8th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting Young people at the centre of Sustainable Development The 8th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting (8CYMM) was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 16-19 April 2013 under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Loujaya Toni, Minister for Youth, Religion and Community Development in Papua New Guinea. Delegates from 38 countries attended with high level discussions and interaction. Three forums were held simultaneously: the youth leaders, senior officials, and stakeholders. The final outcome was the formulation of the 8CYMM Communiqué with resolutions to be presented at the next CHOGM. The Hon. Peter O’Neill, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea opened the meeting. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, government and people of Papua New Guinea for hosting the 8CYMM. The Chair of the pan- Commonwealth Youth caucus addressed the opening ceremony calling on Youth Ministers, senior officials and stakeholders to engage authentically with young people at the meeting. Commonwealth Youth Issues and Resolution by Ministers The theme of the 8CYMM is young people at the centre of sustainable development. The meeting commended the reports and noted the need to value and invest in the potential of Commonwealth young people, and to ensure that each country has in place policies and enabling environments that promote youth engagement and empowerment at all spheres, be it social, economic or political. Youth-led voice The meeting examined the current context of decision making in and beyond the Commonwealth, and the extent to which there is meaningful youth participation, and informed access to decision making processes. The establishment of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) was strongly suggested. Young people in post-2015 development agenda The meeting noted that they had an excellent opportunity to raise a collective Commonwealth voice to advocate for a specific youth focused goal to be included in the new post-2015 development agenda and developed a recommendation to the UN High-Level Panel. Values-based leadership The meeting discussed the concept of values-based leadership and its relationship to sustainable development, and how this can be promoted and role modeled in the Commonwealth. Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship The meeting benefitted from key thinking and discussions on youth employment, which is a major concern in the Commonwealth. Discussions focused on the need for policies that promote decent work for youths, for public works’ programmes that increase labour demand, and for greater efforts, including partnerships with the private sector, to ease the constraints to youth entrepreneurship. Partnerships and Collaboration Acknowledging the potential and power of collective impact, the meeting endorsed the need for partnership at all levels for evidence-based and asset-based youth development that will respond to the life stages and discrete needs of varying youth cohorts. Resolutions from the Final Communique • Young people at the centre of sustainable development • Youth participation and voice • Young people in the post-2015 development agenda • Values-based leadership • Youth employment and enterprise • Role of the Commonwealth Youth Programme in Commonwealth Youth Employment
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