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TOKYO STATEMENT ON GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP Declaration of the Forum on Global Citizenship Preamble We the 38 participants from the YMCAˇ¦s of Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom and the World Alliance together with resource persons on Global Citizenship gathered as a Forum on Global Citizenship from 16- 19 October 2008 at the YMCA Asia Youth Center, Tokyo, Japan We affirm our commitment to the resolution of the 16th World Council 2006 on Global Citizenship and the Quadrennial Thrust of the APAY on Global Citizenship and Social Responsibility. We explored the concepts of Citizenship and Global Citizenship, in particular in the context of the current social dynamics of Globalization and undertook a conceptualization process in relation to the mission imperatives of the YMCA as expressed in Challenge 21. We listened to the action responses and good practices of YMCAˇ¦s and Civil Society Organizations engaged in the forefront of Global Citizenship actions and lead us to develop a common curricular framework for action in our context. What do we mean by Global Citizenship? : Global citizenship is a way of approaching the world and the complexities brought about by
the process of globalization. It is a framework that enables people to appreciate that the
global is a part of local everyday life regardless of where one resides and where the realities
of communities and nations are more and more influenced by global dynamics and processes.
This phenomenon brought about by greater integration at all levels coupled with
revolutionary changes in information and communication technologies have brought about
greater opportunities but also threats. Today, more than ever, the expression of human
solidarity that cuts across categories of space, time, generations and gender, aimed at bringing
about peace, social justice and ecological integrity is possible. And yet, the threats of
exclusion and greater fragmentation of peoples and nations are, today, also made more real. In this globalized world we realize Rights, Duties, Membership and Participation as key components to Citizenship integrating notions of universal human rights, environmental and planetary interests, multiculturalism and takes into account the emergence of an information society. We understood the Global Citizenship as a pragmatic response to these conditions. Global Citizenship in the Context of the YMCA As declared clearly in Challenge 21, YMCA is a world-wide ecumenical movement committed to building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation. In this contemporary world where planetary survival including that of humanity is at great danger, and where the interconnectedness and interdependence among all the creation has begun to be awakened by humanity in the form of ˇ§new planetary spiritˇ¨, YMCA is called upon to re-define itself as a collective actors of, as well as commit itself to the genuine practice of, Global Citizenship at all levels ˇV from individual to community, national to global, thus realizing its solemn motto ˇĄThat they all may be oneˇ¦. Hence our approach to global citizenship, in order to make a fundamental challenge to the structural causes of present days realities, would need to focus on building social responsibility, ethical and human values, justice, peace and sustainability of life. We conceptualized Global Citizenship as an awareness and act of commitment rooted in the spirit of global consciousness and interconnectedness of the world. It recognizes the need to understand global realities and social responsibilities and motivates the people to develop mindset as citizens of the world with human and ethical values. It promotes the collective community social responsibilities and actions towards justice, peace and sustainability of life by citizens as change agents. Framework for Global Citizenship Education Curriculum We realized the need to have a common curriculum framework to encourage all national movements to develop their own curriculum for Global Citizenship education. 01 The Focus /Thrust Areas for Global Citizenship education programme include
02. Each National Council shall develop its own curriculum for the education program taking into account the Local context. 03. The target groups for the education program will be Youth volunteers from the YMCA/ Universities/ Schools. 04. The approach of implementation shall include
Global Citizenship Actions ˇV Our calling Our call is to build broader guidelines for action as Global citizens for one world family to focus on building social responsibility, fostering justice to uphold human right and promoting ecological sustainability for peaceful coexistence and mutual interest to build better lives better communities and a better world. Our commitment:
Recommendations to World Alliance In order to move ahead towards actualizing our commitment, we invite the The World Alliance of YMCAs
Recommendations to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Recommendations to National Movements To enable the national movements to understand and appreciate the conceptual framework of Global Citizenship and integrate the concept into existing actions and/ or initiating new areas of action, we recommend each national movement
GC FORUM _ Address by Dr. Park Jai Chang.pdf
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