The Colombo Declaration on Youth 2014, released at the conclusion of the 16th World Conference on Youth in Sri Lanka today, proposes 97 recommendations for action under 14 main topics of youth-related issues.

Gender equality, ending systemic inequalities, empowering marginalized youth, inclusive youth led-development, realizing equal access to quality education, realizing peace, reconciliation and ending violence have been identities as priorities for action by the report.

The “Colombo Declaration on Youth”, is a result of deliberations among global youth and Ministers responsible for youth and civil society organizations on youth priorities in relation to current and future development frameworks.

Ministers responsible for youth, young people, representatives of Governments, UN Agencies, youth-led organisations, non-governmental organizations and other development partners gathered in Colombo from 6th - 10th May 2014, at the World Conference on Youth “to explore ways and means of mainstreaming of youth in the Post-2015 Development Agenda within the agreed framework of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY).”

Hundreds of representatives from 169 countries arrived in the island to participate in the World Youth Conference while Ministers of Youth Affairs from Myanmar and Fiji Islands also participated in the dialog.

Below is the Colombo Declaration on Youth: