CSocD Policy Call #1: 22/1/09 Minutes by Kabita. On the call: Matt Chloe Ashley Emily Cora Nicole Jenny James Ginny Kendra Bob Kabita Agenda: I. Where are we? - later in the year than usual - aim: to produce a consensus document of 2-3 pages that serves as a platform for our advocacy, with social integration as the overarching theme - Useful for on-the-ground work during the conference itself, both as preparation and as a foundation for responding to issues raised by member-states and other delegations - keep the document focused, pointed - 12-13 days to go; 4 calls left (25/1, 29/1, 31/1, 1/2) II. Purpose of this call? - To have a path forward with role distributed among with, with a shared vision of an end-product - To do the prep-work for the document Why have a policy process? - for self-education and peer education, so later we can be good advocates and lobbyists - “We’re not going there to bring documents…we’re going to bring ourselves.” Key documents for youth work and our work as representatives - GYAN CSOC Subcommission 47 - SG’s report on implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth _______________________________________________________________ Matt called for anyone who’s interested in supporting/leading the policy path forward; let him know if you’re interested/willing/etc. Social integration is the key theme of the commission. Emily – Asked which of the 15 areas should be a top priority? Suggested that we pick particular policy areas based on where people are the most knowledgeable. Also encouraged us to discuss how it is that social integration is applicable to youth issues. People discussed areas of interest, Emily noted the absence of any discussion on immigration and migration. Particularly striking given how these are the most marginalized populations, and doubly so when we’re addressing youth, both in the US and elsewhere. Matt – Other areas of interest missing from the GYAN document? Once some key sub-areas were brought out, sought to move to a discussion of end product: what do we envision, or want? Emily reflected on last year, said the document is a global-based policy reached through consensus, but what is really important is implementation on a national level. - Should we focus on particular member-states? - Bonnie Polity (head of a youth organization that works with USAID) said that USAID is considering a stand-alone youth agenda/ministry/ department - Compared to the rest of the world, it seems that the US is one of the few that lacks a youth-specific ministry or agency - The last call was about the toolkit, “Making Youth Matter”, a means for youth to evaluate national policies and hold governments accountable. Ashley – felt that going forward with the use of the US as a key case study (for example), would be interesting, and wished to focus attention on the conflict in Israel and Palestine. relationship between religious practices, beliefs, and governments/gov services. Cora thinks this is highly apt, especially given the high proportion of youth in Gaza. Matt: This brings together 3 glaring gaps in the work of SustainUS and the UN: (1) Youth: issues need to get public pressure and/to hold people accountable (2) Set up meetings early, and with delegations from member-states (3) Conduct further direct work with the US: this is something that other people would be excited too, so we should run with it. Chloe: What are policies other countries have? How can we compare, draw and learn from those? Emily: We should research youth agendas and youth programmes organized by other countries. The US doesn’t have a youth department, for example; what is in place? Chloe: Should this be a comprehensive document about our policies, or more focused? Emily: Think it would be a good idea to focus and to have a case study as part of it. Three broad areas of focus: (a) The US, generally: What has the US done in terms of youth-specific work? Attendance in special sessions on youth in the UN? (etc.) (b) Case-studies of other countries and youth programmes, with attention to social integration. (c) Specific sectors people are interested in: a. Girls and young women b. Juvenile justice c. Health d. Immigration and migration Chloe: Focus as much as possible, look at the US and a few other countries as case studies research and policy. Areas of focus : Immigration – Cora, Nicole Health – Chloe Girls and young women - Kabita Conflict – Ashley, Kendra US policy on youth, specifically – Ginny International policy on youth - Bob Each ‘group’ will create an online document (googledoc) for the issue, linked to a common wikipage, and keep it open to others so folks can contribute and make suggestions as they wish. Having policies, recommendations and suggestions articulated in writing will be very helpful to the process. Chloe will reserve a space on Columbia’s campus for 3 Feb at 6 pm. Still to do: - Set up meetings with other delegations, Bonnie Politz etc. January 26, 2009 Minutes by Chloe. Present: Cora Ashleigh Emily Flora Kabita Matt Jenny Kendra Chloe INTRODUCTION Matt: Purpose of today's call is a check-In with progress and refocusing. Another call on Thursday 9pm. Other general updates and logistics. Kabita: During the last call, we did not officially decide who is in charge of contacting other delegates. Brief review of last call and "assignments". Chloe: Are people interested in focusing on Juvenile Justice? Chloe and Kabita will look more into juvenile justice. Kabita: As a part of immigration and mitgration section, we could look at urbanization and how that effects youth. Cities as places that youth gather. UPDATES ON FOCUS TOPICS: 1. Health Chloe: See wiki page titled "health". Health and education as a focus. 2. Immigration Cora: Immigration can tear families apart. How does nafta affects immigration to US. Policy makers should consider why people immigrate/migrate. Approach human beings as human beings once they have immigrated. Emily: Add a case study to the policy document. Underground America is book of oral histories of undocumented people in the US which gives view into the experience of undocumented people. Conditions for asylum seekers in the US --> recent scandel when it was discovered that US was deporting people after heavily drugging them. In general, we should call out specific examples to avoid UN vagueness. Statelessness of youth around the world. 3. Armed Conflict & Youth Ashleigh: Best practice in conflict resolution. Kendra will look at gov't practices, Ashleigh will look at NGO stuff Israel/palestine as a case study, isreal not a participating counrty, but US and egypt are definitely involved in this issue making this still relevant 4. Girls and Young Women Kabita: reproductive rights and access to health and facilities. role of NGOs in conjunction with gov't in doing work. Best practices in global health. barriers to health education and contraception. maybe kabita and chloe can work together on health education proposal. Matt speaks: commission on the status of women is another commission that sustainus is attending. Jenny and Kendra are also going to this commission. 5. US policy towards Youth Emily: US state dept has a youth program division, consists mainly of exchange programs with high school students from other nations. US mission to the UN has no real approach to youth, where to go from here. how to follow up on what US mission has done with relation to youth issues. Bonnie Pollack is the women from USAID that initially suggested this. Kabita: NY state policy toward youth. LOGISTICS Kendra: Reminder to put local/campus contacts into media spreadsheet so that Kendra can send out a press release to local news sources. Matt: How is organization of this policy-writing process working in terms of technology? We all decide to use sustainabliki v2.0. Matt: How do we want the final product of this document to work? Look at last year's document and see what form we want this years to take and what purpose we want it to take. CSocD Policy Call #3 1.29.09 Policy Call #3 Notes by Emily On the Call: ashley cora chloe nicole kendra emily matt bob james Jennie: Does anyone have questions about logistics, expectations, etc? Chloe: are we meeting at 7 pm for sure? Emily: let’s decide at the end of the call Int’l Policy- Bob Bob: Not sure about what I’m supposed to research Emily: I think we said a few international case studies on youth policy “best practices,” i.e. a country that has a youth department/ministry, etc. P.S. TOOLKIT is a good reference for this Health- Chloe & Kabita Chloe: I’m thinking of focusing on health & education Immigration/Migration- Cora, Nicole (maybe Flora & Emily) Cora: working with Nicole pulled one bullet point- to forbid exploitation on migrant workers Added two more- call to awareness on int’l migration, and be more mindful about how migrants are treated within the country. We also have a little bit of an introduction. Youth & Conflict- Ashleigh & Kendra Ashleigh: met with Kendra. We’re talking about inclusive networks and peacebuilding. We’re also thinking about looking at U.S. and Egypt and tacit or not so tacit support about war crimes in Gaza Kendra: What are responsibilities for countries who are responsible for conflicts in terms of supporting youth programs. Girls & Young Women- Kabita (not on the call) Juvenile Justice- Kabita, Chloe U.S. Policy- Jinnie, Emily Matt: how should we go forward? Chloe: we should make a concrete deadline before the next call, for people to have drafted policy points. YES- ***deadline for policy points, 12 noon Saturday TEACH-IN It was decided that 8pm for the teach-in makes the most sense. Meeting in Kabita’s (potluck house) basement, which is multimedia ready. Emily, Jennie, and maybe James will organize and assign people to the agenda. BLOGGING: Kendra- each person can sign up for one day, that would be great. We could put stuff up on the other blogs too, including It’s getting hot in here. Sign up for a day to blog on the TAB with media. How to increase interaction with member states? Emily- I was thinking one way of increasing interaction with member states would be to interview delegates for our blog/website. Cora- do I need permission to do video, audio, or photography at the conference? Wants to create a multimedia presentation about our involvement. Matt- sounds like a great idea. Not sure about UN headquarter rules, but let’s do it until we’re told not to. James- should I bring the flip? James & Cora- multimedia point people Kendra: keep sending press contacts, I’m sending out some press releases tomorrow morning. TO DO LIST: Everyone: DEADLINE: 12 noon on Saturday for policy points. See above for who signed up for what. If you have not signed up, please try to pick up the slack for sections that have less action, or maybe begin crafting some general stuff on social integration! Emily, Jennie, maybe James: Put together an agenda and assign people roles in advance for the teach-in/orientation on Tuesday James & Cora: point people for the multi-media extravaganza |
Policy Call Minutes |