By: Idrees Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Youth advocate Qasim Farasat, co-founder of the Institute for Sustainable Development & Cooperation (ISDC) and former international youth leader of the Commonwealth Youth Council, will be a featured presenter at the esteemed 4th Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work. The conference, taking place in Reading, UK, from July 10th to 12th, 2023, will provide a platform for Mr. Farasat to share his expertise on youth participation and engagement in policy-making.
With a career dedicated to advocating for youth involvement in decision-making processes, Mr. Farasat has developed innovative strategies that have laid the foundation for robust youth participation platforms. His efforts have focused on addressing the needs of young people and advancing their rights at local, national, and international levels.
Having served as an international youth leader of the Commonwealth, Mr. Farasat has played a pivotal role in promoting youth leadership and participation across Commonwealth countries. His contributions have been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Decade of Action, which is crucial for fostering a peaceful, just, and sustainable future.
During the conference, Mr. Farasat will present his groundbreaking paper titled “Youth Political Participation and Engagement: A Pathway to a Peaceful and Sustainable Future in the Commonwealth.” His presentation will shed light on the barriers hindering youth political participation in the Commonwealth, particularly in the Asian region, and propose effective strategies to overcome these obstacles.
Notably, Mr. Farasat’s achievements include establishing Pakistan’s first official National Youth Council and launching the “Asian Youth Union.” These initiatives underscore the significance of youth engagement in policy-making at all levels of government and demonstrate Mr. Farasat’s unwavering dedication to empowering young people.
