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Youth Melting Pot: The 8th Annual UNESCO International Leadership Forum
an article by Avril Rua, Tigranui Akopyan, Tomas Pomar, Harpriya Kaur
The 8th Annual International Leadership training
program kicked off on August 3, 2012 at University
of Connecticut (UConn) in the United States. The
forum, organized by the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Chair and Institute of Comparative Human Rights at
UConn, attracted 64 youth activist from more than
50 countries for a week long human rights
leadership training. It is premised on a three-
fold understanding of the vital role they play in
the society promoting human rights. First is that
every new generation of human rights leaders
builds on the work of those who came before it.
Secondly, today's increasingly interdependent
global world, where actions or events in any part
of the global system have impact on people in
other regions of the world, there is a need to
build a network of solidarity and to nurture a new
cadre of human rights leaders who can educate
others and provide enlightened leadership to meet
the complex and multifaceted challenges of the new
millennium. And the third is that young people are
a force to be reckoned with and that the future
belongs to them. In order, to ensure that they are
effective leaders for a better future, today’s
leaders have a duty to impart their knowledge to
the younger generation of leaders and to alert it
of the pitfalls of the past. 
Great minds at work
click on photo to enlarge
The idea of getting together young human rights
activist is to involve them in multicultural
debates aimed at facilitating a platform for
mutual enrichment. 65 years after the signing of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
current human rights leaders are not only be
sharing their knowledge and experiences but also
training the next generation on human rights.
After a day spent team building and getting to
know each activist, the forum switched to human
rights training facilitated by distinguished
speakers, including the UNESCO Chair holder Dr.
Amii Omara-Otunnu who spoke about the foundation
of human rights leadership and ethics.
Participants also had an opportunity to hear
valuable words from Dr. Shyamala Raman on
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Culture
of Peace from the renowned Dr. David Adams, and
had an incredible opportunity to meet Dr. Charlie
Prewitt, a professor and peace activist.
It is noteworthy that participants are given a
chance to share their experiences and expectations
on human rights in smaller facilitated group
meetings and regional group discussions. They have
also had a chance to enjoy the serenity and beauty
of the UConn campus which provides an excellent
backdrop for what is a one of a kind program for
youth activists to come up with action plans and
form networks for future co-operation. As the
program also recognizes the importance of media
and human rights, there will be a panel on social
media and human rights reporting.
In recognition of the International Youth Day
celebrated on 12th August, the vibrant activists
will visit the United Nations in New York. By the
end of the program, the participants will be
expected to come up with action plans and it is
hoped that the training will enhance their work in
protecting and promoting human rights.
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
Is there a new international generation of human rights activism?,
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Latest reader comment:
CPNN has been enriched over the years by the young human rights activists who take part in the Annual UNESCO International Leadership Forum. This is truly the hope for our future!
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