Declaration of ASEAN+9 Youth Assembly for ASEAN Community 2015 Jakarta, Indonesia, 26-29 August 2013 Introduction 1.

We, more than 75 young people from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, United States, and China, have gathered together in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 26-29, 2013 for the ASEAN+9 Youth Assembly for ASEAN Community 2015 that was organized by the Central Board of Indonesian Moslem Student Movement (PB PMII) to discuss the three ASEAN pillars on Political-Security, Economic and Social-Cultural Communities, its challenges and possible solutions, and the role of young people in the ASEAN Community. 2. We are convinced that ASEAN development, which has no benefit to the interests of young people in all levels and of different status, is not the development that we want in building an integrated Community by 2015. 3. We call for the ASEAN and its Member States to recognize the importance of the role and participation of young people in the building of the ASEAN Community. We realize that the policy made today will deeply influence our daily lives now, tomorrow and in the future. We also believe that our contribution to the ASEAN Community building will shape the future of ASEAN. Therefore we should be included in the decision-making process as early as possible, in order to take over the torch of leadership in development and progress. 4. We are dismayed that ASEAN is still operating in a state-centric way. We urge ASEAN to widely disseminate information regarding the latest developments of ASEAN cooperation that will promote the intensive involvement of "people-to-people" cooperation in the ASEAN framework, resulting in moreinclusive programs in ASEAN and the ASEAN agenda for 2015, involving not only the governments and elite but also other concerned stakeholders. 5. We witness inhuman treatment around us that cross all the ASEAN pillars. We believe that ASEAN governments must adopt a more holistic, just, and equal human rights approach to development. ASEAN must ensure that its development projects will not further exacerbate environment issues in the region. In fact, ASEAN has to take immediate measures to find corresponding solutions to the issues raised. 6. We appreciate the efforts of the organizer of the ASEAN+9 Youth Assembly for ASEAN Community 2015 and hope that the platform will be conducted regularly and take different venues in ASEAN member countries. We have agreed to name this platform as ASEAN Youth Assembly and it is non-governmental in character, and will be represented by young people from countries participating in ASEAN Youth Assembly. We have agreed to have

rotation in leadership in which Indonesia will take the first chairmanship. 7. We are committed to supporting the building of the ASEAN community by 31st December 2015 and to contribute to the formulation of the ASEAN Community post-2015. The following are our concerns, recommendations and commitments regarding the three ASEAN pillars, namely, the PoliticalSecurity, Economic and Social-Cultural Community. Political-Security Community 8. While appreciating the diversity of ASEAN, we also are concerned that these differences will provoke inter and intra-countries conflicts in ASEAN member countries. We believe that the diversity in ethnicity, religion, language, and geographical resources would be the strength of ASEAN that will unite all of its members. Therefore we urge ASEAN governments to expedite the operationalization of the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) and improve mutual understanding through stakeholders dialogues beyond diplomatic affairs in border disputes. We also believe that a Dispute Trial Court or another conflict resolution mechanism is necessary to help solve border disputes in ASEAN. 9. We recommend that ASEAN create a scholarship scheme for young people to have a variety of youth exchange programs within ASEAN countries to study peace, reconciliation and conflict management, as well as establishing a Youth Network of Peace Building in ASEAN. 10. We commend the establishment of the regional human rights mechanisms in ASEAN, namely: the ASEAN Committee for the Implementation of ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) in 2008, the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in 2009, and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in 2010. Nevertheless, we question the functionality of these bodies in protecting the rights of all people in ASEAN, as we continue to see the breaching of human rights left unaddressed, the incidence of violence andcorresponding consequences, cross-border issues such as refugees, migrant workers, trafficking, and the violation of minority rights. 11. We are convinced that if ASEAN continues to benegligent in responding to human rights violations, ASEAN Communitys goals will not be achieved as it challenges the stability of the economy and security of the region and hinders the democratization process in ASEAN member countries. We urge AICHR, ACWC, ACMW, and ASEAN organs in general, to raise awareness about the universality of human rights to the people in ASEAN. Furthermore, we urge its mechanisms to take necessary efforts to protect minorities and promote multiculturalism and diversity, including the participation of young people in its implementation. We call for ASEAN to establish ASEAN Human Rights Court. 12. We encourage ASEAN and its member states to be independent and

sovereign as a regional association, economically and politically. We call for ASEAN to restrain from any military intervention to deal with regional security issues. 13. We observe the increasingly high levels of corruption in the ASEAN member states results in different responses in regulations, encouraging each country to counteract these practices. We suggest that ASEAN provides ethical education starting from the primary level, in both formal and informal settings, appointing moral ambassadors, and assessing the level of punishment that corresponds to the different degrees of crime. 14. We recognize that the ASEAN community faces a number of transnational crimes including terrorism, illegal fishing, money laundering, human trafficking, and drugs, amongst others. We call for ASEAN governments to take necessary measures to reduce and prevent transnational organized crime in the region such as enhancing transnational judicial cooperation. We also call for ASEAN to establish a youth advocacy network to raise awareness on said issues through the use of various creative communication means such as social networking sites, posters, and handbooks. In addition, other strategies such as intercultural and interfaith dialogue to promote mutual understanding between concerned parties.

Economic Community 15. We acknowledged that countries in the ASEAN region have different economic interest due to the diverse available natural resources and varying skillsets. This situation results to mutual dependency amongst the neighboring countries. We are convinced that in order to achieve economic collaboration, it is of utmost importance that relevant stakeholders are consulted and included in the process of economic integration. 16. We gathered that the economic gap is attributable to social disparities such as illiteracy, unemployment, brain drain, and corruption. To narrow economic gap and improve the standard of living, we consider long-term opportunities such as education or vocational training to provide skills and tools for players to actively engage in economic processes and societal transactions. Additionally, the government must highlight the importance of supporting small-to-medium enterprises and entrepreneurs. 17. We have observed that the lack of economic integration is anchored on the concepts of varying national interests and regional disparity specifically in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and income. We encourage the creation of an inclusive Southeast Asia Development Bank (SDB) in ASEAN, in order to help provide loans to under-developed states. 18. We are concerned that the majority of farmers and underprivileged villagers in Southeast Asia lack ownership and management of agricultural land. While it is possible to possess land plots, the government has yet to acknowledge and limit proprietorship. Antiquated laws dating back to

colonization impeded the government from allocating financial, documental, and legal support to farmers. Lastly, we call for the extensive implementation of land reforms and inclusion of farmers given that monopolization and exploitation is still prevalent in the agricultural sector. 19. In this line, we strongly recommended ASEAN to initiate a regional rule on land reform and protection of the rights of farmers. The establishment of a national autonomous body or peoples representation land action group is necessary to promote accountability among the government of each state. Socio-Cultural Community 20. Social and economic disparities, inequality, narrow views of nationalism, and cultural imposition hinder the formation of a united ASEAN identity. As a response to this, we call for cultural appreciation through the means of cultural exchange specific sectors in education, healthcare, agriculture, and the arts, among ASEAN members. 21. The violation of human rights and victimization of marginalized groups such as women and children is a concern in the ASEAN region. Poverty, criminal activity, lack of economic opportunities, and blatant social discrimination leads to human trafficking. To alleviate this challenge, we call for decent economic opportunities such as job creation and appropriate salaries and wages, safe migration education, awareness, victim support groups, enforcement of laws concerning human trafficking, and human resources capability-building. 22. We acknowledge the financial issue that affects ASEAN model partnership building, which derives from the lack of governments support and the participation of civil society including the youth. Communication is vital between the government and the organizers in order to understand the latters interest. On the other hand, inadequate planning and ineffective implementation due to the shared commitment issues in the organization can be solved by imposing systematic structure. The Youths Role in ASEAN 23. We urge ASEAN and its member states to take necessary efforts to provide fellowship, education, trainings and space for the youth that promote participatory engagement with ASEAN and opportunities to take some responsibilities in ASEAN Community building. We believe that young people are capable individuals who offer perspectives, expertise and a long-term trajectory of clear objectives and goals for the ASEAN community. 24. We demand that ASEAN and its member states to facilitate the venue for young people in the region and beyond to connect, interact, and collaborate with each other and with other key actors in dealing with all the pillars of ASEAN Community.

25. We appeal to ASEAN and its member states to facilitate young people to define and shape our ASEAN identity in the context of our perspectives, and experiences.