The World Scout Parliamentary Union convenes its 6th General Assembly
Seoul, Korea, on the week of the 1-4th of November the World Scout Parliamentary Union (WSPU) held their 6th General Assembly. Scout parliamentarians from around the world joined together to discuss and debate the role of parliamentarians in supporting Youth and the Scout Movement. Amongst the subjects that were broached during this event were also the; rights of Youth, Youth participation, Equal education and equal access to education for youth and more difficult thematic discussions on poverty, disease, exploitation and the human trafficking of youth.
Amongst the distinguished guests attending the General Assembly was Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka stated that:
“Parliament should enact laws to enable youth to play crucial roles in national affairs” This comes from a discussion where the role of parliamentarians in supporting youth was discussed. Mr Musyoka urged that “ legislations should be youth friendly, it is their future that is at stake”.
He also said that the youth should be supported to foster world peace stating “the youth especially through the Scout Movement have the capacity to integrate and interact across racial, religious, class, geographical and political borders”
The new president of WSPU, Chung Eui Hwa during his address on Youth Rights mentioned that there is a “majority of youth across the globe who are deprived of their fundamental rights”, he continued on to urge national leaders to heed to the plight of youth and not be passive as they are exploited through trafficking and child labor.
Joining in via a recorded video message, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary general also reminded the attendants that the year 2010-2011 was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as being the International Year for Youth and that the world body should endeavor to “ensure that more young people have access to jobs and career opportunities” amongst other recommendations.
Over 100 participants, official delegates and observers included, representing 42 countries, attended this iteration of the WSPU General Assembly.
On this occasion they also proceeded to elect WSPU’s new Executive Committee, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The then presiding WSPU Chairperson Abdourahmane Sow of Senegal recalled the efforts of the Koreans to formalize and revitalize the organization. He congratulated their efforts and called for the election of the new Executive Committee the results of which are as follows:
- Chairperson of WSPU: Hon. Eui Hwa Chung, Korea
- First Vice Chairperson: Hon. Shionoyo Ryu, Japan
- Second Vice Chairperson: Hon. Ewa Thalén Finné, Sweden
- Treasurer: Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, Kenya
Other elected members to the Executive committee were:
- Hon. Nappres Mandachitra, Thailand
- Hon. Nikola Novakovic, Serbia
- Hon. Moussa Diao, Senegal
- Hon Jaouad Hamdoun, Morocco
- Mr. Luc Panissod, WOSM Secretary General
The assembly also appointed Mr. Hong, of the Korea Scout Association as the Secretary General of WSPU.
This General Assembly also served as a renewal and revitalization process of the World Scout Parliamentary Union a process that began with the creation of WSPU in 1991. With its newly elected committee and reunited bodies, the newly elected Chairperson Hon Eui Hwa Chung promises to “place first priority on expanding opportunities so that young people from around the world can participate in Scouting activities” as well as advocating for legislations that empower young people. Expressing his appreciation for outgoing Chairperson Hon. Abdourahmane Sow he also thanked the delegates for placing trust in him to lead WSPU. Hon. Chung assured the assembly that he would steer WSPU to become a driving force for Scouting in order to bring about a new Scouts Rennaissance era.
The next WSPU General Assembly will be held in Japan in 2013.
Image 1: Hon. Chung gives thanks to Hon. Sow © WSB/C.A. Revkin
Image 2: H.E. Vice-President Musyoka and Mr. Panissod sing the Moot song
Image 3: Meeting of the new Executive Committee
