ACHEH-SUMATRA NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues: Minority youth: towards diverse and inclusive societies Tenth Session 30 November and 1 December 2017 Venue: Room XX, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland Minority youth: agents of change for peace and stability (Item 5: Friday, 1 December 2017) Thank you Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all I would like to thank the Forum for this opportunity. My name is Asnawi Ali and I represent Acheh-Sumatra National Liberation Front or ASNLF. Acheh is located at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra and has been in conflicts with Indonesia since its creation after the outbreak of the Second World War. In the wake of the boxing Day tsunami, December 2004, the Free Acheh Movement (GAM) and Indonesia signed a peace deal that ended the thirty-yearmilitary conflict. Last August, Acheh marked the 12 year anniversary of the armed conflict’s end. But despite promises by successive Indonesian governments, this has been a lost decade for tens of thousands affected by the devastating conflict and the authorities have shown little interest in addressing past injustices and full reparation to tens of thousands of victims, especially for young people. Relating to the above-mentioned background and in line with Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015), with reference to the Amman Declaration on Youth, Peace, Security and Stability, I would like to draw the attention of this Forum on Minority youth and its challenges in Indonesia, especially in my homeland Acheh. Youths today are the leaders of tomorrow, they say. That is very true indeed. but looking at the situations around the world that young people are facing today is really worrisome. Not only what is happening in conflict-ridden countries such as in the middle east, Africa, part of Asia and etc, but also in the so called ”stable” third world countries with authoritarian rule, such as Indonesia.