'Investing in young people for a secure, prosperous and sustainable Pacific'

The Pacific Plan acknowledges the importance of young people. To give effect to their Vision through the Pacific Plan, leaders agreed “to promote and protect youth.” For sustainable development the Plan also recognises the importance of “enhanced involvement of youth”, improving the “coordination of youth programmes” and greater emphasis on vocational training. For improving governance the inclusion of youth in participatory democracy and decision making is recommended. While these initiatives are aimed at the general development of the region, their proper implementation will also advance the situation of young people.

The Forty-Second Pacific Islands Forum which was held in Auckland, New Zealand, from 7 to 8 September 2011 held three official Side Events at the Leaders Meeting, including one on the theme of “Youth Matters NOW: Investing in Young People for a Secure, Prosperous and Sustainable Pacific” with three main objectives:

• To brief senior officials on situation of youth and recent policy recommendations and actions regarding youth in the Pacific
• To elicit feedback and create discussion on the previous Pacific Youth Strategy, its review and way forward for the next 5 years.
• To advocate for greater investment in young people, mainstreaming of youth across government sectors and coordination and commitment by regional organizations, improving opportunities for employment and other meaningful activity, and empowering youth in decision-making.

The overarching “Youth Matters Now” theme emphasised the fact that youth are not only the future (as is often referred to by senior Pacific leaders) but are the present as well and need support now to be competent and effective contributors to regional development both now and in the future.

To directly convey the voices of young people from across the region to Leaders and Officials on the issue of youth, the Forum Secretariat contracted a youth NGO from Tonga called ‘On the Spot’ to produce three short videos on the topics of youth voice in decision making, youth employment and mainstreaming of youth issues. On the Spot interviewed many young people about these issues and created symbolic graphics for the videos. The video was played during the Youth Matters Now Officials’ Side Event where it received a warm applause for its quality production and the sincerity of the young people in their appeals.

Click on the links below to view videos 

YOUTH MATTERS NOW: "Investing in young people for a secure, prosperous and sustainable Pacific" 

YOUTH MATTERS NOW (Part 2)

YOUTH MATTERS NOW (Part 3)