(Based on but developed after the ISRC 2000 Sydney Conference) N.B. First paragraph is taken from the Formal Conference Program

The Executive and Members of PASTA, the ISRC 2000 Committee, the delegates to this conference and the schools and other organisations they represent acknowledge the assistance and support of many individual students and adults over several years to create this inaugural event. We sincerely hope others will take up the challenge to continue. We also warmly thank our speakers and other invited guests. They have all given freely of their time and expertise to help us come to a better understanding of how secondary students and their most valuable and closest colleagues - their own school's student representative teacher/advisers - can better work together within their school community, communicate, network and share to "Building a Better Today" in the wider global community we all share.

The following resolutions reflect a Canadian aspect on the resolutions created at the first International Student Representative Council Conference in Sydney.

Cultural Diversity

Be it resolved that the United Nations, its member nations and its agencies implement more extensive educational programs on cultural diversity that focus on understanding, acceptance, respect, and unity within the community. Further to this:

• ISRC 2000 supports national education programs on diversity throughout schools
• ISRC 2000 recommends that schools explore the use of non-traditional methods such as art, media and technology as a means of promoting better understanding of cultural diversity
• ISRC 2000 recommends that all schools establish policies on discrimination, especially against indigenous peoples

Challenges Facing Young People in the 21st Century

Be it resolved that the United Nations, its member nations and its agencies support the efforts made by youth to act as responsible citizens in voicing their concerns on various issues and bettering their communities on local, national and international levels. Further to this:

• ISRC 2000 condemns all forms of violence
• ISRC 2000 acknowledges the work done by volunteers as an essential community service
• ISRC 2000 recommends that schools and community organizations recognize the positive achievements of young people.

Health

Be it resolved that the United Nations, its member nations and its agencies support the health and well-being of youth through offering relevant services and information at a local, national and international level. Further to this:

• ISRC 2000 supports programs providing education for parents as well as students about adolescent illnesses, including eating disorders, run by schools and other organizations. These programs should aim to increase the awareness of the symptoms and prevalence of such illnesses and provide means of addressing the problems.
• ISRC 2000 supports services designed to assist young people with emotional and health problems.
• ISRC 2000 supports services aiming to help youth avoid and overcome substance use and abuse.

Conserving the Environment

Be it resolved that the United Nations, its member nations and its agencies promote the preservation and bettering of the environment within our community by:

• Reducing the consumption of natural resources and energy
• Reusing those products that have a potential to fulfill a function
• Recycling: the establishment and continuation of recycling programs within our community
• Rejecting products and substances that pose a potential threat to the environment
• Repairing those areas of the environment that have been damaged or harmed

The Continuation of International Leadership

Be it resolved that the United Nations, its member nations and its agencies work together to create and support an international body for youth leadership in the spirit of the ISRC 2000 Conference. -

... as developed by delegates from CASAA (Canadian Association of Student Activity Advisers) during January 2001 and submitted for consideration from its President, Gane Olsen (Edmonton, Alberta)

MORE SPECIFIC IDEAS FOR ACTION

The Canadian Resolutions reflect most of the major general concerns of Conference participants. Many delegates, however, felt the need to be more specific. The following are the topics or specific actions from some of the other numerous original 'recommendations' coming out of the Melting Pot Process on Days 1 & 2. Delegates either brought these ideas with them to the Conference or developed them after attending and discussing various workshops. Each day, Programming Co-Chair Anna Samson organised lists of similar statements and these were circulated. These initial suggestions were then considered and refined by the Forum on Day 4. Both these and the final ones presented to UNICEF will be available in Conference papers to those who request them.

2001 is International Year of the Volunteer. Delegates recognised this. É

• Volunteers throughout the world: an important form of community service involvement of young people in volunteer activities . . . thanks to all these people."
• ISRC / SRC Future Directions: UN provide assistance in the development of student representative bodies in countries in which resources are limited and assist in forming an organisation of these councils at the national level . . . each nation hold an annual national student representative conference
• ISRC Conference be held once every two years coinciding with the Winter and Summer Olympic Games . . . institute as a forum to provide more opportunities for students with a variety of backgrounds to share problems and discuss solutions to these problems, because 'a problem shared is a problem halved' . . . vital countries unable to physically attend should still be allowed to participate . . .new technology - eg tele-conferences and webcams should be harnessed to assist . . . international governing committee consisting of a rep from each country responsible for the organisation of the next and future ISRCs. . . . also function as an international student representative organisation . .. . establishment of an executive director . . . younger students be encouraged to become involved in conference organisation as well as SRC activities . .
• Schools: Student groups to make their schools places where students feel involved and happy; support programme to help students overcome a fear or dislike of the school environment . . . . . use restorative justice techniques to counter continued differences between individuals within the school environment . . . participation of schools in the development of the Amnesty International movement throughout the world and in schools É
• The Media: support work of young people, acknowledge their views and positive actions as a force for social change rather than a problem . . . disappointment in lack of positive media coverage of young people. Conferences and forums such as this should be advertised and more interest shown by newspapers and TV . . . an international magazine on student representation be established
• Global Issues: global treaty to ban land mines be signed & implemented by ALL countries . . . UN promote public policies that seek to cancel the debt of Third World countries . . . supports balance of power of countries in the UN . . . increased communication between larger nations with smaller ones to learn their concerns and desires instead of having the larger nations making decisions for these smaller nations . . . UN clarify standards of prosecution of juveniles as adults. . . . creation & strengthening of existing laws to protect individuals against discrimination due to their sexual preference . . . UN to create a position of liaison for indigenous peoples to the UN ambassadors of their respective countries . . . non-violent protests as a form of reconciliation with our indigenous peoples . . .
• Health: community support of carers . . . governments provide financial support for these carers . . . schools to fundraise and support Westmead Children's Hospital and similar children's health providers . . . use of visual aids to share with students the stories of sick children to help inspire them to financially assist organisations working in this area financially assist organisations working in this area