Voice of Young People to be Heard at CHOGM

Media Release
DR David Kemp, MP
Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs
28 March 2001

Government Launches Commonwealth Youth Forum

Dr David Kemp, Minster for Education, Training and Youth Affairs today announced that Australia will host a Youth Forum to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), being held in Brisbane, Australia from 6 th -9 th October 2001.

“At the Commonwealth Youth Forum young people from every nation of the Commonwealth will participate in a complementary agenda to that of CHOGM,” the Minister said.

“This will be a great opportunity for young Australians to take part in the broader debates within the Commonwealth, and to build understanding and ideas with other young people from every Commonwealth country.

To ensure that every Commonwealth country has the opportunity to participate, the Government will fund a delegation consisting of one male and one female from each of the 54 member countries, as well as a delegation of approximately 30 young Australians.

“One of the major themes of the Youth Forum will be youth leadership and enterprise development,” Dr Kemp said. “I am absolutely delighted by this as youth leadership and enterprise development have been two key areas of focus for the Howard Government in developing policy for young Australians, and I look forward to hearing innovative ideas and approaches from young people across the Commonwealth.”

The forum will also include a cultural exchange programme, which will include activities organised by youth groups and home stays with Australian families.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, has sent his best wishes for the success of the Youth Forum. “I want the Forum to be a turning point in our understanding of young people,” he said. “Since my appointment as Secretary-General, I have stressed that young people are critical: to development; to democracy and human rights; to peace and security; and to the Commonwealth as an organisation. As I meet with young men and women across the Commonwealth I know that they have strong, creative and constructive views about the future. The challenge for the Commonwealth is to create opportunities for young people to engage in practical action and to maintain its credibility and relevance to this dynamic new constituency.”

The Commonwealth Youth Forum will take place at the Parkroyal on Queensland’s Gold Coast, connecting with the Commonwealth People’s Festival in Brisbane during the CHOGM. This will be the third Youth Forum, with the previous two being held in Edinburgh in 1997 and in Durban, South Africa in 1999.

Media inquiries: Catherine Job 0412 918 110

Further information: www.thesource.gov.au.