EDD2013 Thematic Programme on Children and Youth
This year's edition of the European Development Days (26-27 November 2013) is approaching. Under the theme Building Consensus for a New Development Agenda, the below panel discussions, project presentations and workshops on children and youth should be part of the programme.
The recent boom in e-learning. What impacts for gender equality in higher education?
Young voices for inclusive governance - Implications for a post-2015 framework
If you have any suggestions or questions related to the activities proposed, please do not hesitate to contact the focal points whose contact details are provided below. You are equally welcome to post on this group's blog to launch discussions or share your thoughts on these topics, and to share your knowledge on similar projects with the help of the projects functionality. Don't forget to tag your content with the EDD2013 thematic category.
For the final version of the thematic programme on education and for up-to-date practical information, please consult the EDD2013 website closer to the date.
The recent boom in e-learning. What impacts for gender equality in higher education?
Project Presentation
CERIS will present its E-Learning Project for Africa, which aims to foster the quality of higher education by enabling African professionals and students to benefit from appropriate and practical academic training without necessarily relocating to the West.
According to UNESCO reports on higher education, Africa is still the most marginalised continent in this area, with a participation rate of around 6% against 70% in the West. Within this indicator are hidden marked gender disparities. Compared to men, women face numerous barriers linked to their multiple gender-specific roles.
This session will discuss how eLearning can be a transformative strategy towards wider involvement of women in higher education and towards shaping career development and advancement.
Organised by Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales et Stratégiques – CERIS
The power of young voices - An innovative approach to inclusive civic engagement focusing on youth with disabilities
Project Presentation
People with disabilities are among the most marginalized groups within any society, particularly in developing countries, where they are typically segregated from mainstream opportunities. Despite making up a startling 15% of the world’s population they are routinely denied their basic hum an rights and excluded from development initiatives.
This is where Leonard Cheshire Disability’s (LCD) Global Young Voices network comes in. It is a cross-border initiative for mobilizing young disabled people from all over the world to campaign and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities at local, national and regional levels. By establishing a global network of young disabled campaigners in over 20 countries, LCD has pioneered the way for new leadership in the disability rights movement.
The network is based on the belief that there is no one better placed to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities than young persons with disabilities, the future leaders of tomorrow.
Organised by Leonard Cheshire Disability
thomas.palmer@lcdisability.org, mahesh.chandrasekar@lcdisability.org
Young voices for inclusive governance - Implications for the Post-2015 Framework
Panel
Poverty, inequality, exclusion and hum an rights violations are not accidents of fate. They are the results of specific power relations and policy decisions which are discriminatory and unjust and which create obstacles to people – especially for children and young people - participating fully in society and in the economy. Despite making up over half the world’s population, children and youth face the out-dated Victorian motto ‘be seen and not heard’.
In one consultation of 346 young people from 12 countries, governance was the number one issue to be addressed by the post- 2015 framework.
Governance relates to how power and authority are exercised in the management of national and global public affairs and resources. ‘Inclusive governance’ must be human rights-based, participatory, transparent, equitable, accountable and must guarantee access to justice, respect the rule of law and fight against corruption. Let children and youth be a part of the process!
Organised by European Youth Forum, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages International, UNICEF, World Vision International
alexandra_newlands@wvi.org, Raffaela.Dattler@plan-international.org
Productive work for youth - Enhancing employability and self-employment as a solution to youth unemployment
Panel
Youth represent 17% of the world’s population and over 40% of its unemployed, leaving millions economically and socially excluded, which exerts a high cost on society. At the same time, many young people work in informal jobs with a low quality of employment: low earnings, high levels of insecurity, limited chances for advancement, and lacking social protection. With 90% of the world’s job creation, the private sector is a driving force in reducing poverty. However, young job-seekers, especially marginalized young people, often do not match the skills required by the private sector and young aspiring entrepreneurs face obstacles in starting or expanding their productive activities. Interventions to enhance productive work for youth needs to focus on improving the education and employability opportunities for young people in close cooperation with the private sector.. Furthermore, it is crucial to support the creation and growth of (youth-led) MSMEs especially in employment intensive sectors to increase the private sector’s capacity to absorb employees. In order to address the problems of informal employment and the rising numbers of working poor, the enhancement of job quality should be at the core of all interventions, promoting decent jobs.
In this panel UNIDO and SOS –CVI are joining forces to discuss these pressing challenges combining their vast expertise, with key contributions from Deutsche Post DHL, the European Youth Forum and JADE, to identify and share innovative solutions.
Organised by European Confederation of Junior Enterprises, SOS Children’s Village, United Nations Industrial Development Organization
ronan.mangan@sos-kd.org, fabiola.esposito@jadenet.org, m.dhaoui@unido.org, f.iwinjak@unido.org, m.kloss@unido.org