UN IN INDONESIA

August, 2012

Global Youth Forum Launched in Jakarta

Jakarta - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Indonesia, represented by the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), announced the official launch of the Global Youth Forum on the 13th of August at a ceremony held in @america, the U.S. cultural center in Jakarta. society, international development partners, and governments. High-level dignitaries are expected to be present at the Forum, which will conclude with a concert by popular international and Indonesian performers.

Q&A with Leo Mokodompit, Coordinator of UNESCO Youth Desk Indonesia

In addition, the Global Youth Forum will link to online participants from around the world through streaming and The Forum, to be held in Bali social media. Mr. Jose 4-6 December 2012, will Ferraris, UNFPA establish a platform for Representative in Indonesia sustained worldwide said that the Global Youth conversation about youth Forums open-access issues. It is the first of three participation model is thematic meetings planned unprecedented among global as part of a 20-year review governance meetings. It process of the International encourages direct Conference on Population participation from those most and Development (a second affected by its outcome, conference on human rights young people, Mr. Ferraris is scheduled for May 2013 said. and a third is planned on womens health). The review People under 25 make up 43 process, known as ICPD percent of the worlds Beyond 2014, aims to population. That is why the generate recommendations UNFPA is committed to for a future development include young people as part agenda. of the agenda in the ICPD Beyond 2014 Review, which The Global Youth Forum is began earlier this year, said expected to attract about Mr. Ferraris at the Global 1,000 attendees, primarily Youth Forums launch. young people, from the UNs 193 member countries, (Continues page 3) representing NGOs, civil

Q: International Youth Day celebrates youth achievements and encourages youth activism. Why do you personally see youth as an important part of society? A: I heard a quote that youth are the partners of today and leaders of tomorrow, but honestly I see them as the leaders of today. As the main actors of todays society I am continually impressed with youth and their efforts. They have the ability to drive change and create a revolution. Q: What role do Indonesian youth have in strengthening national capacities? A: If they can form a broader collaboration with the government, -- for example with the House of Representatives and Ministry of Youth and Sport -- then there is great potential for youth to be heard, their ideas and thoughts would be a strong recommendations in policy making and regulations. It all begins with the voices of youth. (Continues Page 3)

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

The United Nations, Beyonc, and humanitarian aid organizations are launching a global campaign to shine a spotlight on humanitarian work and encourage people around the world to get involved by doing something good for others this World Humanitarian Day. Join the campaign by pledging your action for 19 August at: www.whd-iwashere.org Listen to Bahasa Indonesia radio programmes on humanitarian work: Trax-FM 101.4 - 15/8 6.30pm RRI Pro 3 88.8FM - 16/8 9am Radio Pelita Kasih 96.3FM 17/8 10am

Preparing to Save Lives

Participants in the earthquake simulation exercise in Padang Jakarta Rescue

Padang - When a devastating 7.6magnitude earthquake struck the province of West Sumatra in 2009, international search-and-rescue crews scrambled to the provincial capital, Padang, to assist. More than 135,000 houses were severely damaged, with hundreds of people trapped inside. Within the first 24 hours after the earthquake, emergency services and national search-and-rescue teams rescued almost 300 survivors, but the number of people who died was four times that figure. The response in the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster is critical, says Rajan Gengaje, acting Head of OCHA Indonesia. Building national capacities to respond quickly to disasters and save the maximum number of lives is an important focus of OCHAs work. Three years after the earthquake struck West Sumatra, 240 international and national search-and-rescue specialists from 26 countries converged at Padang, this time to run a simulation exercise of a major earthquake disaster, where local and international emergency teams worked together. Simulation exercises like this are a regular task for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), a body dedicated to urban search and rescue and operational field coordination. The aim is to familiarize international search-and-rescue teams and host countries with the INSARAG guidelines and methodology, and to

practice coordination and cooperation between the teams. These simulations allow us to test the relevance and efficacy of our guidelines, which are really agreed procedures for saving lives, says Winston Chang of INSARAG. Just as important, the exercises are useful in assessing whether national agencies and partners are prepared to respond to a disaster. For Indonesias national searchand-rescue agency, BASARNAS, the exercise exposed the sheer complexity of coordinating a response to a disaster. The huge number of actors and the logistics involved, the need for timely and accurate information dealing with any one of these, let alone all s i m u l t a n e o u s l y, c a n b e overwhelming for a young agency like ours, observes Pak Abdul Haris A c h a d i , H e a d o f Te c h n i c a l Cooperation at BASARNAS. BASARNAS was established as an autonomous agency just three years ago, and it is still finding its feet in a context of extreme vulnerability. Pak Achadi adds: We are powerless to prevent natural disasters, but we can certainly do something about the way we respond to them. The better prepared we are, the more lives we are likely to save when a disaster strikes. U l t i m a te l y, t h a t w a s th e k e y message of the INSARAG simulation exercise: Preparedness saves lives. (OCHA)

Beyoncs song I Was Here was filmed in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York in front of a live audience. It will be released globally on 19 August.

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

Global Youth Forum Launched

(Continued from front page) Discussions at the Global Youth Forum will revolve around issues relevant to young people throughout the world -- making a decent living, growing up healthy, sexuality in the context of family and rights, and exercising citizenship. The Forum aims to catalyze a sustainable youth movement and encourage innovation and investment in youth issues. BKKBN Chairperson Mr. Sugiri Syarief affirmed that the Government of Indonesia fully supports the Global Youth Forum. The worlds increasingly large number of young people will be a

resource for country development if their potential can be maximized. Therefore, investment in this group is an absolute necessity, Mr. Sugiri said. In the lead-up to the Decembers Global Youth Forum, a series of events dubbed the Road to Global Youth Forum will be held in Jakarta, Surabaya, Kupang, Semarang, Palembang, and Pontianak. A number of social media competitions -including a blogging, action project and a photography competition -- will also be held between September and October 2012. Ten finalists from each competition will be posted online for public voting. The top five votegetters will be announced as winners and receive tickets and observer passes to the Global Youth Forum.(UNFPA)

Q&A with Leo Mokodompit Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO

Q: What initiatives for youth are you promoting through the Indonesian National Commission UNESCO Youth Desk? A: As we know UNESCO incorporates education, science, culture and communication. As an integral part of UNESCO Natcom, we are developing some youth-led programmes. An education program we are currently working on focuses on raising awareness amongst youth about Green entrepreneurship, reproductive health and HIV/ AIDS. In terms of science we are going to run an youth agricultural camp which youth attended and learnt about farming and also sustainability. On the cultural side of things we are again holding a Konser Karawitan Muda Indonesia,in November 2012, which celebrates traditional music from 6 different Indonesian provinces. Q: What do you believe are the most pressing issues and challenges for the youth of today? A: The biggest challenge is youths ability to implement real change through regulation and policy. Policy needs to accommodate youth. In particular education, unemployment, environment and health are very important topics which youth in collaboration with the government should focus on. Q: How can youth work together with the UN? How influential can things like the Global Youth Forum, to be held later this year in Bali, be for the agenda of the UN? A: When the UN announced the International Year of Youth in 2011 I was so happy that our ability to contribute was recognised. Now that the year is over I want to encourage all young people to stay focused and keep moving forward. It is so great that young people around the world are involved with the UN, whether it is as youth advocates in UN agencies, interns or volunteers. This network of young people in the UN in integral to collaboration and being the voice for the change we want. Q: What opportunities do Indonesia's youth otherwise have to voice their opinion and contribute to making a difference to their world? A: Young people must be proactive--keep trying to create change and advocate for issues that concern them. It is important to start small. Using social media is a good start and can be very powerful. Think about what interests you and how you could use your talent and skills to benefit your community. So there are 3 things that young people should do : Dream, Commit, and ACTION!

Young Talent
Jakarta/Pontianak/New York - The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UN ODA) and the Harmony for Peace Foundation recently launched an Art for Peace youth contest. Participants aged 5 17 years of age were asked to watch a short film online, and then imagine a world free of nuclear weapons. Each age category (ages 5-8, ages 9-12 and ages 13-17) had one winner. The prize? To have their artwork reproduced in a United Nations calendar. Indonesias own Edelweiss Rosyad won the prize in the 5-8 year old category. Edelweiss, aged 8, lives in Pontianak, West Kalimantan and partakes in art classes at the Sanggar Khatulistiwa Children Fun Art Gallery. Her mother discovered her talent whilst Edelweiss was still attending kindergarten. We spoke to Edelweiss about her winning piece and how she felt about being announced as the winner; Q: How did you initially find out about the UN Art for Peace Contest and why were you interested in entering? A: I found out from my art studio, Sanggar Lukis Khatulistiwa in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, where I take drawing classes. I wanted to enjoy participating with my friends from the studio.

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

Q&A with Edelweiss Rosyad

Q: At what age did you begin drawing and producing artwork? A: When I was in kindergarten, at the age of five. I love to draw as a hobby and each week I use around 5000 pieces of paper for doodling, sketching, drawing and writing. Q: What message did you wish to deliver through your artwork and what is the meaning behind the If A World Free of Nuclear Weapons and the content of your drawing? A: Well, I know that nuclear is a bomb! I wanted to show that we should prevent the Earth from damage and allow the plants to keep growing. I think if there was no war there would be no nuclear weapons, bombs and fear that makes it all destroyed. The world will definitely feel comfortable, peaceful and beautiful. We can see various plants and colorful flowers thriving, bees quietly sucking honey and free-flying birds in the sky and beautiful views of the twilight sky. All occur freely, without limits, without pressure, without fear... Q: How did you feel one UNODA announced that you were the winner? A: The studio told my mother first, so I didnt know by myself that I had won. When she told me I felt over the moon and I felt so happy because I thought Im going to have another trophy. In fact, this was the 100th time I had won a prize. (Edelweisss mother explained as she was young she thought every competitions prize was a trophy.) Q: What is your hope for the future? A: I just want the plants to continue flourishing so that the Earth will not be damaged. Thats why I drew plants for my drawing. I want to become a doctor or a teacher. All the winning artwork can be viewed at http:// www.unartforpeace.org/

Rural Midwives on Message:

using SMS to battle child and maternal mortality

Jakarta - Village midwives in Pemalang, East Java, and West Lombok in rural Indonesia are now better equipped to improve services to women and children thanks to a new initiative by UNICEF in partnership with Nokia, the Ministry of Health and XL Axiata. The pilot programme uses a mobile phone application called Nokia Life through which midwives regularly receive key information on maternal and child health on their Nokia phones. The messages range from information on pregnancy, safe motherhood, nutrition, and immunisation, to early child development and learning. I will discuss these messages with the expecting and breastfeeding mothers in the Posyandu (local health centre), says Afriana, one of more than 200 village midwives who will participate in the project. The head of West Lombok Health Office, Rachman Syahnan Putra, points to the initiative in terms of tackling ongoing health challenges in his area. This will contribute to our movement towards zero maternal and child deaths in West Nusa Tenggara province, he hopes. The district has managed to reduce maternal death cases to only three so far this year, compared to 12 deaths last year. However, Putra believes there is still room for improvement in enhancing the capacity of health workers. Since midwives are our frontline

service providers who deal directly with the community, this initiative will hopefully increase the communitys awareness, he explains. Luluk, one of the participation midwives lives and works in the village of Mareje Timur, a two hour ride through the hills from the district capital. Our village is so remote. But it doesnt matter. As long as I can receive these messages, I will disseminate them, she says.

West Nusa Tenggara is one of the provinces with the highest maternal and child death rate in Indonesia, according to official data. Pemalang has the secondlowest human development index in Java (Indonesian Statistic Bureau, 2007). Ten months from the start of the programme there will be an evaluation to measure the increase in the midwives knowledge and the improvement in their counseling practices with the families in the community. (UNICEF)

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

This excerpt is the first in a series of articles on the work of the UN in Aceh and Nias
Gunung Sitoli, Nias - Nias is an island so remote that it took an 8.7 magnitude-quake seven years ago for the worlds eyes to focus on this Indonesian community of one million people. Trillions of rupiahs worth of aid from the international community eventually poured into the reconstruction of the devastated island, located some 100 kilometers from Sumatra. If there was no ILO, infrastructure - the International Labor Organization (ILO) stands out. Take the suspension bridge in Gido, in the primary regency of Nias Island. The 64.60m-long steelenforced bridge connects some 3,000 people to services -- including children who used to wade through the waters of the river under the bridge to get to school, and mothers who need to go grocery shopping in the main district village. This bridge replaces an old wooden one so unsafe that children risked their lives just to get to school in the morning. ILO employed the local workforce of Nias to build this bridge. Over 2,500 men -- and some 500 women -were employed to carry out the work of building the foundation, erecting the tower and hoisting the main cable. The Gido suspension bridge, built for under IDR 640 million, was just one of many projects that linked the Nias lost worlds to use the term of one public works official with the rest of the world under the USD 16 million Nias Rural Access and Capacity Building Project (NiasRACBP). Agustinus Sega, who heads the Nias Investment and Development Planning Board (Bappeda), said that ILO worked tirelessly to assist communities build roads and trail bridges. Today some 49 villages across Nias today can still not be accessed by car, and three main cities are cut off from road access. Before ILO came in, it was far worse, said Agustinus. We would have not been able to manage on our own, without help from ILO, following the quake. Our current main focus is watching our budget to try and make sure that two of these three will be free from isolation by 2013, and the third by 2014. He said that credit should be given to ILO for making inroads into isolated villages with its technological expertise and innovation like the suspended bridges. According to Mazdan al Mahdali, who heads the Nias Public Works Agency, work done by ILO carried a special meaning for his office. If there was no ILO, we would have needed an extra 100 years to complete all the work, Mazdan said. We can do it alone, but with restricted facilities and budget, it would take an enormous amount of time. Nuzlan Hia, head of the Road and Bridge Planning Subdivision said that assistance to Niass infrastructure is crucial. ILO helped us tremendously on this front. We are still in dire need of good roads and would hope that ILO can still work with us - specifically to provide access roads which could be used for public services linked to education, like bridges. Nuzlan said.

we would have needed an extra 100 years to complete all the work - Mazdan al Mahdali, Nias Public Works Agency
Today Nias has more than 300 kilometers of new roads and bridges -- some connecting isolated villages to the main city of Gunung Sitoli. Road and bridge work has been crucial not only to rebuilding Nias in the aftermath of the earthquake, but also to end the isolation of small villages from basic services. Truth be told, much more of the reconstruction effort is visible in Gunung Sitoli than it is in remote villages in regions such as MaU, Lotu or Lahomi. This is the reason why of the many international bodies that came to Nias to assist with infrastructure reconstruction work particularly rural transport

Villagers use the Gido suspension bridge to access schools and markets

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

Female Peacekeepers in the Field

operating procedure for different tasks, which makes it clearer for us. For example, for sexual harassment, if you are ever bothered, you can report it, following the rules. So, you are free to be yourself. Ms Rahmi explained that there are many reasons for her decision to join UNPOL. She feels that by joining the UN Police she is able to assist the people in need. There are so many people who are suffering and dying because of war. Millions of them struggle to even find food. Through the UN I got the chance to be involved and help them directly. As time goes by throughout each mission, I learnt how to be grateful for my life, my country and for everything I had, she added. She also feels that through the UN, she got the chance to gain more knowledge and interact with new people from around the world. It was beyond what I had expected to gain. The UN has opened my mind and taught me how to develop certain attitudes and knowledge in an international environment, says Ms. Rahmi. Asked about her expectations for the weeklong meeting in Semarang, Ms. Rahmi said she hoped it could strengthen our skills so we can be more useful to vulnerable populations. She also expressed her hope that more opportunities would become available to Indonesians for both training and working with the UN Police.

Q&A with Indonesian Peacekeeper Lt. Colonel Nita Siahaan M.Sc

Santys Story
Jakarta- When Police Sergeant Santy Rahmi was selected for UN Duty in Sudan in 2008, she was the first female police officer to be assigned to a UN Peace Mission since the year 2000. I was nervous at first, Ms Rahmi said, because I was the only female in my contingent, I was younger than the others, and my rank was lower. But UN Peacekeeping gave me a chance to prove myself, the native of Pekanbaru district in Sumatra said. She continued by saying that she is now seen as an example for women police officers that have followed a similar trail. Ms. Santy Rahmi served the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in both Juba and Khartoum, working in the administrative support section for the UN Police where she was responsible for personnel issues. It is really a great opportunity for women to work in UNPOL, she said, the UN has a standard

Jakarta - On the 16th of January 2008, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) requested the Government of Indonesia, to assign an active service woman in its military forces to support the mission in Democratic Republic of Congo. Several Indonesian police officers applied for the position but only one woman made it through to the final interview session Lieutenant Colonel Nita Siahaan M.Sc. Not only did she assist in maintaining peace and security in DR Congo, she was also the first service woman from Indonesias Army to participate in an UN peacekeeping mission. We spoke to Lt. Col Nita about her experiences and the issues she faced during her year stationed in the DRC. Q: What are your most enjoyable moments from your time as a UN Peacekeeper? A: It has been a joyous moment for me to meet and interact with people and children in the mission area. Having the opportunity to intermingle and know their culture has been life changing.

Semarang- A regional meeting in Semarang to define guidelines for police work in peacekeeping missions was the first in a series of regional consultations designed to help UN Members States provide the best possible police expertise in peacekeeping operations. Currently more than 14,000 police officers serve in a dozen UN peace missions around the world an exponential increase from only 1,700 UN police 15 years ago.

UNPOL Meet

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

Cisarua - The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and partner organization Church World Service (CWS) marked World Refugee Day in June with the theme: 1 Refugee without hope is too many. Attending the event were local authorities in Bogor/Cisarua, representatives from schools where refugee children are granted access to education and some 300 refugees and asylum seekers. Cultural performances were presented by refugees and asylum seekers from Somalia, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Young refugees and asylum seekers also showed their gratitude to the local community in Cisarua by volunteering to clean the streets of the neighbourhood where they are being hosted. This initiative will continue in the future, in partnership with the local inhabitants. UNHCR donated books and shelves to the Elementary School 01 (SDN 01) as a token of appreciation for the services provided by the school to UNHCRs refugee children. (UNHCR)

Honouring the Hosts of Refugee Children

Q&A with Lt. Col Nita Siahaan M.Sc.

Q: What are the basic duties of a UN Military Observer? Are there are any differences in terms of duties for men and women in the Un Peacekeeping Operations? A: Servicemen and women deployed by the UN DPKO share related duties to some extent. They are exposed to the same or parallel risks while serving on filed missions. However, other factors such as gender roles show a distinct separation of men and women peacekeepers. For example, female militaries are able to interact and assist women and young girls who are victims of psychological scars, caused by armed conflicts. I feel, women and children who were abused find it easier to relate to female military observers than our male counterparts. This helps in investigation, advocacy and justice against perpetrators. Indeed the roles of military service women is crucial and remain a necessity for the success of a mission. Q: The Democratic Republic of Congo is often considered a complex mission, with challenges of civil unrest. How do you deal with the level of violence in the country? A: In my opinion, local people, ethnicity or religion play a part in determining the root of the conflict. For example, if tribal issues cause the conflict, I will try and meet the tribal leaders and try to find a solution to reduce the tension. The approach of using tribal leaders is less complex than the conventional model, I believe. (Continues Page 8)

L-R: Dr. Stefanus Bria Seran (NTT Provincial Health Ofce), Ms. Yohana Lisapaly (Oce of the Governor of NTT), Dr. Slamet Riyadi Yuwono (MoH) and Mr. Jose Ferraris (UNFPA)

Population Day in NTT

Jakarta / Kupang - Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services was the theme of this years World Population Day, part of a global push to reenergize Governments commitments on the issue and to recognize those who provide reproductive health information, services and supplies. Indonesia marked the day with a seminar in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), organized by the UN Population Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Government. Following keynote speaker Dr. Slamet Riyadi Yuwono (the Ministrys Director General for Nutrition & Maternal and Children Health), Representative Jose Ferraris reaffirmed UNFPAs commitment to work with all of its partners to ensure that universal access to sexual and reproductive health (especially voluntary family planning) is recognized as a key element of all development and poverty reduction plans -- and is included in the post-2015 international development agenda.

UN IN INDONESIA August, 2012

UN CALENDAR
AUGUST 17 August Indonesian Independence Day celebration 19 August World Humanitarian Day / I Was Here 23 August International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition 29 August International Day against Nuclear Tests 30 August International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 31 August Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) visit to UNIC

Q&A with Lt. Col Nita Siahaan M.Sc.

Q: What are the main challenges of being a woman in the UN Peacekeeping Operations? A: One of the constraints for women is being under the second level of command. Also, there is no permanent policy by the UN in deciding how many female officers can participate in each UN mission. One way to solve this might be for the UN mission to first determine the characteristics of the conflict area and then see how many female officers are needed. This I believe would help to resolve the conflict better. Q: In your opinion, what does the future hold for women officers in UN Peacekeeping missions? A: Women officers certainly play a big role in future UN Peacekeeping missions because many UN Peacekeeping Operations are conducted in non-Western countries that hold conservative values on gender issues. Female officers can be more effective in communicating these issues to the local population. Q: Do you have any suggestions to make the UN Peacekeeping Missions more effective? A: Peacekeeping operations involve a lot of psychological problems, including changing the mindset from a warrior to a peacekeeper, handling stress related to duties, influencing the local population to support the mission, raising awareness about gender issues and solving cross-cultural issues. Yet at the moment, the role of psychological teams in providing their services for deployed units are very limited. I think the involvement of psychological officers in UN Peacekeeping would dramatically improve the effectiveness of the mission.

SEPTEMBER 1-7 September World Urban Forum 1st Week of September ASEAN Post-Rio+20 Development Agenda meeting tbc 18 September International Literacy Day observance at Atma Jaya Catholic University (UNESCO) 10 September World Suicide Prevention Day (WHO) 15 September International Day of Democracy 16 September International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer Mid-September Launch of the Pulse Lab Jakarta 17 September Launch Screening of I video Jangan Kembali (IOM, UNIC, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, INP, U.S. Embassy) 20 September Global Launch of MDG Gap Task Force Report 21 September International Day of Peace (UNIC) 27 September World Tourism Day (UNWTO) 28 September World Rabies Day (WHO) 29 September World Heart Day (WHO)

OCTOBER 1-24 October UN4U (UN for You) Campaign October dates tbc Road to Global Youth Forum (UNFPA) 16 October - World Food Day 22-24 October - 5th Asian Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, Yogyakarta (UN ISDR) at Atma Jaya Catholic University (UNESCO) 24 October - UN Day

DID YOU KNOW?

Every day of 2011, 2400 young people (aged 15-24) were infected with HIV.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the United Nations. The information herein may be freely reproduced. UN IN INDONESIA is published electronically by the United Nations Information Centre, Jakarta. e-mail: unic.jakarta@unic.org