About The Conference

The Plight of Street Children
In many towns and cities of developing countries, street children are a common sight. They work, beg, steal, and literally live on the streets. Street children exist in cities throughout the world. Go to any main city and you will see them. Like tramps they sleep wrapped up in newspapers, in alleyways, on rubbish heaps or under motorway bridges... They are the forgotten children of the world... Many of them do not even officially exist, beginning life with no birth certificate, many ending their lives prematurely in unmarked graves. Their numbers are greatest in fast growing cities in Asia and the Pacific but the problem is increasingly reported in every continent of the world. Current estimates put the population of abandoned street children worldwide at between 100 and 200 MILLION! So what can we do for them?

Child Trafficking
Trafficking in children is a global disease affecting large numbers of children. Some estimates have as many as 1.2 million children being trafficked every year. There is a demand for children as cheap labor or for sexual exploitation. These children and their families are often unaware of the dangers and exploitation. They believe there are opportunities and better lives in other countries. Child trafficking is lucrative and linked with criminal activity and corruption. It is often hidden and hard to address. Trafficking violates the child’s right to grow up in a family and/or normal environment. In addition, children who have been trafficked face a range of dangers, including violence and sexual abuse. Trafficked children are even arrested and detained as illegal aliens in many countries.

Hunger & Poverty
Poverty is the main challenge facing developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, with two third of the world’s poor living in this region. The need for effective action on poverty reduction is critical. The urgency is reflected in the United Nations millennium development goals, which call for the proportion of people living in extreme poverty to be halved by the year 2015. Poverty is a multi-dimensional, complex and dynamic phenomenon requiring an integrated approach and focus on economic, social and environmental solutions. Are we doing enough to solve the problem? What more can be done? Slum Dwellers According to a UN report, one in every three people in the world will live in slums in the next 30 years unless world governments can control the unprecedented urban growth. A study, the largest ever done on global urban conditions, shows that 940 million people - almost one-sixth of the world's population – are already living in squalid, unhealthy areas; without water, sanitation, hygiene, public services or security. The UN found these urban slums would grow faster than expected, and that the balance of global poverty was shifting rapidly from the countryside to the cities. How can humanitarian involvements make a difference in the living conditions of these slum dwellers? 

Conference Guidelines

Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Affairs Conference aims to educate and create greater awareness and understanding among the young on various socio-economic issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The Conference will highlight the plight of the street children, slum dwellers and the problem of child trafficking. The root of these problems lies mainly in the extent of poverty in many less developed countries. At the Conference, young people from around the world will have the opportunity to dialogue, propose and formulate sustainable development projects to help victims of poverty -stricken countries.

OBJECTIVES OF CONFERENCE
To create awareness on the plight of victims of poverty.

To propose and even initiate sustainable development projects to improve the conditions of
victims of poverty.

To take part in the various humanitarian relief efforts to the less developed countries in the
world.

To inspire and to challenge other young people to see their roles in humanitarian work to
alleviate poverty in the less developed countries.

To explore the possibility of initiating a Humanitarian Affairs Regional Youth Advocacy
Committee.

Conference Venue

Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Affairs Conference will be held in Bangkok, Thailand.

About the Organizer

Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Affairs Conference 2007 is organized by Humanitarian Affairs.

Humanitarian Affairs seeks to educate next generation leaders to be world-class citizens with global vision.

Humanitarian Affairs works to create greater awareness and understanding of socio-economic issues, especially the problem of poverty, in third world countries in Asia-Pacific, Central Asia and Africa. It initiates and supports humanitarian relief work and development programs in countries that are stricken by poverty and disaster.

In the coming months, Humanitarian Affairs will lead relief missions to Mongolia, Nepal, Blangadesh and Cambodia. One of the aims of these humanitarian mission is to allow participants to experience first-hand the extreme living conditions of victims of poverty in these countries.  

Who Should Apply ?

Students from colleges, tertiary institutions or universities.

Representatives from national youth councils, civil societies, youth groups, NGOs.

Officials from related government agencies.

Anyone interested in the cause of alleviating poverty and humanitarian relief work.

Application Criteria

Applicants must be above 16 years old. Applications from NGOs or youth organizations should not exceed 15 participants per organization.

Registration Fee

US Two hundred and fifty Dollars for registration received on and before 30 October 2007.

US Three hundred Dollars for registration received from 1st November 2007. 

Conference fee covers conference material, 2 coffee breaks and 1 buffet luncheon during the duration of the Conference from December 11 to 14, 2007. However, dinner is not included. 

Accommodation

The Organizer has made special reservations at discounted rates at designated hotels for those attending the Conference. The rates include free transportation to and from the designated hotels and the Conference Centre for those who booked through the organizer.

Candidates making accommodation arrangements on their own need to arrange own transportation to and from the Conference Center.

The List of Hotels will only be made available to Successful Applicants.

Application Procedure

Please complete the attached application form and return completed copy by email to UN@humanitarianaffairs.org.

Please include in not more than 15 lines a brief biographical statement of Yourself and How Can You Help The Poor.

Your application will be reviewed and approved by a Selection Committee.

A Letter of Acceptance will be sent to the Successful Applicant with the necessary information. You can use the letter of acceptance to apply for visa to enter the Kingdom of Thailand.

For More Information

Contact Humanitarian Affairs

Email : info@humanitarianaffairs.org
Website : www.humanitarianaffairs.org 

Proposed Programmes

TUESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2007
Slum Dwellers

According to a UN report, one in every three people in the world will live in slums in the next 30 years unless world governments can control the unprecedented urban growth. A study, the largest ever done on global urban conditions, shows that 940 million people - almost one-sixth of the world's population – are already living in squalid, unhealthy areas; without water, sanitation, hygiene, public services or security.

The UN found these urban slums would grow faster than expected, and that the balance of global poverty was shifting rapidly from the countryside to the cities.

How can Humanitarian Involvements Make a Difference in the Living Conditions of these Slum Dwellers ? 

Wednesday, 12 December 2007
The Plight of Street Children

In many towns and cities of developing countries, Street Children are a common sight. They work, beg, steal, and literally live on the streets. Street Children exist in cities throughout the world. Go to any main city and you will see them.

Like tramps they sleep wrapped up in newspapers, in alleyways, on rubbish heaps or under motorway bridges...  They are the forgotten children of the world... Many of them do not even officially exist, beginning life with no birth certificate, many ending their lives prematurely in unmarked graves.

Their numbers are greatest in fast growing cities in Asia and the Pacific but the problem is increasingly reported in every continent of the world. Current estimates put the population of abandoned Street Children worldwide at between 100 and 200 MILLION ! So What Can We Do for Them ? 

Thursday, 13 December 2007
Child Trafficking

Trafficking in children is a global disease affecting large numbers of children. Some estimates have as many as 1.2 million children being trafficked every year. There is a demand for children as cheap labor or for sexual exploitation.

These children and their families are often unaware of the dangers and exploitation. They believe there are opportunities and better lives in other countries.

Child trafficking is lucrative and linked with criminal activity and corruption. It is often hidden and hard to address. Trafficking violates the child’s right to grow up in a family and/or normal environment. In addition, children who have been trafficked face a range of dangers, including violence and sexual abuse. Trafficked children are even arrested and detained as illegal aliens in many countries. So What Can We Do To Help Them ? 

Friday, 14 December 2007
Hunger and Poverty

Poverty is the main challenge facing developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, with two third of the world’s poor living in this region. The need for effective action on poverty reduction is critical. The urgency is reflected in the United Nations millennium development goals, which call for the proportion of people living in extreme poverty to be halved by the year 2015. Poverty is a multi-dimensional, complex and dynamic phenomenon requiring an integrated approach and focus on economic, social and environmental solutions.

Are we doing enough to solve the Problem ? What more can be Done ?  

TO APPLY, CLICK HERE !

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