus Consultation
-
Youth
Consultation Results.
[Geneva,
Switzerland ~ 31 May 2001]
·
Country
Specific Declarations:
-
South
Africa: Child and Youth Declaration. 6.7 March 2001.
-
Australia:
Youth Consultation Recommendations. 10 April 2001.
-
Philippines:
Youth Declaration and Programme of Action. 28 May 2001.
-
Canada:
National Youth Forum Declaration. 13.15 July 2001.
.
Peru : 15 al 17 de
August 2001 Latin American Youth Conference
·
Issue
Specific Declarations:
-
Youth
of African Descents Declaration. Uruguay 21.27 July 2001.
-
Arab
Youth Declaration. Manama, Bahrain 28.29 July 2001.
-
Indigenous
Youth Declaration. Geneva, Switzerland 30 July.10 August
2001.
-
Afrikan
Youth Declaration, Norway 2001.
-
Roma
Youth Declaration, Durbam South Africa 2001.
-
Indigenous
Youth Global Youth Declaration, Durban, South Africa 2001.