The 8 th Asia Economic Forum

1. The 8th Asia Economic Forum Plenary Session IV The Voice of ASEAN Youth: ASEAN’s Priorities and Challenges ChhengKimlong March 18, 2012 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2. Youth Matters? • YOUTHS = The Young Transforms Human Society • Youth needs Inspirations (hope, self-esteem, and direction) • Youth needs Experience • Youth needs to use reservoirs of Talents and Energy • “Working with youth, for youth, and by youth is what inspires me. Being surrounded by youth makes me feel young.” (Unknown source)

3. 3 Priorities ASEAN Leaders Should Consider • Redefine youth roles, Youth Engagement and Reengagement, and youth leadership for positive change in the process of deepening and streamlining of the ASEAN regional integration and globalization • Redesign ASEAN Governments’ Plan for Investment in Youth Impactsand Youth Employment • Review Youth Empowerment through Development of ASEAN Youth Government/Community

4. ASEAN Youth Government/Community • Youth Governance Structure and Leadership. • Policy Research and Debates (e.g.: AEC, ASEAN Vision) • Complementarities of Development Policymaking by Youths for Youths, Women, and Environment. • Alignment and Harmonization of Regional Youth Associations. • Incentives and Tax-exemption for Youth-Led Profit-making Organizations/Enterprises. • Incorporation of ASEAN Youth Debate Forum in classrooms. • Transfers of resources from urban to rural areas and urban-rural youth exchange. Likewise, richer ASEAN members to poorer ASEAN members. • Youth Capital Formation, Youth Values Addition, and Youth Economy.

5. ‘Upside-Down’ Paradigm • Youths take the lead in educating youths and communities about health impacts of pollution, climate change, human trafficking, child labor exploitation, prevention of communicable diseases and drug use, etc. • Youths make policy for youths, society, and the region of supranational significance. Youths should be able to express voices: (i) what they do not like. (ii) what they want to see happened.

6. Examples of Youth Contribution • Youths make and build peace; youths build and strengthen cross-border relations; youths empower the marginalized and the disadvantaged; youths fight social injustice; youths advocate gender equality; youths promote green economy. • Youths are good-will ambassador spreading cultures of love, caring, conservation, protection, and meaningful development (inclusive, sustainable, and respectful). • Youths can be active change makers helping to fight human rights abuse, domestic violence, child sex exploitation, slavery of all forms, hunger, climate change, and corruption. • Youths speed up democratization and development processes. • Youths provide a momentum for social, economic, political, and cultural change.

7. ChallengesASEAN Leaders Should Address • Rising information access gaps and digital divides, nationally and regionally (Internet,mobile communication, etc): a cause of concern. • Rampant drug use, sex rape, gang violence, and stringent poverty. • Youth traditional role of “breadwinners” being an obstacle to their personal-growth and self-development opportunity. • Limiting constraints for youths in and from rural areas and in and from urban poor communities to compete for employment and opportunities that are usually won by youths from richer families, stronger networks, and greater access. • Growth and development remain biased towards urban, more developed regions, exacerbating opportunity gaps.

8. Opportunities for Youth: AEC by 2015 and Beyond • ASEAN governments get richer, more integrated, and more open, allowing youths to benefit from regionalism, globalization, and democratization through exchange and development platforms. • Some % of national government budget can be devoted to youth capacity development, youth engagement in development, green technology research and innovations, young entrepreneurship and CSR promotion, and youth government/community. • ASEAN youths are enthusiastic about being part of the solutions and not part of the problem. They are change makers. • Diversity among ASEAN members is an advantage. • Cheaper means of communication, i.e. social media and internet access as medium of information exchange that equalizes and maximizes youth access to minimize regional gaps (yet domestic gaps within an ASEAN nation have widened).

9. Possible Partnership Priorities • ASEAN Youth Exchange among ASEAN member states: 3-month course at college/university (shorter or longer). • Youth internship program at local/sub-national/national government entities. • ASEAN Youth Creative Innovations Festival with Private Sector/Research Institute/University/state collaborations. • ASEAN+ 3, ASEAN+6, ASEAN+8: Partnership for Future Leadership Development through youth exchange, scholarship, and fellowship programs. • ASEAN-U.S. Youth Development Partnership to fill international development gaps. • ASEAN-EU Youth Development Partnership to fill international development gaps and to share experience.

10. Lastly, 3 Tiers of Regional Engagement • Government-Government (international) • Government-Private Sector (domestic/international) • Youth-Community (domestic/international)

11. Useful links • www.aseansec.org/20949.htm (Youth) • www.aseansec.org/8724.htm (AUN) • www.aseansec.org/ • www.aef.org.kh