Yellowknife (Sep 24/03) - Diversity described both the subject and the participants at a recent forum.

About 15 youth between the ages of 15 and 26 from across the North participated in the United Nations Association of Canada (UNAC) Youth for Diversity forum from Sept. 19-21 in Yellowknife.

A morning session was also set aside for a look at the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and how it applies to youths.

The idea behind the forum was to show youth that their concerns over such subjects are shared by others.

"It helps them see that they are not a small voice in the group. There are others who have the same ideas," said Marcy MacDougall, the regional co-ordinator for UNAC.

The forum was divided between speakers and large and small group discussions and workshops.

The youths discussed issues such as unity, oppression, exploitation, racial profiling and hate crimes.

They talked about respecting, promoting and recognizing diversity.

They also gave their opinions on what society and themselves personally have to do to achieve that.

This was the first time such a forum was held in the NWT.

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