Declaration of ASEAN+9 Youth Assembly for ASEAN Community 2015: Ancol, Jakarta, Indonesia, 26-29 August 2013

1. Declaration of ASEAN+9 Youth Assembly for ASEAN Community 2015
Jakarta, Indonesia, 26-29 August 2013
Introduction
1.
We, more than 75 young people from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam,
Pakistan, United States, and China, have gathered together in Jakarta,
Indonesia on August 26-29, 2013 for the ASEAN+9 Youth Assembly for
ASEAN Community 2015 that was organized by the Central Board of
Indonesian Moslem Student Movement (PB PMII) to discuss the three ASEAN
pillars on Political-Security, Economic and Social-Cultural Communities, its
challenges and possible solutions, and the role of young people in the ASEAN
Community.
2. We are convinced that ASEAN development, which has no benefit to the
interestsof young people in all levels and of different status, is not the
development that we want in building an integrated Community by 2015.
3.
We call for the ASEAN and its Member States to recognize the
importance of the role and participation of young people in the building of the
ASEAN Community. We realize that the policy made today will deeply
influence our daily lives now, tomorrow and in the future. We also believe that
our contribution to the ASEAN Community building will shape the future of
ASEAN. Therefore we should be included in the decision-making process as
early as possible, in order to take over the torch of leadership in development
and progress.
4. We are dismayed that ASEAN is still operating in a state-centric way. We
urge ASEAN to widely disseminate information regarding the latest
developments of ASEAN cooperation that will promote the intensive
involvement of "people-to-people" cooperation in the ASEAN framework,
resulting in moreinclusive programs in ASEAN and the ASEAN agenda for
2015, involving not only the governments and elite but also other concerned
stakeholders.
5.
We witness inhuman treatment around us that cross all the ASEAN
pillars. We believe that ASEAN governments must adopt a more holistic, just,
and equal human rights approach to development. ASEAN must ensure that
its development projects will not further exacerbate environment issues in the
region. In fact, ASEAN has to take immediate measures to find corresponding
solutions to the issues raised.
6.
We appreciate the efforts of the organizer of the ASEAN+9 Youth
Assembly for ASEAN Community 2015 and hope that the platform will be
conducted regularly and take different venues in ASEAN member countries.
We have agreed to name this platform as ASEAN Youth Assembly and it is
non-governmental in character, and will be represented by young people from
countries participating in ASEAN Youth Assembly. We have agreed to have

2. rotation in leadership in which Indonesia will take the first chairmanship.
7.
We are committed to supporting the building of the ASEAN community
by 31st December 2015 and to contribute to the formulation of the ASEAN
Community post-2015. The following are our concerns, recommendations and
commitments regarding the three ASEAN pillars, namely, the PoliticalSecurity, Economic and Social-Cultural Community.
Political-Security Community
8.
While appreciating the diversity of ASEAN, we also are concerned that
these differences will provoke inter and intra-countries conflicts in ASEAN
member countries. We believe that the diversity in ethnicity, religion,
language, and geographical resources would be the strength of ASEAN that
will unite all of its members. Therefore we urge ASEAN governments to
expedite the operationalization of the ASEAN Institute of Peace and
Reconciliation (AIPR) and improve mutual understanding through
stakeholders’ dialogues beyond diplomatic affairs in border disputes. We also
believe that a Dispute Trial Court or another conflict resolution mechanism is
necessary to help solve border disputes in ASEAN.
9.
We recommend that ASEAN create a scholarship scheme for young
people to have a variety of youth exchange programs within ASEAN countries
to study peace, reconciliation and conflict management, as well as
establishing a Youth Network of Peace Building in ASEAN.
10. We commend the establishment of the regional human rights
mechanisms in ASEAN, namely: the ASEAN Committee for the
Implementation of ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the
Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) in 2008, the ASEAN Inter-governmental
Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in 2009, and the ASEAN Commission
on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children
(ACWC) in 2010. Nevertheless, we question the functionality of these bodies
in protecting the rights of all people in ASEAN, as we continue to see the
breaching of human rights left unaddressed, the incidence of violence
andcorresponding consequences, cross-border issues such as refugees,
migrant workers, trafficking, and the violation of minority rights.
11. We are convinced that if ASEAN continues to benegligent in responding
to human rights violations, ASEAN Community’s goals will not be achieved as
it challenges the stability of the economy and security of the region and
hinders the democratization process in ASEAN member countries. We urge
AICHR, ACWC, ACMW, and ASEAN organs in general, to raise awareness
about the universality of human rights to the people in ASEAN. Furthermore,
we urge its mechanisms to take necessary efforts to protect minorities and
promote multiculturalism and diversity, including the participation of young
people in its implementation. We call for ASEAN to establish ASEAN Human
Rights Court.
12. We encourage ASEAN and its member states to be independent and

3. sovereign as a regional association, economically and politically. We call for
ASEAN to restrain from any military intervention to deal with regional security
issues.
13. We observe the increasingly high levels of corruption in the ASEAN
member states results in different responses in regulations, encouraging each
country to counteract these practices. We suggest that ASEAN provides
ethical education starting from the primary level, in both formal and informal
settings, appointing moral ambassadors, and assessing the level of
punishment that corresponds to the different degrees of crime.
14. We recognize that the ASEAN community faces a number of transnational
crimes including terrorism, illegal fishing, money laundering, human
trafficking, and drugs, amongst others. We call for ASEAN governments to
take necessary measures to reduce and prevent transnational organized
crime in the region such as enhancing transnational judicial cooperation. We
also call for ASEAN to establish a youth advocacy network to raise awareness
on said issues through the use of various creative communication means
such as social networking sites, posters, and handbooks. In addition, other
strategies such as intercultural and interfaith dialogue to promote mutual
understanding between concerned parties.
Economic Community
15. We acknowledged that countries in the ASEAN region have different
economic interest due to the diverse available natural resources and varying
skillsets. This situation results to mutual dependency amongst the neighboring
countries. We are convinced that in order to achieve economic collaboration,
it is of utmost importance that relevant stakeholders are consulted and
included in the process of economic integration.
16. We gathered that the economic gap is attributable to social disparities
such as illiteracy, unemployment, brain drain, and corruption. To narrow
economic gap and improve the standard of living, we consider long-term
opportunities such as education or vocational training to provide skills and
tools for players to actively engage in economic processes and societal
transactions. Additionally, the government must highlight the importance of
supporting small-to-medium enterprises and entrepreneurs.
17. We have observed that the lack of economic integration is anchored on
the concepts of varying national interests and regional disparity specifically in
terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and income. We encourage the
creation of an inclusive Southeast Asia Development Bank (SDB) in ASEAN,
in order to help provide loans to under-developed states.
18. We are concerned that the majority of farmers and underprivileged
villagers in Southeast Asia lack ownership and management of agricultural
land. While it is possible to possess land plots, the government has yet to
acknowledge and limit proprietorship. Antiquated laws dating back to

4. colonization impeded the government from allocating financial, documental,
and legal support to farmers. Lastly, we call for the extensive implementation
of land reforms and inclusion of farmers given that monopolization and
exploitation is still prevalent in the agricultural sector.
19. In this line, we strongly recommended ASEAN to initiate a regional rule on
land reform and protection of the rights of farmers. The establishment of a
national autonomous body or people’s representation land action group is
necessary to promote accountability among the government of each state.
Socio-Cultural Community
20. Social and economic disparities, inequality, narrow views of nationalism,
and cultural imposition hinder the formation of a united ASEAN identity. As a
response to this, we call for cultural appreciation through the means of cultural
exchange specific sectors in education, healthcare, agriculture, and the arts,
among ASEAN members.
21. The violation of human rights and victimization of marginalized groups
such as women and children is a concern in the ASEAN region. Poverty,
criminal activity, lack of economic opportunities, and blatant social
discrimination leads to human trafficking. To alleviate this challenge, we call
for decent economic opportunities such as job creation and appropriate
salaries and wages, safe migration education, awareness, victim support
groups, enforcement of laws concerning human trafficking, and human
resources capability-building.
22. We acknowledge the financial issue that affects ASEAN model
partnership building, which derives from the lack of government’s support and
the participation of civil society including the youth. Communication is vital
between the government and the organizers in order to understand the latter’s
interest. On the other hand, inadequate planning and ineffective
implementation due to the shared commitment issues in the organization can
be solved by imposing systematic structure.
The Youth’s Role in ASEAN
23. We urge ASEAN and its member states to take necessary efforts to
provide fellowship, education, trainings and space for the youth that promote
participatory engagement with ASEAN and opportunities to take some
responsibilities in ASEAN Community building. We believe that young people
are capable individuals who offer perspectives, expertise and a long-term
trajectory of clear objectives and goals for the ASEAN community.
24. We demand that ASEAN and its member states to facilitate the venue for
young people in the region and beyond to connect, interact, and collaborate

5. with each other and with other key actors in dealing with all the pillars of
ASEAN Community.
25. We appeal to ASEAN and its member states to facilitate young people to
define and shape our ASEAN identity in the context of our perspectives, and
experiences.

6. with each other and with other key actors in dealing with all the pillars of
ASEAN Community.
25. We appeal to ASEAN and its member states to facilitate young people to
define and shape our ASEAN identity in the context of our perspectives, and
experiences.