1. Regional Perspectives on Youth
ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 2 July 2012
Regional Perspectives on Youth
1 February 2013
Marco Roncarati
Social Development Division
ESCAP 1

2. ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 201206282012_1000
Outline
Global Framework of Cooperation
Regional Cooperation
ESCAP

3. ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 201206282012_1000
Global Framework
World Programme of Action on Youth (GA resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995)
Secretary-General’s Five-Year Action Agenda (January 2012):
employment
entrepreneurship
political inclusion
citizenship and protection of rights, and
education, including on sexual and reproductive health

4. ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 201206282012_1000
Global Framework
Interagency Network (IANYD)
System-wide Action Plan on Youth:
Employment and Entrepreneurship
Protection of rights and civic engagement
Political Inclusion
Education, including comprehensive sexuality education 
Health
Goals, targets and indicators
HLCP/CEB to endorse Youth-SWAP in March 2013

5. ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 201206282012_1000
Regional Cooperation
Interagency on Youth (up to 2012)
RCM-UNDG Thematic Working Group on Youth (2013 onwards):
link global, regional and country level policy and programme initiatives
support the Asia-Pacific implementation of the World Programme of Action on Youth, the Secretary-General's Five-Year Action Agenda, the outcome of the Rio+20 Summit entitled “The Future We Want”, Millennium Development Goals etc.

6. ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 201206282012_1000
ToR
Advocacy
Analytical work
Information sharing and networking
Cooperation and coordination

7. Members and organization
ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation _1000
Members and organization
All RCM and UNDG members
Current co-Chairs: ESCAP & UNFPA
Reporting to the RCM and UNDG-AP

8. ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation 201206282012_1000
About ESCAP
Regional development arm of UN
62 member States/ 58 in the region
Social Development Division
Analytical and normative work
Some operational work

9. Over 60% of the world’s youth live in Asia-Pacific = 750+ million
Distribution of youth by subregion, Asia-Pacific, 2010
(UNDESA, World Population Prospects: the 2010 Revision) 9

10. Completing secondary & tertiary education remains a challenge
Gross Enrolment Ratios (GER, in %), (UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UIS Data Centre) 10

11. Youth unemployment in Asia-Pacific is relatively low compared to other regions
Youth unemployment rates by Asia-Pacific subregion (ESCAP, 2011 Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific) 11

12. The informal economy remains a barrier to youth integration
ESCOC_ESCAP youth presentation _1000
The informal economy remains a barrier to youth integration

13. Tapping the demographic dividend
Parts of East Asia & SE Asia have tapped the demographic dividend
South and South-West Asia are ripe to tap the dividend
This requires a mix of social & economic policies to:
Promote more investment in human capital
Foster a climate for research and development

14. Tapping the demographic dividend

15. Asia-Pacific youth have Innovative life-styles
Highly “e-connected”
China: 84% youth use mobile phones to access Internet
Japan: 60% youth access social networks through mobile phones
Green activism is on the rise among youth
RAECP: a climate education training group from Hanoi
Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network

16. Young people are promoting good governance
Youth are calling for greater accountability & participatory politics
Philippines: well-developed youth civil society, with youth participation in local governance
Pakistan: Young Parliamentarian Forum & on-the-job training for young people in Parliament
Young people want leadership that delivers greater accountability, dignity and social justice. For this, they are demanding change and making their voices heard, including through social media.
Young people are aware that their participation is key to good governance. They are engaged in national and local processes to ensure greater transparency, equity and rule of law.
In the Philippines, young people are working with communities to ensure that electoral processes are transparent. They are also monitoring projects in a range of areas, including infrastructure.
In Pakistan, the Young Parliamentarians Forum for young members of the National Assembly in Pakistan is developing the leadership skills of young parliamentarians to equip them with the capabilities to better perform their representative, legislative and over-sight functions. Furthermore, under a programme of the Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, youth are building their capacity in the operations of Parliament, and are participating in fellowship programmes there. 16

17. Thank you! 17 17