International World Heritage Youth Forum: Living with Heritage: Temple, Environment and People (T.E.P.)

The World Heritage Youth Forum has become an annual event held in conjunction with the session of World Heritage Committee. As part of the 37th session, an international youth forum is being organized by the State Party of Cambodia with the support of the ASEAN Foundation and the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia.

Young representatives (aged 18 - 20 years) motivated to learn more about World Heritage, its conservation and protection are invited to participate in the Youth Forum to be held in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 8 to 17 June 2013.

The participating countries include: Algeria, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.

The Forum participants, together with heritage experts, will explore one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia: the World Heritage site of Angkor. They will also meet the communities in Siem Reap City, take part in workshops, carry out basic hands-on conservation activities, and participate in discussions focusing on the theme of water management and the impact of tourism. The participants will also make presentations of selected sites in their country. This will facilitate exchange and interaction among the participants, helping to strengthen links and cultural connectivity among youth around the world.

The youth delegates will be presenting their work and the results of the Youth Forum to the World Heritage Committee at the opening ceremony of the 37^th Session on 16 June in Phnom Penh. Most of all, they will have the opportunity to meet and discuss with the members of the Committee and its Advisory Bodies.