LocationsPolicies from Rwanda, Estonia, Scotland, Nepal, South Africa, Europe, Los Angeles and Senegal are this year’s winners of the ‘Oscar for best policies’
Geneva/Hamburg/New York, 11 Oct – Eight inspiring and impactful laws and policies aimed at empowering young people to build a fair and sustainable future are being awarded the Future Policy Award 2019. Selected from among 67 nominated policies from 36 countries, this year’s winners of the 'Oscar for best policies' come from Rwanda, Estonia, Scotland (United Kingdom), Nepal, South Africa, Europe, Los Angeles (USA) and Senegal. They are being awarded on 16th October during the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, Serbia.
Parliamentarians from across the globe are expected to gather at the 2019 Future Policy Award Ceremony on 16th October, organized by the World Future Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to recognize and celebrate these extraordinary policies for their significant work to advance youth access to decent jobs, including green jobs, and enhance civic and political participation for sustainable development and peace.
Alexandra Wandel, Executive Director of the World Future Council, says: “By empowering youth, it is possible to tackle the multiple global challenges– the climate crisis, unemployment and conflicts - that threaten our future. This year’s Future Policy Award honours exceptional policies adopted by political leaders who have decided to act, no longer accepting widespread youth unemployment or the absence of youth in political participation. The 2019 Future Policy Award winners prove that it is feasible – and show how. Policymakers across the globe should follow their example and step up similar exemplary political action!’’
"The Future Policy Award showcases innovative ways to break down barriers in critical areas like youth unemployment and help set free the massive talents of young women and men," says Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator and Vice-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group. "Crucially, shining a light on these exceptional youth initiatives can allow them to be translated to other country contexts -- thus helping to drive forward sustainable development."
Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, says: “Half the world’s population is under thirty, but only 2% of MPs are in that age group. One of the IPU’s key objectives is to empower youth by getting more young people into parliament to ensure stronger, more representative, and future-looking democratic institutions. These winning laws and policies show that there are many great initiatives all over the world that can serve as examples for other countries to harness the potential of youth.”
Among the distinguished speakers and personalities presenting the awards, are: Gabriela C. Barron, President of the IPU; Melvin Bouva, President of the IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Suriname; Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU; Vladimir Marinkovic, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia; Charles Chauvel, Global Lead, Inclusive Processes and Institutions of UNDP; and Alexandra Wandel, Executive Director, World Future Council. Kehkashan Basu, Youth Ambassador of the World Future Council, graces the occasion as the Master of the Ceremonies.
Since its inception, the Future Policy Award has recognized 51 policies from 37 countries that are tackling the world’s most pressing global challenges. Past awards have been given for policies protecting biodiversity, forests, oceans and food security, as well as for disarmament, children’s rights, ending violence against women and girls, combating desertification, and scaling up agroecology. The 2019 group of winners advance the economic empowerment of young women and men through decent and sustainable jobs, and youth civic engagement and political participation for sustainable development and peace.
This year’s Future Policy Award is organized by the World Future Council, IPU and UNDP, with the support of the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Youth Policy Labs. It was made possible by the generous support of the Michael Otto Foundation and the Jua Foundation.
Note to Editors:
About the Future Policy Award:
Every year, the most impactful policies tackling humankind’s most pressing challenges are celebrated through the Future Policy Award, the only global award that recognizes policies for the benefit of present and future generations. The aim of the Award is to raise global awareness for exemplary policies and speed up policy action. The World Future Council has awarded this annual prize since 2010 in partnership with UN agencies and the IPU.
About the winners of the Future Policy Award 2019:
The Award jury selected one Gold, Silver and Bronze winner for each of the two 2019 categories, which are Decent and Sustainable Jobs for Youth Economic Empowerment and Youth Civic Engagement and Political Participation for Sustainable Development and Peace.
More information about this year’s Future Policy Award winners can be found at: https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/p/2019-empowering-youth/
About the Future Policy Award 2019 Ceremony:
Winners of this year’s Future Policy Award are celebrated on 16th October 2019, from 3:00 – 4:15pm CEST, during the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in Belgrade, Serbia. A live webcast will be available (visit https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/ to access) and photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/inter-parliamentary-union/.
Follow the 2019 Future Policy Award on Twitter with #FuturePolicyAward and #FPA2019
About the organizers/convening partners:
The World Future Council
The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of law and policy making. The Council consists of 50 eminent global change-makers from governments, parliaments, the arts, civil society, academia and business. Together they form a voice for the rights of future generations. The Council addresses challenges to our common future and identifies and promotes effective legislative and policy solutions among decision makers. www.worldfuturecouncil.org
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the world's organization of parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, IPU comprises 179 national parliaments and 12 associate members. It empowers youth by supporting parliaments to better provide access to youth to political decision-making, and include a youth perspective in legislation and policies. IPU builds the capacities of young MPs and provides platforms for them to coordinate actions at the global, regional and national levels. It also monitors youth representation in parliaments and issues policy and legislative guidance to boost their role. https://www.ipu.org/
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, UNDP offers a global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. UNDP recognizes, supports and promotes the role of young women and men as agents of change and has implemented its first-ever UNDP Youth Global Programme since 2016. https://www.undp.org
Supporting Partners:
United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth
The International Labour Organization (ILO)
Youth Policy Labs
With special thanks to the Michael Otto Foundation and the Jua Foundation.
Media contacts:
World Future Council
Samia Kassid, Senior Project Manager, The Rights of Children and Youth, Tel: +49 (0)40 307 09 14 18, email: samia.kassid@worldfuturecouncil.org; media@worldfuturecouncil.org
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Thomas Fitzsimons, Director of Communications, Tel: +41 (0)79 854 31 53, email: tf@ipu.org
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist - Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Tel: +1 212 906 5043, email: Sangita.khadka@undp.org
