Youth - Our share in the WSIS

The Youth Caucus at the Pan-European Ministerial Conference to the WSIS in Bucharest was inspired by the visions of my young fellow delegates from all across Europe, the United States and Canada. As a primary result of the conference, we raised an urgent call for integration of the potential of youth. We want to take part in the decision-making process at the WSIS and other levels; we want to contribute to the implementation and realization of actions following the WSIS.

Why there is a need for participation of young people in the WSIS was becoming very clear during the Bucharest Meeting:

First of all, it is us, the young people, that will deal with the outcome of the actions and non-actions taken by decision-makers of today. We want to see a long-term perspective included in the WSIS-process, and the clear commitment by all stake-holders, that ICTs will not be seen as an end to themselves, but as a tool to reach higher goals like sustainable development, human rights, and higher global equity.

Secondly, our generation is the one most at ease with the information and communication technologies. Our experiences in the field are a valuable background for participation in the WSIS. And, already, young people are shaping the information society, which they presented to the conference in Bucharest at the Youth-Panel, which was under the motto: „Youth as Creators in the Information Society“. For example, numberless projects are carried out by youth to bridge the digital divide that is further deepening the gap between the „haves“ and „have nots“ in the world. The empowerment of young people via ICTs is a major component in many of youth organized projects.

Young people at the conference showed, that they have a deep interest in the WSIS, their future at stake, and a lot to contribute. We think our participation and contribution to the WSIS is one of the key success factors for the process. 

Maike Sippel
YOIS - Youth for Intergenerational Justice and Sustainability: http://www.yois.org