Meera Bhat, a research scholar at State University of New York, represented Asia at UN’s Global Interactive Dialogue that was webcast live
Priya Adhyaru-Majithia
An Amdavadi represented Asia at United Nations’ Global Interactive Dialogue at the UN headquarters in New York. Meera Bhat, a research scholar in social sciences at State University of New York, was among the five panelists who represented their respective continents. More than 500 participants and over 125 young people connected from five remote locations across the world at the live conference on Monday night. The event was held to kick start the celebration of International Youth Day 2013 that falls on August 12.
ON GOOD EDUCATION
Bhat spoke on the topic, A Good Education, while the speaker from Nigeria who represented Africa spoke on ‘Better Healthcare’.
The panelist from Belgium who represented Europe spoke on ‘Decent job Opportunities’, while a Brazilian (Latin America) spoke on ‘Protection against Crime and Violence ’and speaker from Lebanon (Arab States) spoke on ‘An Honest and Responsive Government’.
The 27-year-old Amdvadi spoke on how to involve youth into using technology for empowerment of women and also involve youth in policy making.
Use of technological means to build bridges between young communities at regional, national and global level was the focus of her speech.
Youth from around the world were connected live to the global conversation with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi opened and moderated the conversation between the Secretary-General and each one of the regions with two interventions from the participants in New York. The event was webcast live, informed Bhat over email.
“This rare feat of Meera’s makes us and the nation proud,”said her father Rajesh Bhat, a social activist.
This day is observed to create discussion on different themes as part of the UN’s efforts to relate to young people,byopeningthefloortoparticipants after short presentations from the panelists.“This was an interactive session. Young people in the room will ask questions and Ahmad as the moderator directed the discussion accordingly,” said Bhat. “The panelists’ presentations were more of answers to the moderator’s questions to open up the discussion.”
YOUTH MIGRATION
“The aim is to encourage young people from across the world to celebrate the day by focusing on the topic of youth migration but we will use it as an opportunity to launch the 2013 World Youth Report,” she said. Meera has done a masters in social sciences from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai and is currently pursuing her doctorate with special focus on youth and participation in policy making.
The story appeared on page 10 of Ahmedabad Mirror on August 6, 2013
