HOPE EXPRESSED THAT DECLARATION TO BE ADOPTED AT LISBON MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE WILL BE REFERENCE POINT FOR FUTURE ACTION
Press Release
SOC/4471
HOPE EXPRESSED THAT DECLARATION TO BE ADOPTED AT LISBON MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE WILL BE REFERENCE POINT FOR FUTURE ACTION
19980812 (Received from a United Nations Information Officer.)LISBON, 11 August -- When national solutions to address youth matters were not sufficient, world cooperation was needed, the Secretary of State for Youth of Portugal, Miguel Fontes, said this afternoon as he addressed the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth.
In an extended final meeting for a general exchange of views, which began on Sunday, 9 August, he expressed the hope that the Lisbon declaration to be adopted at the close of the Conference tomorrow would be a reference point for action and supported by adequate resources. The Conference is hosted by Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations.
Representatives of governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations called for a demonstration of political commitment by governments to attain the goals to be agreed to in Portugal. Specifically, some speakers called for the development of national programmes relating to sexual health, drug abuse prevention, employment generation and education.
Charmaine Graves, of the NGO Coalition for Youth and Family, welcomed the fact that the draft Lisbon declaration contained positive references to the family. However, it was disappointing that the draft declaration failed to address the central role of the family -- particularly parents -- in preparing youth for successful adulthood and protecting them from risks.
The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Paul Bloem, said that healthy development was generated by providing young people with the skills, knowledge, support and opportunities they needed to adjust to the changing world. However, failure to meet the needs of young people engendered destructive behaviours, such as smoking and drug dependence, suicide, and criminal violence. By implementing declarations of the international community, including those contained in the draft declaration to be agreed to tomorrow, governments could establish effective health programmes which
created safe and supportive environment through family and community and profoundly reduced young people's vulnerability to high-risk behaviour.
With at least 60 million young people unemployed today, Gek-Boo Ng, of the International Labour Organization (ILO), called on member States to implement balanced economic growth strategies that created jobs, and to invest in education, vocational training and job counselling to support youth to enter the job market.
Also this afternoon, ministers from Malawi, Lithuania, Israel, Peru, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Kenya addressed the Conference.
In addition, representatives from Pakistan, Belgium, Norway, Japan, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Philippines, Hungary, Thailand, Guatemala, Jamaica, Sao Tome and Principe, Turkey, Bulgaria, Malaysia and Lesotho spoke.
Also, the Conference heard statements from representatives of the following: Organization of African Unity (OAU), United Nations Volunteers, Youth Focal Point of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), Inter-American Development Bank, Council of Europe, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, informal NGO caucus on youth and health, and the World Council of Churches.
Conference Work Programme
The first World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth this afternoon continued its general exchange of views on implementing the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995 on the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year.
The Conference is being held from 8 to 12 August in Lisbon. It brings together governmental representatives from around the world to identify ways of responding more effectively to the needs of young people. Participants will review efforts to fulfil the World Programme of Action; appraise progress since the 1985 International Youth Year, as well as the relevance of its themes -- participation, development and peace; and discuss social development, focusing, in particular, on education, health, employment and substance abuse.
The Conference is expected to culminate in the adoption of a declaration by which governments will commit to strengthening policies to benefit youth.
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Statements
AKHTAR ALI KAZI, Ambassador to Portugal, Pakistan, said that in his country the concept of youth empowerment had taken concrete form. Pakistan's political leadership was young, energetic and sensitive to youth issues. In 1989, a Youth Ministry had been created to examine youth-related policy, legislation and coordination. A national youth policy was being prepared to develop skills for employment, promote a sense of social justice, establish guidance institutions, and foster awareness of issues such as narcotics and the environment. Those objectives would be actualized by local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The action plan for the national youth policy was oriented towards employment, public health and environment, he said. A national youth employment council was being established to conduct a quarterly review of employment and supervise related policy. The emphasis on self-employment would be translated into vocational training and developing skills for obtaining, using and repaying micro-credit programmes. Further, it would encourage banks and finance institutions to provide funds.
Pakistan's national environmental conservation strategy was based on maintaining ecological processes, preserving diversity and ensuring sustainable use. The Government intended to launch a concentrated campaign for youth awareness of environment issues through grants to youth NGOs. Those were some of the elements guiding the formulation of the youth policy. The Youth Ministry would convene a conference for NGOs to discuss how the spirit of the Lisbon Conference could be incorporated into the national action plan.
PAUL BLOEM, of the World Health Organization, said today's realities offered young people tremendous opportunities combined with tremendous challenges. Earlier puberty and later marriage extended the risks of unprotected sexual activity. In some countries, early marriage and childbearing led to maternal and infant deaths. In many parts of the world, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, posed enormous risks to young populations. Young people were often perceived as the healthiest members of society, yet the reality was staggering. Last year, 100,000 young persons had killed themselves, while 40 times that number had tried. This year, 2.6 million young persons would contract HIV, and 300,000 would die of tuberculosis.
These were not health concerns only, he continued. Young people were important producers and made direct economic contributions to society. Improvements in the health of younger workers would result in long-term gains in productivity. Investing in health prevention averted future health care costs; in some countries, every dollar invested in young people's health saved $15 in future health costs.
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Failure to meet the needs of young people, who were at the crossroads of their lives, engendered destructive behaviours, such as smoking and drug dependence, suicide and criminal violence, he said. On the other hand, healthy development was generated by providing young people with the skills, knowledge, support and opportunities they needed to adjust to the changing world. The world now had a clear idea of elements needed for successful health programmes for young people, and declarations at world conferences must become action. Actions to address a variety of health problems were more efficient than single-issue approaches, while programmes to create a safe and supportive environment through family and community could profoundly decrease young people's vulnerability to high-risk behaviour. Young people attending the World Youth Forum in Braga last week had recommended that health care become more accessible and affordable, he said. With its partners, the WHO had been exploring ways to make its health centres more youth-friendly. For example, youth volunteers were placed in health centres to bridge the gap between young patients and health workers.
A. HAGGAG, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), said the role of young African women was vital. There clearly could be no meaningful sustainable development without the empowerment of women. Following the 1985 Youth Year, Africa had convened a pan-African youth conference in 1996 to examine the situation of youth amidst the changing African world. The African common position, which had been adopted by OAU members prior to the Lisbon Conference, addressed many issues raised in the United Nations Programme of Action. However, the conflicts on the African continent had complicated the situation. The final Lisbon declaration reflected the common position of the international community, and it should be used to guide collective efforts relating to youth development.
LILLIAN PATEL, Minister for Women, Youth and Community Services, Malawi, said the issue of youth in Malawi was very important, as youth represented 64 per cent of its population. The Government had launched a national youth policy in 1996, following consultations with youth and other stakeholders. The national policy provided a blueprint for empowering youth to realize their dreams. Youth empowerment was an exciting campaign. Young people felt empowered when they could make their own choices and were aware of the implications of the choices made.
Education was a useful tool for youth empowerment, she said. Free elementary school education for both sexes had been introduced. Free primary education was being offered to girls through a special government programme. A youth development and credit scheme provided venture capital to young people who wished to begin small economic activities. Young people were the engine that would drive her country's economic growth.
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MIGUEL FONTES, Secretary of State for Youth, Portugal, said it had been a great honour for Portugal to host, for the first time, a world conference. When talking of quality of life, social development was a fundamental aspect. A priority of the Portuguese youth policy was the promotion of education opportunities. Education was a right which should be available to all. The various alternative paths to secondary education must be articulated. Youth unemployment was being combated through the improvement of training, inclusion of young people in professional programmes and encouraging the hiring of young people. However, with an unemployment rate of 16.7 per cent recorded in 1996, clearly there were barriers to young people entering the job market. However, the unemployment rate in Portugal was lower than that of other European countries.
Proper health services were vital for youth participation, he said. The Government was creating programmes to support youth in leading a healthy life style. His Government was concerned about the level of ignorance among young people about sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases and family planning. Matters relating to sexuality were sensitive issues, but governments must not withhold information from youth on sexual health. Portugal had set up sex education programmes in schools and other networks, including the establishment of a free phone line for young people to gain information. On drug prevention, he said the public network of drug treatment centres had been increased. Intervention projects had been put in place.
However, national solutions to address youth matters at times were not enough, he said. World cooperation was needed. He hoped that the Lisbon declaration would be a reference point which would be followed by appropriate actions and supported by adequate resources. He added that the rights of people of East Timor must be respected, including their human rights and their right to self-determination.
PHILIPPE ALLARD, member of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, Belgium, said his country's youth policy was defined as "non-formal education" and focused on promoting ways of being, communicating and listening. Those were non-tangible achievements which could result in the development of young people. Through those policies, young people were taught to act on personal and collective values.
Such practices were particularly valuable regarding culturally, socially and physically underprivileged persons, he said. The fight against social exclusion must become a top priority. The acquisition of language, artistic expression and community projects resulted in instilling greater confidence in excluded groups and enhanced their abilities.
The impact of non-formal education could not be seen immediately, but a balanced and enriched person would ultimately become a professional and social
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success, he said. There was need for collaboration with the education, social, health and employment sectors. However, a policy that was too integrated would not respond to real needs, since young people were not homogenous.
ODD ANDERS WITH, State Secretary, Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Norway, said youth participation had to be viewed in the context of social exclusion and marginalization. The values of participation and democracy were closely related, since no democracy could exist without participation. The values of solidarity and equality were of major importance in maintaining democracy. Such values were of importance if communities were to be maintained with mutual care. However, questions of short-term interest were too often put first on the political agenda.
The Government had appointed a special commission to promote broad discussion on values, among people with various backgrounds, he said. Young people were central participants for several reasons. Children and youth today were experts on their living conditions. Local and central communities needed to hear their point of view to improve conditions. Also, youth needed to develop the skills and experience by which democratic attitudes were promoted. In today's complex society, young people were exposed to a variety of influences. Cultural change affected young people more than adults; there was need to further efforts by which young people helped each other.
In today's society, young people were resources and agents of change, he said. In Norway, municipalities were exploring different models for enlisting youth participation. Today, many lacked confidence in local democracy, as reflected in a decline in interest in local politics. Therefore, a "culture of participation" was being fostered. Young people were being enlisted in decision-making through youth councils. Where participation had been fostered, greater political involvement had been the result. Information, opportunities and political will were needed to encourage young people's participation. Greater participation in community planning, environmental protection, and in political and democratic life of society were the fruits of investing in youth.
VILIJA BLINKEVICIUTE, Vice-Minister for Social Security and Labour, and Chairperson of the State Council of Youth Affairs, Lithuania, said recent changes in her country's civil and official life, combined with global changes, had resulted in the understanding that young people were ready and able to take full responsibility for decisions and actions influencing and creating civil society.
Lithuania attached great priority to intersectoral cooperation ensuring favourable conditions for the thorough development of young persons, she said. Its youth policy was based on participation. Youth representatives were
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charged with implementing and governing youth policy. Active youth participation ensured the development of young people in the most effective manner. International cooperation among young people could create strong background for cooperation in culture, education, care, employment, environment and business. It was extremely important to train young people, through international activities, to understand the possibilities and benefits of cross-cultural friendship.
SHINICHI KUYAMA, Associate Director-General, Youth Affairs Administration, Management and Coordination Agency, Japan, said each nation must realize the value of the active participation of youth. A comprehensive address of youth-related issues was necessary. To solve youth problems, programmes from each field must be systematically united into a cooperative unit. Each country must enrich its national strategy on youth. Japan hoped that an active exchange of information between nations would be promoted.
The promotion of mutual understanding and friendship through international exchange was valuable, he said. Most friction and confrontation between countries was due to a lack of understanding. Japan had promoted international exchange programmes to enhance understanding among youth from different nations.
Young people, rich with potential, were an important human resource for economic development and the key to social change and technical renovation, he said. The decisions taken in Lisbon would guide the global community to overcome the crises of today. He called on nations to join efforts for the sake of the young people.
ANDREAS TALIADOROS, Chairman of the Cyprus Youth Board, said youth organizations must be present at all levels of local and international activities. They must be able to influence the direction of youth policies in the spirit of cooperation and respect for basic human rights. As Cyprus joined the efforts to build a new Europe, it was taking all necessary measures to align its youth policy with that of Europe. It had defined a strategy that reached out to its young. The principle of "co-management", within which youth organizations were called on to directly participate in the formation of comprehensive youth policy, had been adopted by the Youth Board.
Within the context of the lives of the youth of Cyprus, he said he must condemn the fact that they were denied basic human rights, especially the freedom of movement. While the United Nations had stressed the importance of respect for human rights, emphasizing the importance of the principle of freedom of movement, young Cypriots were being prohibited from walking across their own homeland which had been under Turkish occupation since 1974.
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MOHAMMAD J. SAMHAN, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, said his Government had established youth programmes to address drug abuse and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Health centres to deal with cases with special needs had been established.
It was hoped that participants at the Lisbon Conference would agree on means to help youth around the world, he said. He called on all governments to take the conclusions of the Conference into account in taking action to implement them. However, no programmes would be successful without peace. Without that, young people would not be free or active. Occupation oppressed them, especially Palestinian youth who did not have the chance to actively participate in society.
YITZHAK LEVY, Minister for Education, Israel, said his Government was committed to developing its youth. The use of drugs and alcohol was of great concern. Education campaigns were being organized in an attempt to address problems associated with drugs and alcohol. There were programmes for minorities such as the Muslims to help them achieve their aspirations for peace in the region.
He said that he had been told that some of his Arab colleagues to the Conference had taken the opportunity to make political statements regarding the peace process in the Middle East. He said he refused to address political matters at a forum where such issues had no place.
Within its educational programmes, Israel had focused on developing technical and science programmes for youth, he said. Israel was advanced in the area of computer science, with one computer available to every student.
MOHAMMED K. NDANUSA, Nigeria, said his Government had developed specific policies for youth even before the proclamation of the International Youth Year. A national youth service corps had been in place since 1973 to enable young university graduates to contribute to Nigeria's socio-economic development. Two national financial institutions had been established to extend credit-building capacities and provide capital bases for the youth and for rural dwellers who wished to pursue self-employment.
The issue of unemployment among global youth was of great importance, he said. An unemployed youth was an unproductive citizen. The Government was working to promote the creation of jobs for its youth. Nigeria had received support from international institutions in its efforts.
It was time to squarely address the issue of youth empowerment, he said. Such issues as youth unemployment, peace, development and education were interrelated. Agreed programmes of action must be supported by demonstration
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of political commitment on the part of governments in order to attain goals set in Lisbon.
SUSANA SETO MIYAMOTO, Vice-Minister for Education, Peru, said youth in her nation faced unemployment, drug abuse, problems with sexual health and a very worrying level of violence. In Latin American countries, education had not been a high-enough priority. Also, national resources were often inadequate to improve the education system. However, sustainable development would not be achieved without an improvement in education.
Peru had focused on a modernization of its system of education, she said. That was not simply a reform, but the establishment of a new system. If the life of Peruvians were to improve, technology and science must be used in practical ways. The year 2007 had been established as a target date for the achievement of goals, including the eradication of illiteracy.
Young people must be given the basic skills to gain access to information and to use it responsibly, she said. Peru's population was young, with most of the more than 7 million youth living in urban areas. It was developing national programmes relating to sexual health, drug abuse prevention programmes, projects to work against family and social violence, and school health programmes.
ISABEL CARO WILSON, Ambassador to Spain, Philippines, said freewheeling lifestyles had spawned the growing menace of substance abuse, AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. The spectre of poverty loomed over the world's youth, and positive action was needed urgently. The Philippines had always attached great importance to the well-being of its youth. A national youth commission was created to serve as a policy-making and coordinating body, and was also involved in the social and economic empowerment of youth. It had formulated a medium-term youth development plan that had been approved earlier this year.
She then outlined several concerns regarding her country's youth, who comprised nearly a third of the population. Domestic employment opportunities were not adequate, resulting in high rates of migration. More than 8 million Filipino youth were both unemployed and out of school.
Vulnerability to undesirable activities was caused by a lack of material means, she said. The support and guidance of the family was crucial from childhood to adulthood. Young people looked to their parents -- their mothers, in particular -- as role models. Effective follow-up of the World Programme of Action was needed. Young people were facing a complex world and needed solid foundations based on sound values and peace.
PETER WOOTSCH, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports Affairs, Hungary, said that two months ago the Federation of Young Democrats Party had received
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a majority vote in national elections. Ten years ago, it had been a radical youth organization, consisting of brave young people fighting for freedom. Young people had created new hopes in Hungary and the region. Hungary was well aware of the power of youth. However, it seemed that young people were the losers of the political and economic transition. There were problems in employment and education; the rate of divorce was extremely high; and drug use was prevalent even among the very young. Still, youth policy should not focus solely on the burning problems of today. Instead, it should deal with instilling the courage and skills needed to face the future.
Young people were a resource, not a problem, he said. Hungary was still in the process of transition, and faced enormous problems. At this important time, its new youth policy would focus on several areas, including protecting childhood by focusing on ensuring secure families and supporting young people's integration into the European Union. There was much to learn in the area of youth, and the world community should learn from each of its members. Hungary would do all it could to help with any proposal to improve cooperation between regions and empower young people everywhere.
PRASIT DAMRONGCHAI, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, Thailand, said that for the past two decades national youth policies had been evolving in line with the country's plans for economic and social development. Earlier, focus had been on economic growth. However, while yielding positive economic results, those early plans had created undesirable outcomes, including social and environmental degradation. Income disparities continued, while people were striving to adjust to the new way of life and values of modernization. For those reasons, the current emphasis had shifted to human-centred development, and all social actors were being enlisted in the effort. Thai policies and legislation facilitated the implementation and protection of children's rights as stipulated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
To develop the full potential of Thai youth in the labour market, special focus was directed on instilling work-related knowledge and skills, he said. The minimum legal age for employment had been raised from 13 to 15 years. In the area of health, the Government was attempting to extend services to cover all people. A national strategic plan for the prevention and alleviation of HIV/AIDS had been established, focusing both on prevention and enhancing the lives of those already infected.
The current economic downturn had affected the country's youth, he said. Reductions in income, indebtedness and loss of jobs had all contributed to increased numbers of children leaving school. Short-term government investments were targetting the disadvantaged, to help Thai society move through the current crisis towards sustainable development. Youth issues must
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be developed with the active participation of civil society, including the young themselves.
LORENA VELASQUEZ, Director-General, National Youth Council, Guatemala, said that 36 years of armed conflict had resulted in numerous losses. In addition to the tragedies accompanying the legacy of violence, Guatemala had become an international pariah, with severe negative economic and political results. Today, for the first time, the foundations for harmonious living were being laid, based, in large part, on overcoming ideological intolerance. Scarce resources, the terrible consequences of violence, and the accompanying breakdown of society were now being addressed. Less than two years of peace had already yielded greater access to health, education and electricity, due to improved investment of public resources.
To protect the country's youth, investment was being made in education, while extracurricular activities were being increased, she continued. The National Youth Council played a significant role in those efforts. It was only two years old, but it was facilitating the development of Guatemala's youth, who were starting to breath life into society.
A culture of peace should become a daily reality, internalized by the people, she said. The Youth Council was facilitating consultations with young people to learn their concerns and to learn what helped. In that way, democratic space was being created for the young. It was a tough struggle, but young people must be given both the promise of the future and the realities of the present.
EVERTON HANNAM (Jamaica) said that three years after the adoption of the World Programme of Action for Youth, unemployment, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy rates were on the rise. If the international community did not act now to arrest the major concerns expressed in the World Programme of Action, the battle for the next generation would be lost. Jamaica supported and called for full implementation of the Braga Youth Action Plan and related action plans. He called for strengthening the United Nations Youth Unit and regional youth platforms to effectively implement the World Programme of Action.
Jamaica had enacted its national youth policy based on aspects of the World Programme of Action, he said. Since 1995, a number of important institutional mechanisms and programmes had been established and were being implemented. The most important of those was a national youth service. A solid foundation for the world's youth had been laid; the time for action was now.
MARIA DO ROSARIO BARROS, Director-General of the Cabinet for the Promotion of Women, Family and Youth, Sao Tome and Principe, said that young
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people and women comprised the majority of her country's population. Despite the vast potential of young people, the nation's economic crisis had not allowed the necessary attention to be paid to educational and training programmes. Structural adjustment programmes, which began in 1987, were expected to lead to improved economic indicators. However, positive social results were not visible.
The World Programme of Action opened a series of possibilities for governments, she said. It allowed them to select the strategies to be employed nationally to foster the growth of young people. Sao Tome and Principe was pleased that its ideas were reflected in the draft Lisbon declaration. That text was a valuable document that would foster the values of youth.
NECATI UTKAN, Deputy Under-Secretary and Spokesman for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkey, said more than 50 per cent of his country's population was younger than 24 years. Recently, his Government had enacted a law extending free compulsory education from five years to eight years; the goal was for 11 years of such education. While financing for educational reorganization had come from the Government, a considerable amount had also been provided by individual citizens and the private sector. Turkey did not suffer from a significant drug abuse problem, but it was working on establishing a national strategy to prevent it from reaching serious proportions.
Every government was responsible for promoting peace and tolerance, and preventing its young people from engaging in violence, including terrorism, he said. Terrorism destroyed the creative energies of youth, and the international community should spare no effort in eliminating all forms of support to terrorist organizations, as well as preventing the recruitment of youth to those groups. Follow-up to the Lisbon declaration should be institutionalized, with participation from national governments, regional organizations, the United Nations and civil societies. The situation in Cyprus had been mentioned regarding freedom of movement. That seemed cynical in light of the fact that Turkish Cypriots had been restricted as result of embargoes, since 1963. Due to those embargoes, Turkish Cypriot youth had been unable to attend the Conference and the World Youth Forum.
Young people in Turkey today functioned as the global secretariat of the "Youth for Habitat International Network" to foster and coordinate youth contributions to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and of Agenda 21. Inspired by the success of Habitat II, as well as of the current Conference, he invited participants to consider his country as the next venue of the next ministerial meeting.
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WILLIAM ANDRIANASOLO, United Nations Volunteers (UNV), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), recalled that the United Nations General Assembly had declared the year 2001 the International Year of Volunteers. Young people were invited to engage in social action through volunteering. By shaping the world they lived, they were also shaping their own character as global citizens. With the year 2001, the UNV wanted to draw the world's attention to the enormous contributions which millions of volunteers made to their societies worldwide. Further, it sought to facilitate more favourable conditions for those who volunteered their time. Youth constituted a vital element in civil society around the globe, enriching it with dynamism and dedication. Studies indicated that many more teenagers were interested in volunteering than those who did so. Governments and NGOs should proactively approach their young about volunteering. Volunteers were a living example of active solidarity.
ZTVIATKO BARCHOVSKI, President of the Committee for Youth, Physical Education and Sports, Bulgaria, said issues facing youth such as unemployment were being addressed by his Government. Local authorities in Bulgaria were being guided by the youth charter of the European Union. A programme to build information centres for youth was being completed.
GEK-BOO NG, Chief, Employment Branch of the Employment and Training Department, International Labour Organization (ILO), said that at least 60 million young people were unemployed today. On the whole, their unemployment rate was two to three times higher than that of adults. Young women often experienced higher unemployment rates than their male counterparts. The highest level of youth unemployment was among groups such as the disabled or ethnic minorities.
All societies were confronted with the formidable challenge of promoting social integration and the active participation of young people in social development, he continued. Many initiatives had been taken up to combat youth unemployment and social exclusion. A number of developing countries and transitional economies had designed specific programmes targetted at young people. The ILO had called on member States to implement balanced economic growth strategies that created jobs and took specific measures to increase employment opportunities for young people, while ensuring employment protection for them. Those actions would include investment in education, vocational training, counselling and flexible working arrangements.
It was important to recognize the complexity and difficulties of youth participation in all spheres of society and in decision-making, he said. It was important to mobilize resources and develop a close alliance among governments, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, employers, unions and the United Nations system. Youth employment must be one of the major objectives of national economic and social development policies.
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SELMAN ERGUDEN, Youth Focal Point of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), said youth had participated in Habitat II in Turkey, in 1996. Youth for Habitat II, founded in 1995, had been active in identifying aspects of the Habitat agenda of concern to youth. The group had also been active in supporting the implementation of agreements made in Istanbul.
The Centre was currently preparing three regional reports in cooperation with youth organizations to determine the settlement situation of youth, he said. He called upon governments to increase their support by including youth representatives in national delegations, through financial and other assistance to youth groups working with Habitat, and to the organization's programmes for youth.
TESFAY SODANO, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Responsible for Youth, Ethiopia, said in his country the contribution of youth in all sphere of life was enormous, particularly within the struggle for the restoration of peace, stability and democracy. Youth, in all regions, were active in development efforts. Contemporary Ethiopian society was in transition, and the culture was now a mix of traditional and modern influences. The health of young people had been harmed by traditional practices, including early marriage and ignorance about reproductive health.
He called on governments to invest in human resource development, rather than in tools of atrocities and destruction. The outcome of the historic Lisbon Conference would contribute to promoting global peace, stability and democracy. It would also support the establishment of an enabling environment for the normal growth and development of the present and of future generations.
THENJIWE LESABE, Minister for National Affairs, Employment Creation and Cooperatives, Zimbabwe, said her country had sought to address the concerns of its young people through a variety of means. Due to increasing levels of poverty, the informal sector was providing an area for employment. Youth festivals and other means were being used to create awareness to the growing problem of street youth. The HIV/AIDS endemic required a global response to increase knowledge of reproductive health issues, including the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among the youth.
Leadership development was another concern, she said. By exposing youth to democratic practices and principles, democracy could be transferred to the next generation. The formulation of a national youth policy was a national priority, and would hopefully be implemented by the national youth council. The post-independence era had witnessed the proliferation of many organizations under that body. The current Conference would mark the beginning of a globally coordinated approach to youth issues. Addressing
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those issues would be easier now that the international community spoke with one voice.
H.T. HISHONGWA, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Namibia, said the task of molding young people to become responsible future leaders of the world was a heavy one. Young people represented the largest percentage of the world's population. The youth of today were facing serious problems, including unemployment, social exclusion and ethnic prejudices. The scourges of the modern age were underlying causes of violence, substance abuse, organized crime and other anti-social evils.
Namibia was struggling to find ways to redress the legacy of the evil apartheid system, he said. It had inherited a youthful population, which had been disadvantaged by decades of repression. With a growing population and 72 per cent of its citizens being young people, Namibia faced profound challenges. Still, notable achievements had been attained. Two institutions of higher learning had been established since independence, so that the country was now in a position to obtain graduates from within. His Ministry had embarked on a multi-pronged programme for youth. It included skills acquisition to divert juvenile offenders from crime; a youth and children's rights advocacy programme; and an environmental education programme. Other aspects focused on empowering rural youth and providing preventative health care.
He said that during the Conference he had listened to several speeches glorifying "the age of discovery". Such discovery had marked the beginning of destruction of ancient civilizations, of slavery and border conflicts which even today were resulting in loss of life. There had been no discovery, since "the discovered" had existed long prior to the encounter. He then expressed support for the Lisbon declaration and its implementation.
MONTY ROBERTS, Minister for Housing, Youth, Sports and Community Services, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said youth made up nearly 70 per cent of his country's population of 108,000 people. In 1989, his Government embarked on a series of national consultations which involved young people and organizations.
The population looked forward to a new era of national development when youth took greater responsibility for their own destiny, he said. Youth were no longer willing to receive policies in a finished form. They wanted to be able to shape their future, working in close cooperation with all government departments. Young people knew best what they needed. His Government recognized them as partners in national development.
SAM KIP CHEAH, Ambassador to Spain, Malaysia, said his country, with a very young population, viewed youth development as vital to its successful
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socio-economic development. Various programmes were being implemented to nurture youth's potential and talent, and to harness their energies towards national development. Malaysia actively participated in youth programmes both at the regional and international levels. He noted that Malaysia would, in several weeks, host the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Drug use was a problem confronting the youth of Malaysia, he said. A national policy had been put in place to prevent drug use and enforce drug laws, while providing treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Malaysia believed that prevention was the best policy. Within that context, programmes to provide positive influences on children should begin as early as pre-school. International cooperation on drug-related problems was vital. To effectively combat drugs, programmes must be reviewed and joint efforts evaluated.
MANEO ROSEMARY NTSONYANA, Director of Youth, Ministry of the Environment, Youth and Gender, Lesotho, said that in her traditional society young people were taught to obey their parents until they were married or until their parents died. Most young people lived in rural, agricultural areas. To alleviate the social and economic position of youth, the Government was attempting to mobilize youth to form productive groups.
Lesotho was experiencing expanding poverty, increasing unemployment and environmental degradation, she said. The Government intended to create employment opportunities for youth, some 70 per cent of whom were unemployed. It hoped to take youth off the streets and away from drugs and crimes, and to give them a future by giving them skills for living and for self-employment.
J.K. MARIRMOI, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Heritage, Culture and Social Services, Kenya, said last Friday his country and the United Republic of Tanzania had become the victim of violence. However, Kenya was a friendly country to all.
Since independence, Kenya had focused, through various means, on addressing the problem of unemployment, he said. A variety of measures included efforts to promote micro-enterprise and training. Since 1997, more than 1,500 youth groups and related organizations had been registered, as part of a national effort. Due to modernization, some youths tended to engage in drug abuse and unsafe sexual behaviour. In response, the Government was increasing its programmes to address those negative trends. Further, counselling and intervention were being provided. The level of awareness of young people in Kenya was quite high.
ELENA SUAREZ, Chief of the Special Programmes Section, Inter-American Development Bank, said the Bank financed development projects, including a number of youth-oriented projects, in Latin America and the Caribbean. The
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youth explosion offered an unprecedented opportunity to renew the world's human capital. It was time to embrace a new paradigm, by which young people were viewed as active protagonists in their own development. Cooperation was needed among governments, the private sector, civil society, international agencies and youth themselves. Such an approach demonstrated powerful mutual benefits in the effort to address the challenge of development.
PETER LAURITZEN, Executive Director, Council of Europe said his organization -- an intergovernmental organization of 47 countries -- operated through legally binding conventions and education. Decision in the Council's Youth Directorate were taken with parity between governments and youth organizations. That process had fostered trust between the two groups. Regarding youth, the Council was focusing primarily on informal education. In intergovernmental cooperation, it focused on studies and research. The challenges ahead included understanding and managing the Council's expansion; addressing poverty among the young; and responding appropriately to the conflicting messages and needs of individualism and socialization processes.
KRISTINE SORENSON, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, said participants at the World Youth Forum had overcome many obstacles in their determination to work together to make a difference. Education was fundamental to social and personal development. It should be viewed as a lifelong process, part of a person's ongoing individual and social development. Young people wanted purposeful education that addressed human rights, gender equality and global citizenship in national education policies. She said governments, United Nations agencies and youth should work together to make the Braga Youth Action Plan come true.
ANNA BATROME, informal NGO Caucus on Youth and Health, said young people with and without disabilities, from diverse cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds, had cooperated in Braga to promote youth participation for human development. She called for national youth health policies that addressed major issues, including sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and female genital mutilation. All social actors should be involved in those efforts. Health services should be youth-friendly, comprehensive and accessible. Also, there was need for reliable research, monitoring and needs assessment internationally. Parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders and caregivers should be trained in support skills. Drawing attention to the lack of young people in the room, she called on participants to ensure greater youthful participation in future gatherings.
FREDDY KNUTSEN, of the World Council of Churches, said young people were the first to feel injustice. With most of the world's resources in the hand of corporations, youth experienced exclusion first hand. He urged a holistic approach to address the root causes of problems facing youth. Young people lived in a world of economic, social and political pressures. Nonetheless,
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youth were approaching the situation with creativity and commitment. They were full of hope and willing to work towards peace, justice and a human-centred society. He called for a real partnership between government and young people.
CHARMAINE GRAVES, of the NGO Coalition for Youth and Family, welcomed the fact that the draft Lisbon declaration contained positive references to the family. Statements made on behalf of the family by representatives of Guatemala, the United States and the Holy See were appreciated. However, it was disappointing that the declaration failed to address the central role of the family -- particularly parents -- in preparing youth for successful adulthood and protecting them from risks.
It was amazing that the Braga Youth Action Plan, drafted less than a week ago by youth and the United Nations, failed to provide appropriate support for the family or parents, she said. It specifically omitted reference to parental rights or any reference to marriage or family. She said she was not suggesting that sex education, counselling or services were never appropriate for youth. Instead, when minor children were involved, the parents' fundamental right to decide what was appropriate must be respected. In the majority of cases, parental rights must be respected for one essential reason: youth would be better off.
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