The Forum included thematic panels and hands-on workshops by various young people and youth organizations. Throughout the day, the discussions highlighted how media and information issues are especially pertinent to youth, such as empowerment and civic engagement, privacy, gender equality, and freedom of expression and diversity.

The discussions yielded the drafting and adoption of a Youth Declaration on Media and Information Literacy.

The Declaration calls on stakeholders to use MIL to empower youth for civic engagement, contribute to intercultural dialogue, help prevent violent extremism, and improve freedom of expression while raising awareness for online privacy, gender equality, as well as media and information literacy for people with special needs.

The Youth Declaration states: “The new information age is boundless. MIL blossoms in an environment where there is a rapid exchange of ideas and perspectives. Social Media is both a tool and a platform for us youth representatives, whether we are young journalists, information specialists or from any other academic or social background. It links us to immediate engagement with other people across the world.”

In the document, the youth also appealed for their involvement in policy discussions on MIL, active participation in research and decision making of relevant organizations and networks developing MIL strategies and programmes such as governments, UNESCO and GAPMIL.

The Declaration will help push forward the work of the Youth Committee of GAPMIL and the GAPMIL Youth Ambassador Programme. This committee comprises of young people from a variety of different backgrounds, yet all sharing the same commitment to enhancing MIL globally.

The Ambassadors Programme utilizes volunteers on the ground, who act to promote MIL in their respective countries and regions through their own personal projects and networks.

Visit the Global MIL 20016 website to see a photo gallery, news, and other outcome documents.