The Y Factor represented in Istanbul at the Regional Youth Forum
Published: Monday, June 17, 2013
While hundreds of people gathered in Istanbul's Gezi Park, Taksim's last remaining public park, a few miles away another group of young activists were also trying to ensure that their voices and issues were being heard. On the May 30th, 2013, 40 young activists from different countries with diverse backgrounds met in the Plaza Hotel in Istanbul for the Regional Youth Forum.
Darcy Lonergan, Ireland's youngest major and Women In Politics Project Worker with NWCI, represented the Y Factor at the Regional Youth forum, organized by the UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (EECARO). Darcy was one of many representing various youth organizations and networks working in the areas of youth health, women and gender issues, education (including comprehensive sexuality education) and youth leadership.
The main objective of the event was to identify new and emerging issues facing today's generation, in order to develop a region specific and action oriented recommendations for achieving sustainable development.
The three working groups were Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development, Families, Sexual and Reproductive Health over the Life Course and Inequalities, Social Inclusion and Rights.
Darcy worked with the 'Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development' group, where she outlined the need for government and decision making institutions to take a proactive approach to establish positions for young people in these areas. Darcy recommended that they look into special mechanisms such as quotas or career investment opportunities to increase the level of young people entering into the field. Futhermore, she advised that governments, parliaments and civil society institutions devote more budgetary resources to well-rounded qualified education including teaching students life skills, how to be an active citizen and comprehensive sexual education. It was noted that if more young people, especially females, were in decision-making positions, the majority of the problems facing youth today such as reproductive rights, would be solved sooner.
Darcy is hopeful that the messages will be heard, and that action based decisions and policies will be put in place so this generation and future generations have a better quality of life, and more say in government management.