Human Resources Development Section

Asia-Pacific Youth Forum of the United Nations System and Third Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) convened two region-wide youth events in June 2001. As the designated United Nations focal point in the region, the Human Resources Development Section, Social Development Division of ESCAP organised these events in cooperation with other concerned UN agencies.

The Asia-Pacific Youth Forum of the United Nations System was held from 30 May to 1 June 2001 in Bangkok. The purpose of the Forum was to promote dialogue between youth and representatives of the United Nations System on issues of concern for young people in the Asia-Pacific region-providing a platform for youth to express their voice. The Forum was co-organised by ESCAP, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UNESCO and OISCA International. It was chaired by youth, with United Nations representatives servicing as facilitators. A Youth Bureau was further be established during the event to ensure that participants had a mechanism to raise issues and concerns.
The Third Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth was held in Bangkok from 4 to 8 June 2001. This meeting, convened by ESCAP in collaboration with several UN agencies, aimed to mainstream youth health issues, focusing on sexual and reproductive health, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention, into national policies and programmes. The Meeting facilitated a dialogue among an inter-sectoral group of senior officers from ministries of youth, education, health and social welfare, as well as members of the NGO community and youth themselves, on regional and national actions to address the health needs of young people. A designated youth representative reported on the outcomes of the above Youth Forum at the Meeting.

Asia-Pacific Youth Declaration

Report of the Third Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth, Bangkok, 4-8 June 2001

Two Regional Meetings for Youth

Inputs for Global Events Finalized

1998 was an important year for youth at the United Nations. Both at the regional and global levels, major gatherings of both governments and NGOs were held. Two regional events organized by ESCAP served as inputs for the World Conference of Ministers of Youth and the World Youth Forum.

The first event in the series was the Asia-Pacific Meeting of Youth Organizations in Preparation for the Third Session of the World Youth Forum. It was jointly organized by ESCAP and UNESCO in cooperation with the Regional Collective Consultation of Youth Organizations for Asia and the Pacific (RCCAP). The meeting was held in Bangkok from 27 to 29 May 1998. The meeting formulated a regional input for the third session of the World Youth Forum which was held in Lisbon in August 1998. You can download the report, which includes recommendations and a list of proposals for action, as well as the list of participants of the meeting here.

ESCAP also convened the Second Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on HRD for Youth in Bangkok from 1 to 5 June 1998. This meeting was the only regional intergovernmental meeting to prepare for the World Conference of Ministers of Youth, held in Lisbon in August 1998. The main achievement of that meeting was the formulation of the Asia-Pacific Position to the Lisbon World Conference of Ministers of Youth. The report of that Meeting, and proposals for action adopted by the Meeting are also available, as well as a list of participants.

The special theme chosen for the meeting was sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitaton of children and youth. HE Mr Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister to Thailand, and UNICEF Ambassador to Thailand delivered a keynote address on this important problem. Also at the opening day, a panel discussion was held on the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation.

Click on any of the links below:

Asia-Pacific Meeting of Youth Organizations in Preparation for the Third Session of the World Youth Forum, 27-29 May 1998
Report of the Meeting (TEXT-ONLY VERSION)
List of Participants (TEXT-ONLY VERSION)

Second Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on HRD
for Youth, 1-5 June 1998
Keynote Speech | Panel Discussion
Report of the Meeting (TEXT-ONLY VERSION)
List of Participants (TEXT-ONLY VERSION)
Asia-Pacific Position (TEXT-ONLY VERSION)
Proposals for Action (TEXT-ONLY VERSION)
Proposal No 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8