Asian Youth Policy Conference 2012

Asian Youth Policy Conference 2012

In aid to speed up the national youth policy drafting process and the introduction of localized youth policy process in Sri Lanka, Lanka Youth Organizations Network (LYON – Sri Lanka) had organized an Asian youth Policy Conference, through regional experience identification of the challenges and lesson learnt, with the participation of a number of Youth Leaders representing over 10 Countries.

This particular program was held from 02nd – 06th December 2012 at the Field View Resort Hotel, Athurugiriya. The main partner organization of this event is the Asian Youth Network (AYN), a formal network of three (3) of the largest civil society youth networks and youth councils in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Additionally, LYON expects to invite officials of the Ministry of Youth affairs & Skills Development including members of youth policy drafting committee as well as National Youth Services Council of Sri Lanka.

As many of you are aware, it is important for the process of formulation of a successful National Policy relevant to Sri Lankan situation to be better understood by Sri Lankan stakeholders. The reason being that the 2007 Youth Policy Draft was critiqued as naturally not sufficiently considering issues only relevant to Sri Lanka; this was highly criticized by the youth. In such a complex post war environment as Sri Lanka what is needed is an indigenous document, which arises based on the experiences and issues of Sri Lankan youth.

Further, opening ceremony of this particular event was held at BMICH on 02nd December 2012 and main topics to be discussed in this policy conference are Unemployment, Culture, Education, Health and Development. Also, we are expecting to invite World Bank Sri Lanka, United Nations Population Fund, Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka and other interested organization.