International Youth Day 2018: "Safe Spaces for Youth"
Youth need safe spaces where they can come together, engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests, participate in decision making processes and freely express themselves. As the world experiences drastic changes from climate change, deepened social and economic inequalities, political and humanitarian crises, youth often face circumstances where they don’t have safe spaces. Therefore, with the rise of social media and other forms of online communication, youth are exploring new opportunities for engagement and are using their innovations to create both virtual and physical spaces. There is a need to build on this momentum.
In 2018 International Youth Day will aim to promote youth engagement and empowerment by exploring the role of safe spaces in contributing to freedom of expression, mutual respect and constructive dialogue. The event will reflect on the significance of safe spaces in providing opportunities for sport and leisure time activities, while deconstructing barriers of judgment, hate speech, harassment or violence. Participants will share examples of positive spaces and the role that they played in enhancing the lives of young people. They will also identify challenges and opportunities for using available spaces in their communities, including participating in decision making processes. Overall, participants will consider ways in which safe spaces can promote an inclusive youth engagement in the 2030 Agenda.
What is ‘civic space’?
Civic space is defined as an either physical or virtual/online area, within which all members of society (individuals and groups) have the ability to exercise their basic civil rights freely, effectively and without discrimination. These include the right to information, to freedom of expression as well as to assembly and association. In other words, civic space refers to the conditions that are necessary to enable members of society to undertake free and voluntary action in order to advance socially-relevant goals
To enhance civic engagement and political participation of young people, the Bangkok Regional Hub is leading with partner organizations the #Case4Space Campaign, a regional initiative that aims to raise awareness and advocate for a space in which young people in Asia and the Pacific can be partners, leaders and innovators in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Campaign aims to raise awareness and advocate for the following issues across the region:
- What are the benefits of engaging young people as critical stakeholders in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda at the regional, national and local levels?
- What is the enabling environment (necessary conditions and structures) both online and offline that ensures young people can be partners and leaders in the implementation of the global development agenda?
- How can socially-excluded groups be engaged in this process?
- What role can relevant actors in social media and digital communication play to enhance and protect digital spaces and freedoms while ensuring online safety for young people to more effectively engage in political and social debates in Asia and the Pacific?
- What role can governments and development actors play in strengthening policy, practice and support mechanisms for youth development?
- What are the needed capacities and the requirements for young people to more effectively engage in social and political debates in Asia and the Pacific? How might this be affected by cultural practices?
Read more: http://www.case4space.org/topics.html. You can support the dedicated social media campaign by using the hashtags #Case4Space and #WeAre2030.