Meaningful Youth Participation towards Inclusive ASEAN
Towards the end of Indonesia’s Chairpersonship in Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) 2023, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung had the pleasure to host a national seminar together with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture KEMENKO PMK in Jakarta, 22 November 2023.
Titled “Beyond ASEAN 2023: Fostering Meaningful Youth Participation” the seminar was kicked off with a keynote message by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy. One of the important keys to realizing ASEAN as a world growth center is to encourage the participation of ASEAN youth as much as possible in various stages of national development. "The quality of youth will greatly determine the quality of economic, social, environmental and cultural development in ASEAN. We have a shared responsibility to develop the potential of ASEAN youth," he said.
Currently, there are about 1.2 billion youth aged 15-24 in the world, equivalent to 16 percent of the global population. In the ASEAN region, there are 224.2 million youth aged 15-35, accounting for one-third of Southeast Asia's population. While in Indonesia alone, 24 percent of the population is youth. This large proportion of youth is a demographic bonus that can be optimized to achieve various development goals. Minister Muhadjir Effency invited ASEAN youth to play an active role in the development of Southeast Asia as a stable, peaceful region, as well as a center of growth in the global arena.
The event continued with a panel discussion attended by four speakers. Irene Bougenville, a member of the ASEAN Youth Summit delegation and I Made Wikandana, a disability activist stated that ASEAN has opened various opportunities for young people to participate. Especially for disability issues, what is needed now is the mainstreaming of equal access and opportunities in line with the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 on Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
ASEAN should live up to its slogan: one vision, one community, one identity. In terms of identity, many things in the context of the ASEAN Social Cultural Community aim to strengthen this sense of community and identity. According to Rizal Sukma, Indonesian Ambassador to the UK and Ireland for 2016-2020, the third pillar after economic and political-security is often not prioritized. As in Europe, according to Karsten Lucke, Member of the European Parliament, in the past in Europe also departed from the economic side. But alongside the integration process in Europe, identity and social-cultural are also increasingly strengthened as one community.
Based on the ASEAN Youth Index Survey, the main concerns of young people in each ASEAN member state vary. Only 50% identify with ASEAN. What is the point of ASEAN? Is it relevant? Young people are closer to issues of employment, poverty alleviation, gender mainstreaming. Nowadays, access to information or platforms where young people can have a voice, can be involved in decision-making. Think globally, act locally. Young people must transcend borders. Go beyond the conventional boundaries of sovereignty, non-intervention. Implement what you promised. ASEAN must be people-centered. Leave no one behind.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Indonesia Office
Jl. Kemang Selatan II No. 2A
Jakarta Selatan 12730
Indonesia
