Japan-Consortium: Human Security Approach: the Case of Youth Policy Networks in Southeast Asia

Youth Policy Network in Southeast Asia

Peace and Human Security in Asia Japan Universities Consortium

24 November 2014

1 Chirada Na Suwan:

[email protected]

Today Agenda 1. Human Security Approach in Youth

Population of Southeast Asia 2. Country-Specific Challenges to the

Livelihoods of Young people: In-depth Analysis on Threats to Freedom of Expression and to Live in Dignity

3. Education Initiatives for Youth Policy Networks: Debate and Critical Thinking Programs

4. Civic Education Programs to National Youth Policy: the Myanmar Dynamic

1. Human Security Approach: the UN Field

• Human Development vs. Human Security Enlarging people’s choices and freedoms vs. Assuring priority freedoms to

exercise choices safely and freely

• Approach that broaden the scope of security analysis and policy

Territorial security Æ the security of people an exploratory and relatively new approach Æ deliver impacts in the longer

term from rethinking and promoting new cross-sector linkages

• Four different styles of report on the analysis Comprehensive Mapping Report, State-Building Report, Citizen Security

Report, Special Focus Report

• People-centered, Comprehensive, Context-specific and Prevention-oriented responses

Understanding the threats in order to Implement preventive measures

Human Security: A Concept

• The concept covers widespread and crosscutting challenges To Survival, To Livelihoods (economic, food, environment or health security) and

To live in Dignity

• Economic, Personal, and Political dimensions of threats facing youth population today The stark realities of poverty, hardship, exploitation and abuse, violation of

freedom of speech and expression, threats to live in dignity

• Methodological challenge: Youth is in a transitional phase of lives as societies go through a dramatic, even violent, affairs Challenges to the rights of young people, public policies that affect their lives,

issues with access and quality of education and participation

The political spectrum is one of the broadest in the world

Average Democracy Value for Southeast Asia (1975-2004)

All South-East Asia’s emerging democracies are characterized (to varying degrees) Legitimacy crises, Weak rule of law and Unstable Structures of socio-political Representation and Integration => Anocracy: power spread amongst elite groups who are constantly competing with each other for power

Quality of Human Capital… …Quality of Growth and Development • Investment in Human Capital; the set of skills and knowledge that

can be drawn upon to produce outputs of value, Æ generating Economic growth, Political participation and Civic engagement.

• Investment in Education Æ greatest returns generate Impact on Cognitive and affective elements of Participation; a necessary requirement for Democratic Legitimacy and Good Governance.

• The importance of Higher Education Æ It delivers skills and

research for productivity and innovation for long-run economic growth.

But…Instabilities raise a number of problems Æ Impede Youth’s access to Education or conducive learning environment, including poor infrastructure, safety concerns, and discrimination

Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15 -24)

Quantity of Education: Most SEA countries’ primary NERs were at least 90% by 2008, indicating that these countries = close to achieving universal primary school enrollment…Success?

School Enrollment, secondary (% gross)

Rate (World Bank, 2012) MM=50%, TH=87%, LA=47%, KH=n/a, VN=n/a, MY=67%, PH=85%, IN=83%, JP=102%, CN=89%, US=94%

School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)

Rate (World Bank, 2012) MM=14%, TH=51%, LA=17%, KH=16%, VN=25%, MY=36%, PH=28%, IN=32%, JP=61%, CN=27%, US=94%

Public spending on education, total (% of government expenditure)

Supply-side issues in financing of universal basic education, Human capital investments had fallen short of what is required to sustain a high growth rate

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)

Jobs alone won’t solve the cycle of poverty and despair as many would Lack qualifications needed, the Stability to make work sustainable, and the Trust and Confidence in authority

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)

Many challenges and threats related to lack of access to education Æ bring about other problems such as Human trafficking, Forced Marriage, Unwanted pregnancy etc.

World Bank data: 2009-13

Youth Literacy rate

Public spending on education

Unemployment, youth male

Unemployment, youth female

Myanmar 96% 4% 10% 13%

Thailand 97% 32% 3% 3%

Lao P.D.R - 13% 4% 3%

Vietnam 97% 21% 4% 5%

Cambodia 87% 13% 4% 4%

Malaysia 98% 21% 10% 11%

Singapore 100% 13% 9% 11%

Philippines - 13% 14% 17%

Indonesia 99% 18% 20% 24%

Japan - 9% 9% 7%

China 100% - 11% 8%

USA - 13% 18% 15%

Romania 99% 8% 23% 23%

2. Country-Specific Challenges to the Livelihoods of Young people

• Context analysis to find prevention-oriented response to tackle the threats

• The needs for safety, belonging, and esteem must first be met before any development program or capacity-building activities.

Kingdom of Thailand • Political crises and uncertainties rooted in decades of

unresolved conflict, power struggles amongst the elite, marginalization of minorities, uneven economic development, and national anxiety about the future of the monarchy Æ Threats to Survival and to Livelihoods…

• In the southern most provinces of Thailand, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, decades of conflict between separatists and state forces Æ Attacks primarily aimed at teachers and government schools in a campaign of terror has heightened fear amongst the population. Æ Threats to Survival and to Livelihoods…

• Post-coups (the 2006 and the 2014 one) change to the Thai legal system limited civil and political rights, particularly freedom of expression. State control and censorship of the media have become severe.

• Ban of Public spaces for deliberative education, panel

discussion, and public debate outside of the academic context Æ Threats to Freedom of Expression

• Quality of education deteriorating, Lack of training i.e. incomplete/unsupported transition from education to the labor market, causing skill mismatch Æ (Structure) Unemployment and Threats to Livelihoods…

Kingdom of Thailand

Situation and Concept of Children and Youth Development

• Demographic structure Child and youth population in Thailand is likely to drop

continuously; tendency of women in reproductive age getting married later than before and effective birth control method. Æ lower labor forces

• Family Structure Registration of marriage is decreasing, while divorce rate is

increasing Æ children being drawn to social vices, such as computer game addiction, substance abuse and premature sexual relations

changing the traditional structure of Thai family, from extended family to smaller, more individualistic family units

• Technological Advance High speed Internet and 3G mobile Network allow

connectivity = borderless communication across the globe:

+ Opportunities for knowledge and information sharing, channels for expression and creativity,

- Negative psychological impact in terms of technology addition and digital divide issues

• Socio cultural Changes Virtual connection Æ lower personal communication,

overconsumption, widening generation gap and discrepancy in accessing technology

Movement of labor Æ Ready for Multiculturalism communities

=> Focus on specialized knowledge and skills, ability to apply new technology, foreign language proficiency, and multicultural awareness…

Situation and Trends • Security: societal changes, parenting

approaches, imbalanced economy and insufficient discretion to be selective of positive values.

the use of violence among Thai children and youth increased ; the conflict between institutes, domestic violence and violence seen from the media, particularly television and the internet.

Riskier spaces outnumbering Creative spaces…

Situation and Trends • Employment: Enter the labor market too early Æ issues with human trafficking, being deceived, subjected to exploitation, safety

• Psychological and Physical Well-being Obesity, Low sexual reproductive health, Teenage pregnancy…

Republic of the Union of Myanmar • Low psychological and emotional safety as

country suffers from decades long political repression, conflicts and violence which continue to a present day

• Sectarian violence and ethnic conflicts that send adverse impact to program activities in different part of the country, especially the Upper region.

• The inadequacy of public goods, limited access to education due to the lack of social & physical infrastructures, poor information and communication technology

3. Education Initiatives for Youth Policy Networks

• Programs have been developed to provide impactful, engaging and insightful educational tools to expose youth to human security issues and public policy problems in their regions.

• Via the use of Deliberative Education: Classroom discussion,

Debate competition, Panel discussion, Public debate, Community legal education program, Media literacy training, Exposure trip and Exchange program, Civic education and Activism through a grant-giving program.

• The ultimate aim for these programs is to expose young people of public policy problems and enhance the understanding of threats to their livelihoods in various dimensions Æ paved the ways toward the involvement of youth in policy development, hence a participatory mode of Youth Policy-making by young people and for young people.


• The Operative Domains of target youth groups Æ strong needs in Civic education, Political participation, Media literacy, and Leadership development.

• The Needs Assessment in 2011 resulted in series of

Programs that have helped address ‘the lack of deliberative education, research training and youth participation’ in the region.

• Target youth and educators while mainstreaming adults,

governmental institutions, private sectors in their own regions to recognize these important themes of public policy that would enhance people’s understanding of specific threats to their lives.


The Operative Domains of target youth groups • Youth and educators age 14-35 years old (informal

youth groups) • Networks of secondary and post-secondary

institutions • Networks of law schools and local universities • Monastery educational institutions • Education-oriented organizations • Networks of informal youth groups • Local non-governmental organizations • Migrants and refugees

International Debate Education Association Southeast Asia

Program Partners & Local Network

IDEA in Southeast Asia: The Connecting Point… • Thematic portfolios with civic education and

debate focus • IDEA-SEA Develops, Organizes and Promotes

Educational Debate and Debate-related Activities in SEA Active in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam,

Laos, Cambodia, and Nepal

• Promote Effective Communication, Analytical and Critical thinking skills among youth using Debate as a method of Deliberative Education

Activities include… - Establish & Strengthen educational debate

and youth policy network in the region - Support and sustain debate activities of these

communities � Develop local pool of trainers and local

debate curriculum & policy research materials � Support the organization of educational

debate activities

What are the approaches? Through various Educational Initiatives - Trainings & Workshops - Publications - Online Sources

www.idebate.org

www.idebate.org

What are IDEA-SEA strategies? Specific to the local context: Myanmar, Laos,

Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia Some main objectives are: - Introducing the concept of Debate in the society - Developing critical thinking and analytical skills

in youth through educational debate activities - Establishing local networks of

debaters/judges/trainers - Sustaining the programs & Making deliberative

education and debate activities more inclusive

Overarching Goal Localization of Civic Education Program… ÆDevelop Analytical & Critical thinking skills ÆPromote the Interest in public and policy debate-related

activities by building networks and sustain demand for the activities at the local level

ÆBuild local capacity by developing local pool of trainers/coaches/judges and local debate curriculum and materials

ÆStrengthen the support system at regional and global levels by providing resources/access to public events and fostering communication and program coordination

Sustainable Programs = The programs which build momentum

and dynamics of their own

Youth Debate & Community Legal Education Network: Vietnam

Newly-Established Debate Communities: Laos

Mass Communication, Debate and Journalism Communities: Cambodia

Mapping of 'Cambodian Debate Community'

B-Program: Network of

secondary and post-secondary institutions (high

school and university debate clubs)

A-Program: Network of established youth

organizations on various thematic areas (NGOs,

CBOs, CSOs)

C-Program: Networks of Media Camp Alumni and

Informal youth groups

IDEA Southeast Asia

Youth Activism in Cambodia

Newly-Established Debate & Model-UN Communities: Northern Thailand

Established Debate and Youth Activism Communities: Malaysia

Youth Debate & Public Policy Communities: Myanmar

Conduct: Trainings for youth groups • Carrying out series of 2-language, 4-8 days of civic

skills and debate training to volunteer teachers and leader of organizations

Organize: Qualifier Tournaments Co-organized debate tournament with local partner in

Malaysia

Build Capacity: for communities and local organizations

Policy debate & critical thinking skills development in Training of Trainers

Skill development to a selective group of participants who employ law-policy discussion and debate-related activities (e.g. Moot court/ Mock trial) during their community training session

Develop: Local trainers, Educational programs at formal institutions, Regional-National debate communities

Monthly trainings and workshops, Adjudication Trainings, Training of Trainers, Policy Debate

Establish: Youth Policy Networks in challenging communities Developing local pool of trainers by reaching out to local network and conducting Intro Debate & Training of Trainers

Organize: international debate events and exposure trips

Reach out to international pool of trainers, Encourage participation of local debaters at the international and

regional events

Asia Youth Forum • Annual debating and civic education camp is the

largest regional event (with more than 200 participants from over 20 countries in Asia).

• the 1st Asia Youth Forum (AYF) in May 2012 with the United Thailand team as a local host, and IDEA recruited a trainer pool from all across Asia.

• The Forum provides comprehensive learning opportunities & international venue for youth empowerment.

• The 2nd Asia Youth Forum was organized in April 2013 in Kyrgyzstan with more than 150 participants from over 10 countries in Asia.

Asia Youth Forum • Debate education & competition on an

important forum theme tailored to the local context (Year 2012 was ‘Crossing Borders: Migration in Asia’ and year 2013 was ‘Digital Freedom’)

• Asian version of the Youth Forum represents a unique structured platform combining the core activities with inter-cultural learning & intellectual rigor – from panel discussions and keynote addresses by distinguish scholars and practitioners from international organizations (UNESCO and ILO) & academic communities.

Example of Policy Debate Motions : States should provide for education in the language of

all sizeable migrant communities : Sex education should be included in high school

curriculum : Foreign workers should be given the right to vote in local

elections in the country where they are working for a significant period

: This House believes economic development is more important than environmental protection

: States should not use labor export as a major economic strategy

: International community should lift economic sanctions in Myanmar

: Anti-corruption efforts do more harm than good

Youth and Policy-making process Problems and Challenges

o Structures of control and wrong attitudes toward young people Æ Systematic exclusion of young people from meaningful participation in public policies debates

Proposal o Increase global awareness of intergenerational

justice: that ‘Today’s youth have proven themselves willing and capable of being a powerful force for positive economic, social and political change’

o Provide Access to debate education and activities as an instrument for intervention: Skills development Æ National Youth Policy Adoption

Youth Political Spaces in SEA • Political Spaces as rooms available for the public

articulation of contending view about social and economic issues Æ Public Communication, Meaningful participation by young people in the governance of their society.

• ASEAN Youth Forum as a safe platform for young people to share their concerns and voices within the region.

• Diverse youth groups to Voice out their issues, Advocate for their needs and rights, Influence policy makers, Build up network, Strategize mechanisms, Demand and suggest to ASEAN government to realize its promise and to fulfill Youth’s needs and rights

Why Youth Policy? www.youthpolicy.org

• Lack of proper definition of youth • State has not prioritized youth issues as even

in the past decades • To Create opportunities for engagement:

youth involvement into the illegal activities has been increased

• Capitalization of youth energy in nation building process

• To address the unemployment and unsafe migration work issues.

4. Civic Education Programs to National Youth Policy: The Myanmar Dynamic

• Myanmar/Burma, the Largest country on the Southeast Asia mainland with a population of somewhere between 50 and 65 million, is home to Numerous ethnic groups.

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

• UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund and other

countries, giving technical support to Myanmar for its latest census during Mar-Apr 2014.

• Preliminary results of the 2014 Census Æ 51,419,420 people in Myanmar with 26,598,244 females & 24,821,176 males, and a male/female sex ratio of 93.3 percent.

Youth Population...? http://youtu.be/C4KeoF3qYw4

Myanmar Debate Education Society • Open Society Foundation with its implementing partner IDEA has

been active within Myanmar since 2006. • Through assets based in Thailand and mobile throughout South

East Asia, IDEA has helped to develop curriculum and co-ordinate a wide range of debating activities targeted at Myanmar’s youth and the schools and clubs that they attend.

• IDEA provided extensive support and assistance to a group of students and activists who held clandestine debates and training events with network of partner organizations and institutions…

the British Council, The American Center, Thebyay Education Networks, Myanmar Institutes of Theology, Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Education High School, Bridging Across Southeast Asia Community Legal Education (BABSEA-CLE), EduLife, Sandhi Management School and Local Consultancy, Pandita Development Institute, Yangon Journalism School, Democratic Voice of Burma.

• Over the year 2011-2013, OSYI/IDEA’s Myanmar network has crystallized into the Myanmar Debate Education Society (MDES). The core members of MDES were Myanma debaters and policy enthusiasts who received a series of training organized by IDEA & partners.

• Outreach to local

communities throughout the country is possible with rich connections & networks of local NGOs, Universities and Grantees of many development agencies working in the countries

Myanmar Youth & Public Institutions • The Department of Social Welfare within the

Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is responsible for youth issues, though the Situation Analysis of Children (2012) was co-published by UNICEF and the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.

• Implements both preventive and protective

measures: – Voluntary Night Schools for Primary Education as

preventive measures. – Youth Development Centers as protective measures

Myanmar Youth and Representation • In the context of the struggle between the

army-backed government and the opposition movement, there are several organizations claiming to represent all young people of Myanmar.

• Among them are:

the Myanmar Youth Forum,

the National Youth Congress,

the National Youth Network.

Yangon Youth Forum Sagaing Youth Forum Magway Youth Forum Mon State Youth Forum Bago Youth Forum Ayarwady Youth Forum Kayah Youth Forum Chin Youth Forum Rakhin Youth Forum Sagaing Region

Take Home: Designing the Programs

• The Basic Questions – Whose security? – Security of what? What values are in need of

protection? – Security from what? What threats are most

relevant at a particular time and place? – Who can play a role? – What means for promoting human security can be

used?

Take Home: Designing the Programs • Key steps in the Human Security analysis and

Program Development – Build strong partnerships throughout the process – Broad consultations around strategic choices – Involve strategic partners – Match the budget and the methodology selected – Train local people in human security analysis and

program development – A long-term perspective is important – Nurture the technical networks that are created

around the process

LET’S IMPROVE YOUTH LIVELIHOODS… Thank You

Japan-Consortium: Human Security Approach: the Case of Youth Policy Networks in Southeast Asia

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