The enormous energy and undiluted commitment and devotion for change and development, I witnessed when the 600 young people from 33 countries in Asia and the Pacific came together to discuss, share ideas and collectively develop a Regional Youth Call to Action at the APFSD Youth Forum and Regional ECOSOC Youth Forum, held virtually over Zoom From 19-21 March 2022.
The theme for this year’s Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2022 is: Building back better from COVID-19 while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Asia and the Pacific. The Regional Youth Call to Action reflects the concerns of young people in all their diversities from the region. It embodies their demand for sustainable, inclusive and human rights-focused solutions to build back better from Covid-19 as we move ahead with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with young people at the forefront.
As an outcome of the event, recharge me and give me hope that the world will see the change and come back in better conditions from post COVID-19 downfall. Although I was not presented in the event but I definitely passing on major highlights and key knowledge of the event, which was definitely hard to ignore or avoid but to pass it on and transformed into action and some more passionate words.
It is matter of fact that sustainable development is a very important organizing force for political, social and economic response in all aspect. The world needs a brave and transformative series of action to cope the challenges of Post pandemic world. We need a drastic, sincere and brave strategy ever, COVID-19 crisis reveals that complex issues cannot be tackled by applying single point solutions. Now more than ever, there is a need to create a mechanism to replace separate response processes with an integrated stream. After understanding the complexity of these challenges, the priority is to build a portfolio of options based on multiple collaborations for a systemic impact. The type of political leadership and individuals in power have great influences on the rate and direction of social change. In many societies the political leadership controls the economy also.
The political instability impedes sustainable development and corruption. The sustainable development reduces political instability and corruption. It explains that corruption enhances political stability and political stability increases corruption. Young generation should pay special consideration to understand political system and interdependency into development, maintain political engagement aiming to utilizing and enforcing political power for stability to bring change and development.
There is no doubt that State is the most powerful institution which regulates the social relationships, It has the power to legislate new laws, repeal old ones to bring social change in the society. Government does play an important and even critical role if we are to have a sustainable future. Scientific-technological and non-techno¬logical change are also dependent on political development which indirectly affects social change.
There is a direct relationship between the type of political Organisation and social change because of the nature of political organizations, they are fully capable of mobilizing the communities and reach out the grass root level to use the political influence and motivate people for actions.
The young generation and youth activist must pay heed to engage political forces into development process with special consideration of SDGs implementation and enforcement, because political sector is the key player and main stake holder to execute the planning and development projects and initiatives. Young development and political activist can play a significant role with full capability to re-align and transformed vision into action!
About:
Qazi Arshad Hussain Siddique
He is a development professional and a political activist, an entrepreneur, trainer for youth on political education program and SDGs, He can be access through qazi.arshad.siddiqui@gmail.com
