Civicus Youth Assembly and World Assembly

(New style workshop from Philippine at Youth Assembly)

Civicus Youth Assembly (22-23 May 2007)

2007 Youth Assembly held by CIVICUS­­(World Alliance for Citizen Participation) has brought 120 of the world's most engaged, dynamic young activists in the field of Social and Civic Justice to Scotland from around 60 different countries worldwide.

The theme of the Assembly was ‘Accountability to Future Generations’, and young delegates had the opportunity to participate in a number of workshops and dialogues sessions around this issue.

During a two-day Youth Assembly, 22 -23 May, the delegates also discussed: “What are the most important issues affecting them where they live and will continue to affect future generations?” Young people did agree to nine points they feel are crucial issues that need to be addressed: intolerance and discrimination; education; ecological crisis; health care and services; HIV/AIDS; lack of economic opportunities for young people; lack of recognition of rights of young people, poverty; lack of access and irresponsible use of technology.

World Assembly (23-27 May 2007)

Youth Assembly delegates also went on to attend, as full delegates, the CIVICUS World Assembly where they could have a voice and opportunity to meet and influence some of the world's leading NGOs and CSOs, groups and individuals who are committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world. With courage and the strong common statements in mind which was discussed above, young delegates reached many medias, workshops and debates – not just to listen but also to engage as speakers and organizers with elder people in most activities during the world assembly.

Charlotte Bertin's Questions


At the opening plenary of the World Assemby, Charlotte Bertin, a 14 years old girl, had brought 10 questions to the assembly in which it included why do governments ignore global warming and why are women and children treated like second class citizens - the discussion was focused as much on challenges as solutions.

1- Why is it that governments can find money for wars but not to save children's lives?

2- Why are so many promises made, like right here in Scotland 2005 by the G8, but are never kept?

3- Why could my friend not trust even his own relatives to look after him?

4- Why do adults in governments and business act like we are not going to be around in the future?


5- Why is it that nothing is being done about the millions of children being sold into slavery each year often by their own poor and desperate families?

6- Why is it ok that wealthy families are depleting the world's scarce resources while in other countries children are being cared for by their brothers or sisters because their parents have died of Aids?

7- Why are government refusing to take the threat of global warming seriously?

8- Why are women and children treated like second class citizens?

9- Why do governments neglect our environment just to make money?

10- Why can't all world leaders be as caring, compassionate and inspiring as my hero Nelson Mandela?


So, did Bertin feel that the questions she brought to the world assembly been answered? "Yes, many of them were," she said. "But hopefully they will be answered more by people doing something rather than just talking."

For further information please visit these web sites: http://www.civicusassembly.org/, and www.civicusyouth.org.


BBC World Debate
Title: Aid – Is it working?

BBC hosted Plenary at the CIVICUS World Assembly was televised as part of the BBC World Debate series. The debate looked at the issue of Aid, focusing on whether Aid is really effective in achieving the purposes for which it was initially intended – to alleviate poverty, accelerate development in the least developed countries and bring a measure of economic justice for the dispossessed communities in various parts of the world. The panellists included people from UN Millennium Campaign, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Blair Commission, and Oxfam.