Samarkand Human Rights
Web-Forum on Youth 2020:
Global Solidarity, Sustainable Development and Human Rights
12 August – International Day of
Youth
UN 75 Initiative
Concept Paper
August12-13, 2020
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Asian Forum on Human Rights‘Outcomes of the Seventieth Anniversary of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Challenges and Reality’was held
in Samarkand City on November 22 and 23, 2018. The Forum’18 was held as part
of the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. M.
Mirziyoyev. The forum’s participants familiarized themselves with
international practices in measuring progress within the field of human
rights,while determining national comparative indicators to formulate the
main tasks, directions and forms of the further development and improvement
of the activities of legislative, executive and judicial branches of
government,within the field of protecting the fundamental rights, freedoms
and legitimate interests of citizens, and enhancing their legal culture and
awareness.
The Asian Human Rights Forum was attended by representatives of
international organizations including the UN, OHCHR, IOM, ILO, the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE/ODIHR, the OIC, the Asian Parliamentary
Assembly, the OIC IPHRC and the CIS, as well as foreign experts from 20
countries.
The Samarkand Human Rights Declaration was adopted by the participants of
the Asian Human Rights Forum, and approved by the UN General Assembly on
February 6, 2019, as a document of the 73rd session .
According to the results of the Asian Forum, it was noted that it is
important and necessary for this forum to be conducted on a regular basis
once every two years, in order to strengthen international and regional
cooperation within the field of human rights.
In the year of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United
Nations, a “global conversation on the role of global cooperation in
building the future we want” began.
As part of the UN75 initiative, Uzbekistan plans to hold a large-scale event
to discuss the important and positive role of youth in sustainable
development, preventing crises and ensuring gender equality, realizing human
rights and building a culture of peace, which constitutes the core of the
United Nations Youth Strategy ‘Youth 2030: Working With and For Young
People’.
The Samarkand Human Rights Forum is a logical continuation of the Asian
Forum. At the 72nd UN General Assembly, the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the development of the UN
International Convention on Youth Rights. Uzbekistan has initiated work to
create this document. A Draft UN International Convention on Youth Rights
has been prepared, and it is planned that this document will be
discussedwithin the framework of the Samarkand Forum.
The integrated approach of the Forum is to bring together representatives of
state bodies, as well as those of civil society, youth organizations and
national human rights institutions, in order to discuss topical issues of
ensuring, observing and protecting the rights and freedoms of young people.
At all times youth have been the main resource for ensuring the progress of
society. This has not been in vain, because youth is the same period in
which a person has already attained an amount of life experience, as well as
enough energy to translate plans into reality. That is why the state should
implement a competent policy withinthe field of youth. Educated and
comprehensively-developed youth are the key to the prosperity of any state.
Currently, with a global youth population of 1.8 billion, there are more
young people in the world than ever before. That demographic reality creates
unprecedented opportunities for social and economic progress. At the same
time many young people see their potential as being hindered by violations
of their fundamental rights .
Despite the fact that youth is the period of greatest productivity in one’s
life, it is also atimewhen a person is vulnerable and needs support. This is
also the reason why it is necessary to pay attention to the problems of
youth at the state level.
The period of youth is defined differently within different classifications.
The UN World Program of Action for Youth sets an age range of 15 to 24 years
for youth , which for statistical consistency across regions is applied
without prejudice to other definitions by Member States.The UN Security
Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security defines the youth age
cohort as being aged 18 to 29 . In the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme (UN-Habitat), the term “youth” refers to people aged 15 to 32
years, while others refer to the age group as being 15 to 29 years. The
diversity of this approach can create problems, especially since the
challenges faced by 15-year-olds are different from those faced by
29-year-olds.
The complexity of the definition is also shown at a national level, as it
varies across countries and regions. According to the OHCHR report, for
example, Bosnia and Herzegovina defines ‘youth’ as persons from 15 to 30
years of age, and in Canada as being persons aged 15 to 34 years of age.
Honduras defines it as those from 12 to 30 years of age, Mexico from 12 to
29, and Cuba from 15 to 29. In South Sudan and Zimbabwe, youth are those
aged 15 to 35 years in accordance with the definition provided by the
African Youth Charter . The European Commission defines ‘youth’ as being 15
to 29 years of age.
This diversity of approaches reflects the reality that young people are a
mobile and heterogeneous group of individuals, rather than one representing
a specific age group.
In reality, “youth”, instead of being a fixed age group, functions as a
cultural concept based on the sociocultural context and perceptions of
different communities, defined differently in different areas - in the
justice system, in the labor market, in the education system, and in the
family. It is because of the variability of this concept that even the UN,
when it comes to implementing youth policies and strategies at the national
level, uses a more flexible approach to the age range and the definition of
‘youth’ than is accepted by the Member State.
The rights of youth imply the use of the fundamental rights and freedoms of
young people. These rights are rights that everyone should enjoy, but some
of which have been denied because of young age. This phenomenon is also
often called ‘ageism’. Ageism affects young people directly through
legalized age restrictions, but, more importantly it has an imperceptible
effect through negative attitudes, beliefs, prejudices and stereotypes about
young people, thereby depriving them of the opportunity to exercise their
due rights.
Globally youth participation and representation in institutional political
processes and policymaking is low compared to that of other age groups.
Young people are not proportionately represented in political institutions,
such as in parliaments, political parties and public administrations,
thereby fueling disenfranchisement and distrust in formal structures,
electoral processes, leaders and policymakers. Legal barriers and others
faced by young people in running for public office represent a major
obstacle to the promotion of youth participation, particularly in political
processes .
Less than 2 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide are under the age of 30.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), young people are
underrepresented in parliament for several reasons.Firstly the minimum age
required to run for office is often higher than the minimum voting age,
requiring a wait in some cases until 25, 35 or even 45 years of age. This is
especially true in the case of upper houses, which tend to establish a
higher eligibility age.
The results show that where “young” is defined as being under age 30, very
few young parliamentarians are elected. The proportion of under-30
parliamentarians exceeds 10 per cent in only five countries, beingNorway,
Sweden, San Marino, the Gambia and Finland .
There are initiatives around the world that support young people. Adoption
of the Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) on youth, peace and security
was an important milestone in recognizing the need for youth to take an
active role in making and building peace. General Assembly Res. 70/127 of 17
December 2015 and the Human Rights Council resolution 32/1 of 30 June 2016
on youth and human rights has also called for mainstreaming youth rights.
The importance of youth rights as a cross-cutting issue was further
highlighted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and youth-related
commitments made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International
Conference on Financing for Development. In November 2016 the UN Human
Rights Council organized a Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of
Law on the theme ‘Widening the democratic space: the role of youth in public
decision-making’.
The progress study on youth, peace and security reflects the positive role
that young people can play in maintaining peace. This role was again
highlighted during the open debate in the Security Council on Youth, Peace
and Security, and at the high-level meeting held on peacebuilding and
peacekeeping in April 2018.
The participation of young people in the peacebuilding process is very
significant, ranging from the local to the global level and from the early
stages of conflict to post-conflict reconstruction, as well as in various
forms of violence (for example, conflict, crime, gender-based violence and
terrorism).
Governments, UN agencies, National Human Rights Institutions and
non-governmental organizations are actively implementing a wide range of
initiatives and best practices to empower young people and support their
rights at the international and national levels.
The IPU calls on parliaments to encourage the greater participation of young
people in political life, including through the creation of a Forum for
young parliamentarians. The ‘Not too young to run’ Campaign, led by the UN
Youth Envoy in partnership with UNDP, OHCHR, IPU, the youth initiative to
expand and strengthen advocacy, and the European Youth Forum, is based on
the premise that if a person is old enough to vote, that person can stand
for election.
The global initiative for decent jobs for young people, launched in 2016
under the leadership of the ILO, brings together UN agencies to expand
country activities to promote decent jobs for young people through
evidence-based activities, knowledge and multi-stakeholder partnerships
which contribute to achievingSustainable Development Goals and targets
related to youth employment.
The global partnership for education is a multi–stakeholder partnership and
funding platform that aims to strengthen education systems in developing
countries, and works with youth activists at levels ranging from local to
global.
Every year International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12, and each year
it is dedicated to a specific topic. As part of the celebration of this day,
young men and women around the world are invited to hold events to attract
public attention to the problems and situations faced by young people in
their country.
The ‘Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals’ initiative brings
together 17 youth representatives with recognized authority in leading
efforts to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition,
there is a growing number of initiatives to increase the participation of
young people in the high-level political forum on sustainable development,
and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
At the regional level the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held the Sixth
international seminar of the OIC-IPHRC on the theme ‘Importance of Promoting
and Protecting the Rights of Youth for Building Peaceful Democratic
Societies and Sustainable Development’ on October 7-8, 2019.
The event was organized by the OIC-IPHRC, the Government of Uzbekistan, and
OHCHR. It was attended by members of the IPHRC, international experts from
OHCHR, the African Union, the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and
Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the Islamic Cooperation
Youth Forum (ICFY), the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth,
representatives of the OIC Member States and Observer States, National Human
Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of foreign countries, and representatives of
embassies of the OIC Member States, international organizations in
Uzbekistan, representatives of the houses of Parliament, ministries and
agencies, national human rights institutions, civil society institutions,
and youth organizations from 23 countries.
The final session of the seminar saw the adoption of the final document-the
Tashkent Declaration on the Rights of Youth in OIC Member States .
SUMMARY OF THE SAMARKAND FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS -
CONTEXT AND AIMS OF THE FORUM
The main goal of the Samarkand Forum is to discuss improvements on existing
international and regional instruments and mechanisms for the protection and
promotion of youth rights, as well as the role of youth in the
implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN World
Program on Human Rights Education.
During the Samarkand Forum plans were also made to discuss the draft
Convention on the Rights of Youth, which is a new document reflecting the
specific rights of youth that are necessary for recognition in the modern
world. The existence of an international document of this kind will attract
the interest of states in youth issues around the world. The allocation of
individual rights for young people will help provide targeted assistance.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
• Objectively analyze the scope of existing international and regional
instruments and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of youth rights;
• Identify key issues that young people face in order to fully realize their
rights, and examine the impact of current policies and programs related to
youth;
• Develop ways and means to improve legal, administrative and policy
frameworks with specific recommendations for integrating the rights of young
people in all public policies that enable them to make a significant
contribution to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Recommend specific programmes and measures for the implementation of human
rights education for youth.
Organizers of the Forum:
National key organizers of the Forum:
The government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, represented by the National
Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.
International partners:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),
the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, the UN Development Programme,
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the
OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, and other international partners.
Participants
The forum involves about 200 participants, including local and foreign
experts, representatives of parliaments, the judiciary, law enforcement
agencies, state coordinating bodies for reporting and follow-up, national
human rights institutions, youth organizations, civil society organizations,
representatives of the media, and representatives of international and
regional organizations.
Logistics
Date and location
August 12-13, 2020, Samarkand (via videoconference)
Working languages
Uzbek, Russian and English.
Contact information
National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights:
● Email: info@nhrc.uz / nhrc@mail.ru,
● Phone / Fax: (+ 998 71) 23310 97; 233 12 11
Website:www.asianforum.uz
OVERVIEW OF THE SAMARKAND FORUM
The work of the Samarkand Forum on Human Rights is aimed towards identifying
the main ways to implement and improve work within the field of ensuring the
rights of youth.
Part I: Development of International Standards for Youth Rights
Objective: to discuss existing international legal instruments and
mechanisms in the field of youth rights in the world, as well as the main
provisions of the draft International Convention on the Rights of Youth.
There are still no international documents in the world that would enshrine
the rights of young people. Young people enjoy universal human rights and do
not seem to need special rights. However, the modern view of many problems
faced mainly by young people makes it necessary to pay special attention to
this segment of the population. Such problems include exposure to extremist
beliefs, discrimination on various grounds, unemployment, limited access to
active participation in the political life of the country, and others.
At the 39th session of the UN General Assembly, problems in the field of
ensuring the rights of young people were voiced, as well as recommendations
for activities to increase access to the rights of youth representatives.
The United Nations has long recognized that the creativity, ideals and
energy of young people are vital for the further development of the
societies in which they live. Member States of the United Nations recognized
this in 1965, when they endorsed the Declaration on the Promotion among
Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between
Peoples.
Two decades later, the United Nations General Assembly observed the
‘International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace’. It drew
attention to the important role young people play in the world, and to their
potential contribution to development.
In 1995, on the 10th anniversary of the International Youth Year, the United
Nations strengthened its commitment to youth. It adopted an international
strategy, the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and
Beyond, which attracted the attention of the international community and
directed its efforts to addressing the challenges that young people would
face in the newmillennium.
In December 1999, the General Assembly, in its resolution 54/120, approved
the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers for Youth (Lisbon,
8-12 August 1998) to declare 12 August as being International Youth Day.
Every year International Youth Day, dedicated to a new annual topic, assists
in drawing the international community's attention to youth issues and
celebrating the potential of youth as a partner in today's global society.
In December 2009, marking the 25th anniversary of the first International
Youth Year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution
64/134 which proclaimed the year beginning 12 August 2010 as the new
International Youth Year. The Assembly called on governments, civil society,
individuals and communities around the world to support the year's
commemorations at local and international levels.
Part II: Youth Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Objective: to discuss the role of youth in the implementation of Sustainable
Development Goals, as well as to identify key issues in the implementation
of youth rights
The 2030 Agenda identifies youth as agents of change, recognizing that the
Sustainable Development Goals are integrated, indivisible and global in
nature, and therefore that all of the Goals apply to youth. Youth are also
the main beneficiaries of the Agenda, as national success or failure in
implementing the Goals will have the greatest future impact on today’s young
people. Commitments vis-à-vis youth have also been adopted in a number of
frameworks, including the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants and
the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action, adopted at the World
Humanitarian Summit, held in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2016.
By 2030, being the target date for achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) which are on the 2030 Agenda, the number of young people in the
world is projected to increase by 7 percent. Because young people are more
likely to require more just, equitable and innovative opportunities and
solutions in their societies, the need to address the multifaceted
challenges faced by young people (such as access to education, health,
employment and gender equality) is becoming ever more acute.
Youth can become a positive force for development if they are given the
knowledge and opportunities they need to thrive. In particular, young people
should receive the education and skills necessary to contribute to the
development of a productive economy, and they need access to a labour market
that can take them into the labour force.
The main principle of the 2030 Agenda is the commitment that "no one will be
forgotten". The Sustainable Development Goals are intended for all
countries, all peoples of all ages, and all societies. The universal nature
of the 2030 Agenda implies that the interests of young people should be
taken into account in all goals and targets. At the same time, youth issues
are specifically mentioned in the following four areas: youth employment,
adolescent girls, education and sport for peace. In addition, it was
recognized that young people are agents of change and are entrusted with the
task of unlocking their own potential and building a world fit for future
generations.
The well-being, participation and empowerment of young people are key
factors for sustainable development and world peace. Achieving the goals of
the 2030 Agenda requires strong and inclusive partnerships between youth and
all stakeholders in order to address the development challenges youth face
(such as unemployment, political exclusion, marginalization, access to
education and health, and others), and to recognize the positive role of
youth as a partner in promoting development and maintaining peace.
While all Sustainable Development Goals are crucial for youth development,
the latest edition of the World Youth Report has indicated that their
achievements in education and employment are fundamental to the overall
development of youth.
Part III: Human Rights Education for Youth
Objective: to analyze international experience on Human Rights Education for
youth, as well as to develop recommendations for improving the level of
literacy of young people on human rights issues.
Education is one of the fundamental rights of youth throughout the world.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 calls for inclusive and equitable quality
education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. To
achieve this, concerted efforts are needed to ensure that young women and
men have access to free, fair and quality education, as well as training
opportunities tailored to their needs.
The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 39/3 (27 September 2018),
decided to make youth the focus group of the fourth phase of the World
Programme for Human Rights Education, with special emphasis placed on
education and training in equality, human rights and non-discrimination, and
inclusion and respect for diversity with the aim of building inclusive and
peaceful societies, and to align the fourth phase with the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and specifically with target 4.7 of the Sustainable
Development Goals, taking into account the synergy between the various
concepts and teaching methods mentioned therein.
In addition, it is recommended that states develop comprehensive and
Sustainable National Action Plans for Human Rights Education and Training,
allocating resources specifically for these purposes.
In December 2011, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations
Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. This Declaration is
disruptive in nature, as it is the first document specifically dedicated to
HRE.Therefore it is a valuable tool for promoting and disseminating
information on the importance of HRE. The Declaration states that“Everyone
has the right to know, seek and receive information about all human rights
and fundamental freedoms and should have access to human rights education
and training”andthat“Human rights education and training is essential for
the promotion of universal respect for and observance of all human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the principles of the
universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights”. The
Declaration also contains a broad definition of HRE, which includes human
rights education, through these rights and in support of these rights.The
Declaration gives states primary responsibility to “promote and ensure human
rights education and training” (Article 7).
In paragraph 20 of the Samarkand Declaration, it is noted that“the youth is
identified as the target group for the fourth stage of the UN World
Programme for Human Rights Education, to cooperate with educational
institutions, civil society institutions, youth organizations in the field
of education and training on equality, human rights and
non-discrimination…”.
“Dunyo” IA
