The Melaka International Youth Dialogue (MIYD) is an annual programme of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) which brings together young people, youth leaders and relevant stakeholders from around the world to discuss pertinent youth issues. Since 2001, the MIYD has convened on a wide range of topical issues. The MIYD has witnessed an escalating number of youth participants over the years willing to participate in the decision making process. With the view of building a stronger partnership between the youth and the society, the MIYD produces a declaration which serves as a guideline for youth to address the selected issues.

INTRODUCTION

"Fake news" was not a term many people used three years ago, but it is now seen as one of the greatest threats to democracy, free debate, and order. The absence of filter in the open-sourced network of internet has been taken as an advantage by certain irresponsible parties. Realising the critical issue of fake news, various stakeholders have increasingly expressed their concerns over the rise of information manipulation that would influence public views and behaviour, misleador sensationalist headlines, incite hatred and fear, and even revise factual historical accounts.

Young people, who are known as dynamic users of IoTs, are widely affected by the spread of fake news. Nearly, 1 in 4 young people visits a fake news site in a month, and 60 percent of them consider the evaluation of information found on the internet as a big challenge. Most of the time, young people become the target population due to their impulsive action in sharing the news and information without checking its authenticity or detecting author’s intent or hidden agenda.

Hence, various governments have uttered their intention to enact legislation that will cover and address the issue of fake news. The importance of establishing policies that would curb disinformation is indisputable. Therefore, collaboration among all stakeholders is an effective strategy, as it will contribute in preventing the spread of misleading news and bringing awareness on the issue of fake news among young people.

Thus, it is through interactive dialogues like 19th MIYD, where young people and representatives of various stakeholders will gather to tackle the issue of fake news and to brainstorm the feasible recommendations on media literacy. The plenary sessions of this dialogue will also provide comprehensive insight on the phenomenon of fake news and its misuse by irresponsible parties via social media. At MIYD, we shall also address the role of young people, the responsibility of media, and the emerging legislation, in tackling the issue of fake news and its impact on human rights, including freedom of expression, as well as democratic values.

THEME

YOUTH DECONSTRUCTING FAKE NEWS

The theme for the 19th Melaka International Youth Dialogue ‘Youth Deconstructing Fake News’ has been selected to uplift ideas and encourage young people to attain truthful and reliable means of communication, and distribute authentic and trustworthy information. Particularly, the assurance of democratic value in all aspects of life, and realisation of responsible freedom of expression by protecting and taking time to sort the truth from fiction without becoming cynical. Additionally, the recommendations guided by this selected theme are expected to contribute favorably in youth development as well as the betterment of society as a whole. Young people play a key role in delivering these missions and they should be viewed and treated as assets and drivers of media literacy and sustainable development.

An interactive dialogue on this topic will be of significance to form, educate, and increase awareness on the challenges of media illiteracy, and to develop the essential skills to critically evaluate information for anyone navigating the internet, especially the young people. We shall look at how fake news impacts young people, trends in which youth access and interact with news media, and the possibilities that could be used or created to help young people better use and influence local media. Thus, with the above anticipated theme, all delegates and participants will gather to call for action and structure experiences on the issue of fake news and youth development. The outcome document will also enhance youth contribution towards the attainment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

OBJECTIVES

During the dialogue all participants will gather to address and call for action on the following objectives:

To provide a platform for sharing of knowledge and experiences in addressing fake news;

To find effective and efficient solutions in tackling the issue of fake news and falseinformation;

To converse on the challenges, experiences, and lessons learned from the national youth councilsin practising reliable means of communication and authentic distribution of information;

To come up with mechanismand programmes that would detect, filter, and halt the distribution of fake news and/or false information;

To outline strategies for youth to tap on media literacy in order to avoid spread of fake news and false information;

To discuss the role of different stakeholders i.e. public sector, private sector, academia, NGOs, media and others, in detecting and limiting the spread of fake news and misleading information;

To establish frameworks that would determine the verifiability of a news and information;

To develop strategies that would address the issue of fake news and misleading information;

To form and / or amend the national, regional, and international policies that would undertake the issue offake news and false information;

To foster networking, collaboration, and partnership among youth and all stakeholders in order to address the issue of fake news and misleading information;

To advance the role of youth in media literacy and actively involve them in the social development and attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

PARTICIPANTS

Expected participants should be between the ages of 18 and 35, gender balanced groups representing their respective National Youth Councils; Youth Organisations; Ministries of Youth; Ministries of Housing and Development, Municipalities, Organisations that address urbanization; Youth Development Organisations; International Organisations; United Nations Agencies, and other establishments. The total number of participants in this programme shall be 250 from at least 100 different countries.

REGISTRATION - PARTICIPANTS

All interested participants should submit the filled registration form together with the required documents and information stated in it, to the Organising Committee via email: [email protected]. Deadline for submission of application is set for Friday, 31st May 2019. The admission of each application shall be determined within 3 working days from the submission.

MIYD 19 - Participants Concept Note

MIYD 19 - Participants Registration Form

To be filled by those who want to participate in the event

REGISTRATION - SPEAKERS

All interested speakers should submit the filled registration form together with the required documents and information stated in it, to the Organising Committee via email: [email protected]. Deadline for submission of application is set for Friday, 14th June 2019. The Organising Committee shall notify the shortlisted candidates in due time.

MIYD 19 - Speakers Concept Note

MIYD 19 - Speakers Registration Form

To be filled by those who want to present in the event

VENUE

The MIYD shall be held at Melaka, Malaysia

More information here