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Iraqi Youth and Arab Spring

Iraqi Youth and Arab Spring. Towards Integrating Youth Issues in the NHDR- Iraq. Message number zero Before I start. Business as usual,,,,,, youth are absent. UN Contribution at Global Level. 1985 : 1 st International Youth Year International Youth Day : 12 th August

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Iraqi Youth and Arab Spring

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  1. Iraqi Youth and Arab Spring Towards Integrating Youth Issues in the NHDR- Iraq

  2. Message number zeroBefore I start Business as usual,,,,,, youth are absent

  3. UN Contribution at Global Level • 1985 : 1st International Youth Year International Youth Day : 12th August • 1994 : Int. Conf. Pop. & Development (Cairo) “6.13 Countries should aim to meet needs & aspirations of youth, particularly in areas of formal &non formal education, training, employment opportunities, housing & health, thereby ensuring their integration & participation in all spheres of society, including political process & leadership roles” ICPD Programme of Action 1994 3

  4. UN Contribution at Global Level • 1998 : International Youth Conference, Lisbon “ A Society that cuts itself from its youth severs its lifetime. It is condemned to bleed to death “ Kofi Annan, Secretary general • 2000 : “World Programme of Action for Youth” : Covering 15 Priority areas “Education, Employment, Hunger/Poverty, Health, Environment, Drug abuse, Juvenile delinquency, Leisure, Girls & young women, Participation, Globalization, ICT, HIV/AIDS, Youth and conflict, Intergenerational relations” 4

  5. UN Contribution at Global Level • 2010 : International Youth Year “ Dialogue & Mutual Understanding ” • 2011 : “High Level Meeting of G.A. on Youth” “ Failing to invest in our Youth is a False Economy. …… When Youth lack opportunity, they are more easily led to crime and violence, to drugs and risky sex, and the slippery slope to the bottom of social scale……” S.G. Ban Ki-Moon Participants: - 4 Heads of States - 40 Youth Ministers - Several Heads of UN agencies 5

  6. Outcomes of 2011 HLM on Youth • Unemployment: • Youth are most Dynamic & Innovative segments of population • Youth are Key Human Resource & Demographic Bonus • Youth Participation: • Youth Engagement is easier at Local level than at State Level • Role of Youth-led associations to develop a “ Critical Space” for Democracy & Peace at Grass root level • Adolescent Girls & Young Women : Gender stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination 6

  7. Arab Spring Youth & Reshaping History

  8. Arab Spring : 11 months of Youth movements “ Great Revolutions cannot be made. …. They erupt, like Volcanoes, a top of mounting force of huge and long suppressed social & political contradictions”. Mustafa Barghouti, Al-Ahram news 8

  9. Youth – led Arab Spring : Underlying causes • Failure of Developmental Programmes • “System of Governance” at odds with Democratic Transformation • Weak mechanisms for “Civic participation” and “Political Representation” • Unfulfilled universal “ Aspiration” for “Freedom” • High Unemployment among educated youth • Conflicts and Emergencies • Conflict between “Traditionalism” & “Modernism” Iraq UNCT Retreat - November 2011 9

  10. Arab Spring: Youth Tidal WaveFrom Tunis …….. • Demographic transition : Large Youth population • “Dignity” Revolution : Personal & national degradation • Loss of Fear : challenging concept of “Power” …….. To Egypt ……….. • Urban, Middle-Class youth ignited the uprising flame • Escaping conservative environment • With ability to express desire & win support of majority • Participate in building new & Oppression-free Society 10

  11. Arab Spring : Factors of Change • Breaking the Silence : • Youth no Longer afraid • Actors of Change: • Youth taking charge of their present & Shaping their Future • Demanding Political Reform : • Youth putting pressure on political structures to change • Protecting their Nation : • Youth preserving national Treasures & Institutions 11

  12. Iraqi Youth Human Rights and Challenges Iraqi Youth in Figures (National Youth Survey)

  13. توزيع السكان حسب الفئات العمرية في العراق 2006 * العراق مازال مجتمعاً فتياً

  14. المجتمع العراقي مقبل على الهبة الديمغرافية

  15. Youth & Education (15 – 30 yrs) • 5yrs or less : 29% • 6th grade (Certificate) 33% • 9th grade 20% • 12th grade 10% 62 % has 6th Grade or Less !! 82 % has 9th Grade or less !! What Employment opportunities ?? 16

  16. Youth & Education (15 – 30 yrs) Youth who Reads • 10 – 14 yrs 14 % • 15 – 24 yrs 23 % • 25 – 30 yrs 26 % Value of Education 17

  17. Youth & Work Working Youth Male female • 10 - 14yrs: 6.5 % 9 % 3% • 15 - 24yrs: 24 % 39 % 6% • 25 – 30yrs: 46 % 76 % 14% • Support “Early Employment” : • 10 - 14yrs: 49 % • 15 - 24yrs: 32 % • 25 – 30yrs: 46 % • Youth who want to migrate 16 % Gender Disparity 18

  18. Youth Participation • Participate in Social activities: • 10 - 14yrs: 23% • 15 - 24yrs: 28% • 25 – 30yrs: 30% • Chance to discuss their opinion: • 10 - 14yrs: 4% • 15 - 24yrs: 6% • 25 – 30yrs: 8% • Participation in election (above 18yrs) • Male 76 % female 64 % Low Social Participation 19

  19. Youth & Gender Equity Male Female • Women’s right to work: 51 % 93 % • Women need approval of caretaker to work: 92 % 92 % • Husband can beat his Wife 50 % 26 % 20

  20. Youth mental Health • Sense of happiness / Optimistism: • 10 - 14yrs: 73 % Male : 55% • 15 - 24yrs: 53 % Female: 62 % • 25 – 30yrs: 51 % • Sense of Security: • 10 - 14yrs: 67 % • 15 - 24yrs: 59 % • 25 – 30yrs: 55 % • Support “Use of force” to solve problems: • 10 - 14yrs: 28 % • 15 - 24yrs: 37 % • 25 – 30yrs: 41 % Growing Unhappy, unsecure & Violent Iraq UNCT Retreat - November 2011 21

  21. Youth & Health Male Female • Smoking 71 % 31 % • Alcohol 14 % 1.5 % • Practice Sports 22 % 2.0 % • Attitude to PLWHA YES No • Should be isolated 84 % 16% • Share on meal 10% 90% • Shake hands 17% 83% 22

  22. Government and UN response to youth Aspirations

  23. Priorities • Youth • Water

  24. Government Efforts Several stand-alone sectoral initiatives & programmes: • Lack of intersectoral coordination or linkage • Some initiatives are targeted to youth, majority are for all population groups, including youth • Few are Gender-sensitive : Young women benefits?? • Government has no clear vision for Iraqi Youth Classical approach : “What the Nation wants for Youth?” • Ministry of Youth & Sport: some coordination capacity, more focus on Sport/Culture 25

  25. UN Efforts • Some Youth-targeted projects • Youth included in several programmes, but not specifically targeting them; • Girls & Young Women concerns & Vulnerabilities ?? • Few UN joint programme with some inter-linkage • Some quick impact /short span initiatives • Limited involvement of Youth (Design/implement/ evaluate) • No Coordination structure: …… “Youth” is “ Cross Cutting issues” !!! • UNDAF (2011-14) : Women & Youth at Outcome 5 27

  26. Investing in YouthAs Community Assets /Agents for Change a Human Rights approach

  27. …….. HR ( Freedom, Dignity, Equity ) What do Youth want ? • Political Rights: • Freedom of expression & right to be listened, • Consulted in Decision Making • Economic Rights : • Equal chance for employment and decent work • Livelihoods & Employability • Social Rights:Health, Education, ….. but also • Self-Development (self-esteem, empowerment, ……) • Social participation / Entrepreneurship • Gender Equity / combating Gender Based Violence

  28. Programming Principles • Multi-dimensional : • Addressing ALL rights (Civic, Social & Economic) • Comprehensive : • Different levels of interventions (Skills, Participation & Services) • Simultaneously & Interlinked implementation: • In Time & Place with Referral mechanism between interventions • Youth Active Involvement: “With Youth TO Youth” • Addressing Young Girls’ Exclusion & Vulnerability Iraq UNCT Retreat - November 2011

  29. Comprehensive & Interlinked Enabling Environment Interlinked Gender-sensitive Youth Focused National Youth Policy Education & Skills Services & Counseling Adequate Data Empowerment & Participation

  30. Ideas for HR-Based Multisectoral Youth Programming and reporting

  31. How & What do UN need to deliver Comprehensive & interlinked Youth Programme ??

  32. Conclusion Gap is still exist between youth aspiration and governments delivery HDR theme on youth is timely Need to address Youth reporting comprehensively, multi sectoral, integrated, muli-level, participatory intervention HR based approach is appropriate Thematic studies are still needed to prepare NHDR Address vulnerable youth groups Writing up NHDR within its national-sub-national-regional- international context is recommended Youth participation is NEEDED

  33. Thank You 35

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