Drug Prevention

Youth Position Paper on National Youth Policy

I-Introduction and background

With 70 percent of the total population under 30 years of age,

Cambodia , considered to have a very long history of existence, currently has a large majority of youth population 70 percent of the total population is under 30 years of age covering about 70 percent of total populat ion 1 . This group is a tremendous resource in a fast-changing country. As Cambodia develops, young people have the energy and ability to contribute in many positive ways.

>But youth face significant barriers to fully developing their potential to contribute to society.

> With high illiteracy rates and school dropout rates, especially among girls and women, Cambodia 's education system faces many challenges in serving youth. The education system has problems with access because many students live far away from schools. A further concern is quality, as many young people do not finish their studies with adequate preparation for the job market. Poor families find it difficult to send children to school due to high levels of unofficial fees , which . These unofficial fees can amount to as much as 10-19 percent of yearly incomes, or higher in families with two or more children.

Cambodian youth also face high rate of poverty and unemployment in both rural and urban area. For example ADHOC, a local human rights NGO, reported that among 43,000 new university graduates each year only 15,000-20,000 found employment.

These young people face serioushealth threats, including HIV/AIDS, drug abouse and alcoholism. This population faces social problem as well, which contribute to juvenile delinquency. But cambodia does not have a senparate court or penal system for juveniles, nor programs to encourage education and rehabilitation of youth offenders.

Yet Cambodia 's energetic youth population is poised to contribute to society . Young people are eager to protect natural resources and promote good governance. Youth often face negative for their lack of experiences, values, and reputations as troublemakers. But young people have great potential to serve as true development partner s , agent s of positive change, and as part of the solution for Cambodia 's future. Cambodia needs to develop its youth in order to prepare for the future. Cambodia n young people alike need to ensure that young people are building their capacity to lead in the future

With a A strong National Youth Policy

These hindrances for youths in Cambodia have its root in the absence of the National Youth Policy, a can provide a solid foundation for developing the potential of male and female young people. A comprehensive and positive policy can serve y outh development as well as a road map for government, civil society , the private sector and academia. the society and the Government to potentially and objectively develop youth development strategies. This policy can ensure that youth possesses both skill and experiences and the opportunity to fully participate in public and private affairs, and political and social activities.

Cambodian young people are eager to contribute to policy making efforts in this area. Youth representatives seek to participate in the whole process of youth policy development, decision making and implementation discussion and . Youth groups seek to contribute by analyzing policy decisions and development efforts from a youth perspective.

As the policy is implemented, and as Cambodia develops, youth. At the same time, youth representatives seek to promote and enhance good practice themselves, and do their part y to encourage youth to participate in a positive manner.

Effective implementation of an action plan, derived from the goals and objectives delineated in the youth policy , will depend on adequate financial and human resource s . Another crucial element for a successful policy a nd action plan is coordination , within ministr ies and also among relevant ministries, departments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. This is best accomplished through an effective national coordinating mechanism.

Youth organizations in Cambodia re quest clear definitions and direction on youth and youth policy from the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), particularly the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports . Youth organizations also request that any new national coordinating mechanism o n youth ( perhaps a National Council for Youth Development) and include youth representatives . Furthermore, youth organizations urge o ther agencies involved with implementation to increase youth involvement. This will improve effectiveness by ensuring that young people are involved in implement at i o n and measuring results of the national youth policy.

• Since 1996 to 2000 : the Khmer Youth Association KYA organized many various public for ums a ums to share mechanism for formulating youth policy.
• In 1999 : , the F f irst ever meeting of H H .E. Pok Than, Secretary of State of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and met with with president of the Khmer Youth Association KYA t and H.E. Pok Than, Secretary of State of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, was held t o discuss processes for formulating youth policy for the first time .
• 2001-2004 : , the Khmer Youth Association KYA organized many a workshop s and round-table talk discussion s on the importance of a National Youth Policy development in order to collect recommendations and opinions from youths in Phnom Penh to discuss on the importance of a National Youth Policy for development.
• In August 2005 : , Meeting of . H. E. Kol Pheng, Senior Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, met with a meeting was held between the president of the Khmer Youth Association KYA met with , H .E. Kol Pheng, Senior Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. and the deputy chief of the National Council of Swedish Youth (LSU) . and
• In June 2005 : , th e Khmer Youth Association KYA organized a conference on National Youth Policy with participation of all stakeholders under the financial with the support of National Council of Swedish Youth ( LSU ) .
• In November 2005 : H.E. Kol Pheng met with , a meeting was held between the Khmer Youth Association KYA met with H.E. Kol Pheng , and youth organizations from Sweden , t T he Philippines and , Sri Lanka and H.E. Kol Pheng , Senior Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, to discuss the possibility of establishing the a youth policy. The Minister pledged that the policy w ould il l be formulated during his term of office. Following the pledge the draft policy have been developed by a working group responsible by t T he Youth Department then drafted a policy . Youth organizations have held frequent discussions with representative of Youth the d D epartment in order to identify find ways for of working together, and shar ing e achievements and present ing ed a number of recommendations.
• In 2005-2006 : , In collaboration with other youth organizations, the Khmer Youth Association KYA , in collaboration with other youth organizations organized a workshop s on "Youth Participation in Formulating National Youth Policy" in 24 provinces and cities.
• 2006: 25 youth/student s organizations and associations in Cambodia have unanimously established a youth organization network name d ly "National Youth Policy Network" . in 2006. The network s ha s ve implemented many activities in 24 provinces and cities in order to solicit collective recommendations to present to the RGC , particularly the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
• In March 2006 : , the Khmer Youth Association KYA organized a youth camp in Kampot province ing under the title "Youth Participation in Formulating Youth Policy".
• In May 2007 : , the National Youth Policy Network (NYP NET that has Khmer Youth Association, Youth for Peace, Youth Resources Development Program, Youth Council of Cambodia, Culture and Environment Preservation Association, People Center for Development and Peace, Khmer Youth and Social Development, Khmer Institute for National Development , Youth and Chile Hope Development and Cambodian Youth Development Organization) organized a workshop on "Youth's Recommendations for Formulating National Youth Policy" with a keynote speech by a representative of General Department of Youth and Sports.
• 2008: Currently, the Y y outh/student s organizations continue to and associations are trying to implement many activities in order to gather ing collect recommendations from 10,000 persons, 40 percent of whom are female, including youth throughout the country with participation from y y outh, pupils, students and representatives of relevant agencies totaling about 10,000 persons, 40 percent of whom are women .
• May 3 0 , 2008: NEP - NET's member s and Youth Star 's representatives worked together to finalize the draft of th e position's paper on National Youth Policy Establishment to the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport as well as to Technical Assistant.

II-Recommendation

1. Education
2. Employment
3. Poverty and h H unger and poverty
4. Health
5. Environment
6. Drug abuseuv
7. Juvenile delinquency
8. Leisure
9. G ender
10. Participation in of society and in decision-making
11. Full and Effective Youth Participation of Youth in Society and in Decision M m M aking

III. Mechanism s , Action Plan and Measu ring Impact

We are working in six communes in each of the following provinces: Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Takeo, Kampong Cham, and Siem Reap.

1-Recommendations on Mechanism s

•  T he Ministry of Education Youth and Sports should include youth representatives in the whole process of the National Youth Policy d evelopment as defined by the International Council for National Youth Policy .

•  T he implementation mechanism should include all stakeholders such as inter-ministr y representatives , youth representatives, non-governmental organization s and the private sector.

2-Recommendations on the Action Plan

• The action plan should involve representatives from all the sectors , as mentioned in Section I. of this document . The action plan should include both urban and rural youth , male and female, as well as and representatives of those who are illiterate, orphaned or disabled, and those from ethnic groups .
• It should be provided with adequate resources, both financial and human.

3- Measur ing Impact

• Results should be measured by an independent body, separate from the implementation body.

•  The youth policy should be reviewed every three year s in order to allow for consideration of modifications .

NYP-NET Members:

1. Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA)
2. Cambodian Youth Development (CYD)
3. Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
4. Khmer Youth and Social Development Organization (KYSD)
5. Khmer Institute for National Development (KIND)
6. People Center for Development and Peace (PDP-Center)
7. Youth for Peace (YFP)
8. Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC)
9. Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP)
10. Youth and Child Hope Development Organization (YCHD)

Contact Person:

•  Mr. Yong Kim Eng, President of PDP-Center E-mail:kimeng_yong@yahoo.com Mobile Phone : 855 16 828 211

•  Mr. Seng Rithy, Spokesperson of NYP-NET Mobile Phone: 855 12 942 804 Fax/Phone : 855 23 884 306 E-mail: rithy_kya@yahoo.com W ebsite: kya-cambodia.org