AFI Holds Youth Summit on the Right to Development at the United Nations in Geneva

GENEVA - May 27, 2014 - PRLog -- The Ariel Foundation International (AFI) initiated and hosted The Youth Summit at the UN on the Right to Development makes history with its historic first time direct contributions to the 15^th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group
on The Right to Development, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/Pages/15thSession.aspx under the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR).

Young people account for a quarter of the world’s population (UNFPA). In many countries, young people constitute more than 50% of the population. Young people throughout history have been leaders and change makers.

Young people today are living through a remarkable age. Technology and information is changing the world. Knowledge, communication, products and services are accessible in ways that has never existed before. This has led to fertile conditions for inspiring youth awareness and action to contribute to solving local, national, regional and international problems.

Despite these positives, the world we live in is also one of unprecedented collective challenges. In addition to poverty, inequality and development, population growth, the environment, management of natural resources, food supply, human mobility, social cohesion pose significant threats to the wellbeing of all.

Many youth today have access to tools that enable them to express themselves effectively, creatively, authentically and across cultures. These tools are only getting richer and more widespread.

Lured by moral obligation and optimism for positive impact, young people believe in change for social good and are driven to get involved or take action. The growing creative, technology and cultural sectors clearly demonstrate the abundance of youth leaders. These leaders are also highly influential across society and are shaping the future for everyone, whilst in the process inspiring other young people to do the same.

This is why youth participation in the issues affecting the Right to Development at the level of the United Nations is not only a historic opportunity but also an opportunity that is wholly necessary. The UN High Commission for Human Rights Office of Development staff have actively sought out opportunities to engage with youth, citizens and leaders of today and tomorrow.

Ariel Foundation International (AFI) President Dr. Ariel King facilitated the Right to Development Youth Summit at the UN. AFI believes passionately in the mutual benefit possible from youth engagement and involvement in UN work, policies and practices. It is the right thing to do and the time is now.

The Youth delegates from around the world, and the youth representative speaker, Kevin Ackermann, during the Youth Summit at the UN participated in the celebration of the publication of "Realizing the Right to Development: Essays in Commemoration of 25 Years of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development" with Dr. Ariel King choosing youth Kevin Ackermann as AFI- RTD Representative, Ms. Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ambassador Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Director of the World YWCA; Ambassador George Abi-Saab, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam, Chair for the Right to Development Working Group.

The AFI Youth Summit on the RTD was facilitated by Dr. Ariel R. King with the assistance of Dr. Claire Sumerville (Graduate Institute) with delegates who developed and wrote the final recommendation RTD report who include Marius Straub (Switzerland), You Yu (Japan), Tamara Ta (Switzerland), Mshari Al-kharashi (Saudi Arabia), Marcus Bonalumi (Sweden, Italy), Rory Evans (UK), Sarah Crowe (Scotland), Aroa Suárez Ordiz (Spain), Julius Yee (Malaysia), Colin Shoemaker (Germany),   Alex Roth, Irina Simmen (Switzerland), Megan Smith (UK), Salim Ghazanfari (Germany), Payton Vaucrosson (USA), Nahal Haghbin (Persia, China & Canada), Joseph Gaylord (USA), Omar Bawa (Switzerland), Mahoney Turnball (New Zealand) , Iman Fadai (UK), Kevin Ackerman (Lichtenstein), Smriti Sonam (India) and Amin Khosravi (UK, Iran & Algeria) , Giordano Neuenschwander (Switzerland), Alex Roth (Brazil & Switzerland), Larissa Rhyn (Switzerland), Shabnam Shariri (Afghanistan), and Colin Shoemaker (Switzerland)

The report and it’s contents under four areas that focus on youth by youth are:  education and training, Business for Development and Entrepreneurship Human Trafficking and Slavery, Employment and Unemployment were presented and contributions made during the RTD working group by the youth representatives and Co-Chairs of the Youth Summit are Amin Khosvari (UK, Algeria and Iran) and Smriti Sonam (India).  The report to the working group on the right to development can be downloaded at www.youthsummit-un.org . The next Youth Summit on the Right to Development will be held at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva in December 2014.

Ariel Foundation International (www.arielfoundation.org) is an NGO founded in 2002. For the youth participation in the Right To Development working group AFI has partnered with and acts under the umbrella of C.F.A.H. (ECOSOC) for which Dr. Ariel King is a UN representative in Geneva, Vienna and New York.