The One Young World conference was held in Bangkok on November 18-21, 2015. One Young World is a global forum for young leaders aged 18-30, which gathers youths from around the globe to develop solutions to some of world's most pressing issues. The Thai government granted the conference complete freedom of speech.
At the conference, young Thai leaders warned that Thailand's "nanny state" needs to come to an end. Four young Thai nationals represented Thailand and they said the government needs a drastic change. Young Thai people have been largely turned off by politics in Thailand. "We live in a very patriarchal society where elders make all the decisions, so young people feel like they don't have a voice, and it takes away their empowerment," said Napas 'Zeze' Na Pombejra, a young Thai woman. "But my message is that they can be the catalyst, the force for change," she continues. "They do have a voice. First, however, they have to take an interest and start talking about it. If they become afraid to speak, discuss and share their views then the dialogue cannot continue."
Cod Satrusayang, a correspondent for German news agency Deutsche Presse Agentur, says before young people can even begin talking there is a need to adjust the way they approach politics and social issues. "And that is not to accept what has been fed to them by someone of a higher authority," he says. "There are lots of people who have protested against military rule. One group of students from a local university was striking by reading George Orwell's 1984 novel on the streets in protest at government corruption. "And in doing so they were taken in for 'attitude adjustment'. I admire their courage. If the young people of today just by taking a stance inspire others to write about them then that is enough. They need to know their actions transcend that moment in time because it will inspire others. When you take a stand against absolutism, it always inspires."
