GPcwd YC Workplan for 2016 is available here

​​VISION: 
A society where youth with diversedisabilities live a dignified life and able to influence decisions by collective actions towards inclusive development

MANDATE OF THE GPcwd YOUTH COUNCIL prepared by Vibhu Sharma, the co-Chair of the GPcwd YC
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MISSION:  
The Global Youth Council aims to enable empower youth with disabilities and provide them leadership opportunities to address global initiatives, advocate for an inclusive Sustainable Development Goals and support them on a local, national, regional and international levelthrough policy reform and advocacy
 
Objectives of the Youth Council
  • To promote rights of youth with disabilities among all disability key stakeholders and to raise awareness on specific risks and discrimination faced by youth with disabilities.
  • To develop and disseminate Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and technical guidelines to assist mainstream organizations to better include youth with disabilities
  • To promote use of international guidelines and good practices as guidance for the implementation of activities.
  • To influence the work of all GPcwd bodies, including the task forces and National Partnerships.
  • To engage an influence the other Youth Networks on local, national, regional and international levels
  • To participate in theglobal and national meetings as representatives of the Global Partnership and enforce the voices of young people with disabilities in light of the discourse around the Sustainable Development Goals
  • To promote the global cooperation on youth with disabilities related concerns through strengthening and facilitating Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) to achieve the mainstreamed implementation of the UNCRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).
  • To lobby with the respective governments and convince them to make a ruling for developing, publishing and disseminating all information, such as governmental policies, educational material, and all such information that is available to the public in general, such as books, encyclopedias, etc for students, and other pamphlets that are to be read by public, in formats accessible to people with print disabilities.
  • To ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are properly examined and integrated into mainstream plans and policies and are not just included as an afterthought.

Background
The Youth Council was initiated during the first Forum of the GPcwd in September 2012. Participants agreed it was crucial to ensure youth participation on all GPcwd Task Forces and have their voices reflected in the 2013-2015 work-plans. During the second Forum of the GPcwd, partners unanimously supported the Youth Council as an essential body to facilitate the engagement and ensure the central role of young people with and without disabilities in all aspects of the Partnership. 

After the Forum, over 15 young people with and without disabilities gathered together to discuss the mandate of the Youth Council. There was a consensus that the major focus of Youth Council should be to participate at and influence the work of all GPcwd bodies, including the task forces and National Partnerships.  At the advocacy level, members of the Youth Council agreed to engage in national and global processes as representatives of the Global Partnership and represent young people with disabilities in the discourse around the Post-2015 development agenda. 

Composition of the Youth Council 
The Youth Council currently consists of 19 young people with disabilities, including representatives from youth with disabilities-led DPO’s, and youth with and without disabilities rights’ advocates.  

Chair (06/2016-06/2017): Peter Ochieng
co-Chair (06/2016-06/2017):Vibhu Sharma          
List of Participants - word 
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Photo Gallery 

Video Statements
Dreams on Inclusion
Inclusive Education
UNICEF Activate talk 2014 summary video


Bios of the Youth Council members 
Abia Akram, Pakistan
Bakar Ali, Somalia 
Ivory Duncan, Guyana
Karina Chupina, Russia-Germany
Mark Mapemba, Malawi
Markus Operiano, Philippines 
Marvy Moujabber, Lebanon
Mohhammad Yaaseen Edoo, Mauritious 
Peter Ochieng, Uganda
Rolando Jr.
Villamero, Philippines
Rabjyot Singh Kihli, India 
Saket Mani, India
Tapas Bhardwaj, India 
Vibhu Sharma, India 
Daniela Gordon, Costa Rica