Future Leaders Declare 2020 Vision as Zurich Handed Baton to Host Next One Young World

ZURICH, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The countdown to One Young World 2011 will be launched today when the baton is handed from London to the city of Zurich as the new host for the global youth forum.

The launch will see the announcement of a host of world leaders as Counsellors for One Young World including Fatima Bhutto, Sir Bob Geldof, Muhammad Yunus and Mo Ibrahim. The Counsellors will actively guide global discussions for the forum.

Zurich won a competitive bid to host the event and is expected to welcome over 1,500 young leaders who will convene in the city in September 2011. The event, which has been described as the 'young Davos', is expected to provide a landmark opportunity for young world leaders.

Today's launch sees the kick off of a year of activity to promote the interests of young people. A central pillar of action is the publication of the Zurich Declaration, a vision for change over the next ten years.

The Declaration lays out an agenda calling on global corporations to 'do well by doing good' and will boost the UN International Year of Youth launched this summer by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. One Young World ambassadors have made presentations this year to The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) forum in Rio De Janeiro, The World Youth Conference in Mexico and the United Nations International Day of Peace in New York.

Speakers at the launch event in Zurich include Edward McMillan-Scott, MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament, responsible for Democracy and Human Rights; Thomas Buberl, CEO of Zurich Switzerland and David Jones, One Young World co-founder and Global Chief Executive Officer of Havas Worldwide.

David Jones said:  "This generation of young people is unique. The digital revolution has given them access to an unprecedented amount of knowledge and information and an unparalleled ability to influence and effect positive change. The world’s largest corporations and governments need to listen to them and take action.

Today we launch the road to One Young World 2011 and the Zurich Declaration is a confident and optimistic call for constructive action.”

The Zurich Declaration sets out key demands for governments and corporations

The Zurich Declaration demands changes in fields from leadership to global health from governments and corporations. The consequences could be an 'e-volution' of social media action to expose and champion commitment levels.

David Jones will deliver The Zurich Declaration directly to Ban Ki-Moon's office at the United Nations in October this year.

• The UN and EU to create positions for business leaders by September 2011
• All governments to have non-bias media policies in place by 2020
• All political candidates and leaders to make clear their stance on human rights
• All multinational corporations to have a "Whistleblower's Charter" for all employees

Young activists pledge to engage one million Facebook campaigners

One Young World Ambassadors also set out their goal today of mobilising one million Facebook users to support the Declaration, pledging to lobby companies and governments for change.  

Oscar Morales, the One Young World counsellor who mobilised 12 million people on Facebook to protest against Columbian communist military organization, Farc, will be spearheading the campaign.  He said:  "Armed with technology and passion for a cause, young people are a force to be reckoned with. One Young World already has 10,000 Facebook supporters – we will rally one million impassioned young people to campaign for change."

The Zurich Declaration builds on the resolutions agreed at the inaugural One Young World summit in London in February 2010, which attracted over 800 young leaders from 112 countries.

Visit www.oneyoungworld.com for more information on what Marketing Week has called "the most forward-thinking piece of corporate social responsibility ever."

About One Young World

One Young World is the premier global forum for young people of leadership calibre. Its purpose is to connect and bring together the youngest and brightest and to ensure that their concerns, opinions and solutions are heard and taken into account by those in power, whether in government, business or any other sector.

The One Young World Inaugural Summit was held in London on February 8 to 10, 2010 and drew 823 young leaders from 112 countries, with the support of Counsellors including Kofi Annan, Sir Bob Geldof, Muhammad Yunus and Archbishop Desmond Tutu who facilitated debate and dialogue between the Delegate speakers and their audience.

SOURCE One Young World

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