Good governance and leadership is our issue too

Good governance and leadership is our issue too, say young leaders

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, 21 SEPTEMBER 2012: Young leaders said they
need to be included in efforts for good governance and leadership in
the Pacific, as the Commonwealth Pacific Youth Leadership and
Integrity Conference closed today at the Commonwealth Youth Programme
Regional Centre.

3 out of 5 Pacific islanders are young people (15-29 years old) but
they are often sidelined in decision-making. Good governance and
leadership projects and initiatives often do not include youth but
focus on older bureaucrats and politicians.

In an upcoming outcomes statement from the conference, young leaders
said governments, regional organisations, donors and non-government
organisations needed to include young people in decision-making and
leadership roles, as they are 60% of the Pacific population. Young
people from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand,
Marshall Islands, Niue, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu drafted the call for change to have
young people represented and active in decision-making forums.

The Commonwealth Pacific Youth Leadership and Integrity Conference
participants called for:
• Youth Ministry focal points, national youth councils and young
people to engage to address constraints to youth participation in
decision making
• Effective partnerships with young leaders in country and across the Pacific
• Governments and regional agencies to create meaningful and relevant
opportunities to have a place in decision making at all levels
• Agencies and donors to partner with young leaders to develop a
coordinated approach to foster good governance and leadership at the
local, national and regional levels throughout the Pacific

The young leaders expressed appreciation for regional agencies, which
provide young leaders with expert advice and mentoring and funding
support. They thanked the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Commonwealth
Pacific Governance Facility, Pacific Leadership Programme, United
Nations Development Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community,
International Labour Organization and Oceania Football Confederation
for providing funding to attend this week’s conference.

Young leaders also said it was important to recognise leaders are not
just elected politicians or powerful officials but are in civil
society, where youth are very active. Young leaders said in the
outcomes statement: “Sport is an effective development tool for
building stronger communities for sustainable social and human
development in the Pacific. Arts culture and religion contribute to
the personal development of young people in the Pacific. Young leaders
recognise the importance of being involved in high level decision
making to ensure that youth concerns are recognised in development
strategies. Young leaders call for more capacity building
opportunities designed to build the leadership skills such as youth
parliaments, youth summits, youth councils and analogous.”

As the Duke of Cambridge said on Monday in his speech to the
conference organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, young
leaders are heirs and successors for the Commonwealth. They are also
important leaders today, spearheading programmes and activities in
their communities to tackle key social issues.

Another outcome from the conference will be a Youth and Leadership
Manual that youth leaders can use in their work in future.

The Commonwealth Pacific Youth Leadership and Integrity Conference is
part of the Commonwealth Youth Programme’s Pacific Centre’s work to
engage and empower young people (ages 15-29) and enhance their
contribution to development.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE OUTCOME STATEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK
FURTHER INFORMATION www.thecommonwealth.org/cyp

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