NEWS RELEASE

News Release No. 2010/417/WBI

Contacts In Brussels: Olivia Riera, 32-2-552-0044

oriera@worldbank.org In Washington: Ekaterina Svirina (202) 458-1042

esvirina@worldbank.org

Mobilizing Youth against Corruption

BRUSSELS, May 26, 2010 –Young civil society leaders, musicians, and journalists, many of whom come from fragile states will exchange their experiences with fighting corruption at a 2010 Global Youth Forum: Mobilizing Youth against Corruption on May 26-28, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium. “Young citizens are influential agents of change and innovation when they find a space where they can voice their views, develop leadership capacity and interact creatively,” said Sanjay Pradhan, Vice President, World Bank Institute (WBI). “Through this Forum, we want to inspire and engage them for the long term in tackling corruption.” Talented young people from all over the world competed for a place at the Forum. Their credentials include lobbying for access to information legislation, launching awareness campaigns, and conducting diagnostic governance assessments. At the Forum, they will launch a global youth anti-corruption network to continue collaboration after the event. Organized by the World Bank Institute, the Forum uses music and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) as two innovative approaches that appeal to young people. Music can help break the taboo on corruption that persists in many countries. Musicians from Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Columbia produced several original songs for this event. “Many of these young leaders come from environments where corruption is still a mute topic,” said Boris Weber, Senior Governance Specialist, WBI. “ Through music they have found a voice to break the silence. Music helps them address this pressing challenge in a positive and non-threatening manner. And it allows them to open the door for a broader conversation on how young people can support better governance.” Sessions will include discussions on Access to Information, the use of ICT for better governance, and strategic communication. The Global Youth Forum will use the Global Development Learning Network’s technology to connect young development activists across the globe. For example, one session on ICT and Governance will connect the e-Learning Africa conference in Zambia with Burundi, Malawi, Sierra Leone and the conference in Belgium. The 2010 Forum is organized with support from the Government of Belgium, Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI), the European Center for Journalism, and the British Council.

###

For more information, please visit Global Youth Anti-Corruption Network www.voices-against-corruption.org