'Youth' as a term defined means a person who has attained the age of 16 years but has not attained the age of 18 years (according to the Child Law 1993) But, generally, Myanmar defines the age group of youth to be (15-24) for the sake of the out-of-school youth project. The State Pace and Development Council has laid down political, economic and social objectives for a peaceful, modern and developed nation. The objectives related to the development of youth* is included in the following four social objectives:

1.Uplift of the morale and morality of the entire nation

2.Uplift of National prestige and integrity and preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage and national character

3.Uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit

4.Uplift of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation

The Government lays down the national objectives in accordance with the historical, geographical, social and cultural context of the Union of Myanmar.

The state is implementing the development of human resources. Because of the future productive force of the nation, youth development is emphasised in the human resources development context. The state places high value on the affairs of the youth. The state is responsible for cultivating the physical, mental and moral well being of youths and to uplift the patriotic spirit among youth. The state lays down the national objectives for the national development and it will also enable the entire population of youth to benefit from the state. The state objectives provide for the development of youth in their health, education, national patriotism and preservation of national culture. The efforts made in the area of youth development can serve towards the development of the nation to help prepare youths to shoulder future national duties.

* Definition of Youth - refers to a person between the age of 16 to 18 years (according to the child Law 1993), but generally, we can refer to the age range of 15-24 years for the sake of out-of-scjool youth.

1. Education Sector

- Basic education ensures that there is one primary school for every two villages

- The University for the Development of National Races has been established since 1964, for the development of border areas and difficult transporting regions.

- Co-curriculum activities are carried out in primary and middle schools and pre-vocational subjects have been introduced in 120 basic education schools

- Anti-narcotic activities are conducted in schools

- The government provides equal, basic education opportunities for boys and girls

- Monastic education primary schools have been opened in 179 townships

- There are 28 universities, 9 degree colleges, 22 two-year colleges, and 2 foreign language universities.

- Vocational Education Institutes such as technical institutes, teachers training colleges, agricultural institutes, etc. are in operation.

- National Centre for Human Resource Development (NCHRD) was opened on 28 May 1998, under the Higher Education Department.

- Centres for Human Resource Development in each Universities, Degree Colleges and Colleges were opened.

- 105 kinds of trainings were opened in these centres.

- 203 e-Education Learning Centres were also opened in 116 townships.

- Electronic Data Broadcasting System has been initiated on 1 January 2001.

- New Century Resource Centres and Centres for Ancient Myanmar Manuseripts were opened in Yangon in December 2000, and Mandalay in April 2001.

(a) Science and Technology Education

- Ministry of Science and Technology was formed.

- To be able to earn better income by lifting the education standard, more Technical Institutes, Technological Colleges and Universities, Computer Colleges and Universities of Computer Studies have been established.

- More course (in types or in number) have been opened and more trainees are being accepted.

- Under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the number of Universities, Colleges, Institutes and Vocational Schools at current performance in States and Divisions are as follow:

(1)  Technological University     3

(2)  Computer University            2

(3)  Technological College       17

(4)   Computer College            16

(5)   Technical Institutes          16

(6)    Vocational School           13

(b) Youth Development of Border Areas and National Races

- In accordance with the guidelines of the Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races, the Department of Education and Training was established.

- Its aim is to pursue basic and higher education for the youth nationalities from border areas.

- 2 Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree Colleges were established in Yangon and Mandalay, as the higher education sector.

- 17 Training Schools for Development of Nationalities Youths from Border Areas were also established, at the basic education sector.

- There are also 12 Vocational Training Schools of Domestic Science for Women in border areas that have already been established and conducted training.

- These trainings are in dress-making, handicraft, cookery and tapestry.

2. Health

- 718 hospitals, 33 dispensaries, 3 indigenous hospitals, 178 indigenous medical centres, 1385 Rural Health Centres and 80 school health teams are in operation

- Dissemination of health education on the danger of Narcotics has been carried out by distribution of handouts and posters

- A treatment Hospital for drug-users has been set up

- Rehabilitation centres have been set up - AIDS control programmes are carried out.

(a) Drug Control Endeavours

-  Enacted the Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs Law in 1974 by Government

-  In 1993, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Law was enacted as a new law.

- Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was formed in 1975.

- Under the Central Committee, 11 working sectors were also formed.

- 2 strategies were laid down by the Government:-

(1) The Designation of narcotic drug eradication as a national duty and the comprehensive implementation of that strategy; and

(2) The Development and enhancement of the standard of living of the national races in the border areas and total eradication of poppy cultivation.

- Myanmar was a state party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic drug as of 29.7.63.

- Also was a signatory to the 1988 Convention against trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic substances

- In1999, started to implement a 15 years narcotics elimination plan.

1. Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA)

- Union solidarity and Development Association is an association concerned with youth

- The majority members are youth.

- USDA was formed on 15 September 1993. Under the Central Committee, there are all Division and State Level Committees, 63 District Level Committees and 320 Township Level Committees.

- 16,310,390 members in April 2001

- 7 types of training courses are conducted as the central level : -

(1) Management Courses for Executive of USDA;

(2) Advanced Management Courses for Executive of UDSA;

(3) Special Refreshment Courses; 

(4) International Relation Courses;

(5) Diploma in Computer Courses.

(6)  Advanced Accountancy Courses; and

(7) Myanmar and International Affairs Studies Courses.

 2. Myanmar Red Cross Society

- Established in 1920 as branch of Indian Red Cross Society

- Comprised based on young people who are very willing to do in social welfare and rescue works.

- The aim is "Alleviation of Human Suffering"

- To achieve this aim, there are three strategies:-

- To promote health care services;

- To prevent diseases; and

- To render help to those in distress.

- Has total membership of approximately over 250,000 consisting of 26,500 life members, 17,200 ordinary member, 165,000 Red Cross Brigade and 73,000 School Red Cross members.

- Youth Red Cross from 30 universities and colleges all over Myanmar are also included.

- Recruitment for Red cross Youth Volunteers is being undertaken constantly throughout the country.

- Provided the opportunities to take part in National activities in relief work, medico-socio assistance and health education and promotion activities

- Social assistance and health education and health promotion activities.

- National Youth Camps and International Youth Exchange Programmes are held every year.

3. Forming of NCRC

- Myanmar was a state party of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991.

- And then, the State enacted the Child law on 14 July 1993, to implement the rights of the child recognized in the UNCRC.

- In according with the Child Law, the National Committee on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) was formed on 30 September 1993.

- Under the National Committee, all State and Divisional Level Committees, 63 District Level Committees and 269 Township Level Committees.

- NCRC is implementing the best interest of child and young persons.

4. Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs

- The State is committed to adopt the Beijing Platform for Action and to implement the Women Conference's programmes in accord with the national political, economic and social objectives.

- It has formulated strategies and Plans of Action for advancement of women.

- To enhance the implementation, national machineries are established.

- A National Committee called the Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs was formed in July 1996 to systematically implement activities for the advancement of women.

 - Subsequently, the Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's Affairs (MNWCWA) was formed in October 1996 to facilitate the activities.

- The Myanmar National Working Committee had identified the eight areas that were considered to be the most relevant for advancement of Mynmar.

- Women's Education, Health, Violence against Women, Economy, the Girl-child, Culture, Environment and Media.

- Under the Girl-Child strategic objectives are:-

- Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls;

- Increase awareness of the needs and potential;

- Eliminate the economic exploitation of working children; and

- Promote the girl-child's awareness of and participation in social, economic and political life.

5. Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA)

- MMCWA is a voluntary humanitarian organization dedicated to mothers serving the Myanmar society in promoting the health and well being of mothers and children, with the aim to improve the quality of life of the people.

- It was established on April 1991

- MMCWA has a Central Committee.

- All states and divisions and 324 townships associations were formed.

- Currently there are over 2 million members, who are unpaid volunteers.

- Its activities are in 3 areas:- Health, Education and Income Generation.

- Under the heading of Health Activities, MMCWA has conducted Youth Programme (Adolescent Reproductive Health) since 1998.

- This programme involves delivery of health education talks to in-school youth of middle and high school. The topics included reproductive health education as well as importance of cultural values and responsible behavior.

- In 1999, MMCWA expanded its programmes to out of school youth.

- Another youth programme is the training-of-trainers programme for youth who will become peer educators, both for in-school and out of school adolescent and youth.

- This training is conducted in youth camps and the training module used is the translated version of the "Reproductive Health for Adolescent Module"

- Furthermore, MMCWA youth volunteers have been actively involved in activities relating to health. Education and welfare work being implemented in the community.

- Their contribution has been appreciated and recognized which has led to MMCWA's success in receiving the "ASEAN YOUTH AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE 2000"

6. Volunteer youth in Fire Services

- Fire services Department was formed under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

- This department organized the volunteers for voluntary fire services force.

- 206, 652 youth are taking part in fire services as volunteers

- The responsibilities of the force are not only fighting fire but also social activities in cooperation with USDA, Red Cross youth and youth from various areas.

7.Youth Affairs Services by department of Social Welfare

- Established 8 Youth Training Schools for Boys and Girls.

- Also established 2 Women's development Centres 4 vocational Training Centres for Women and 6 Schools for Home Science.

- Encouraging and assisting to establish Voluntary Youth Development Centres, Department of Social Welfare provides financial and Technical assistance to 129 centres.

- 112 Youth Centres and 77 Voluntary Primary night schools are operated with the aim of preventing of Juvenile Delinquency.

- For persons with disabilities, DSW established (4) special schools for those disabled people such as blind, deaf, disabled children & adult disabled persons,

- 8 Rehabilitation Centres for Ex- Drug Addicts are operated.

- Human Resource Development Course for Youth Development was held in Yangon, November 2000 sponsored by ESCAP, 35 participants from youth related departments and organizations, attended.

United Nations Environment Programme

http://www.unepapac.org/myanmar_1.html

- Myanmar became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

- To implement the tasks for function co-operation of ASEAN, Myanmar National Committee on Social development was formed in 17 February 1998.

- Under the National Committee, 7 sub-committees were also formed.

- Youth Sub-committee was one of these committees.

- At the Eight Asean Youth Day Meeting (AYDM VIII) in 1999, U Tin Maung Oo from Union of Myanmar received the ASEAN Youth Award on Young Entrepreneurship, and AYDM IX in 2000, MMCWA from Myanmar received the ASEAN Youth Award for Community Services 2000.

- As a host country, Myanmar held Ninth ASEAN Youth Day Meeting (AYDM IX) and the Third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY III) in 2000.

- In accordance with the ASY plan, Department of Social Welfare carried out the Out-of-School Youth project as the focal point.

- According to that project, the ASEAN Directory for OSY is developed.

- A Youth@ASEAN Hompage will be developed for Myanmar.