World Youth Parliament for Water elects new board

WORLD YOUTH PARLIAMENT FOR WATER ELECTS NEW BOARD

Global network advocates for youth action on water

MONTREAL, March 29, 2018–The World Youth Parliament for Water elected a new board of young water leaders in Brasilia last week. The board will advocate and act for water around the world, while mobilizing youth and supporting change. For its general assembly, the Parliament brought together young people from five continents during the World Water Forum for a week of discovery, debate and action.

The Parliament encourages its members to take action for a better water future. Board members are elected to three year terms, during which they uphold the founding principles of the Parliament and work towards action on all levels.

The new President of the network is Lindsey Aldaco-Manner, from Texas A&M University. The Vice President is Roshani Bhattarai of Nepal, founder of the Nepal Youth Parliament for Water. Members also elected six regional representatives.

“I’m excited to stand up for the right of all to access water and sanitation,” said Manner. “We have tremendous potential as a network to undertake projects that facilitate sharing while advancing the cause of water and peace. I would also like to thank the previous board and especially the outgoing president Asma Bachikh for their hard work and service.”

During the Forum, participants advanced the cause of the Parliament’s theme, Water and Peace. They participated in high-level panels and discussions, ensuring youth voices were visible, prominent and relevant. Participants contributed directly to discussions pursued by policymakers on transboundary issues.

WYPW 2018 board clockwise from left: Lindsey Aldaco-Manner (president), Rosnee Bhattarai (vice-president), Zinsou Nounagnon Dakoz-Daunou (Africa), Pippi van Ommen (Europe), Jessica Hawey and Pedro Cunha (Americas), Alex Whitebrook (Oceania), Botagoz Sharipova and Jeffery Liao (Asia)

“The 2015-2018 Board would like to congratulate the newly elected Board and wishes them all the best in leading the network for the upcoming three years. We are confident that they will do a great job in representing the voice of the youth in the water sector,” said former vice-president Susanne Reitsma in a statement.

“I wish all the best and success to this new generation, board and president and I am sure they will continue on the strong foundations we have established,” said outgoing president Asma Bachikh. “I would also like to thank all the board members for the continuous support they have extended me in this journey – without them, nothing would have been possible.”

As the 8th World Water Forum drew to a close, the Parliament’s young participants partnered with country delegations to issue a response to the ministerial declaration. They also launched a new platform for dialogue, Youth for Water and Peace, in cooperation with the Geneva Water Hub.

ABOUT WYPW:

The Parliament is a global youth network of young water leaders active in 80 countries. It meets every three years for a general assembly during the World Water Forum.  It is supported by the International Secretariat for Water, a Montreal, Canada-based NGO.

ABOUT ISW:

Founded in 1990, ISW is an international organization that envisions a world where all people have access to safe water and sanitation, and resources are preserved for future generations. Through field work, advocacy initiatives and youth activities, the ISW and partners create a space for dialogue between diverse stakeholders. The movement advances regional development, fostering an integrated approach to water management using a river basin framework. The organization is based in Montreal, Canada, and initiated the first World Youth Parliament for Water in Quebec City in 2002.