GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, IN STATEMENT TO WORLD FOOD DAY OBSERVANCE, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER
Press Release
GA/SM/112
OBV/119
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, IN STATEMENT TO WORLD FOOD DAY OBSERVANCE, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER
19991019Following is the statement of the President of the General Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia) delivered to the World Food Day observance at Headquarters on 19 October:
As you are all aware, World Food Day marks the anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in October 1945, in Quebec City, Canada.
Needless to add here a word of pride and gratitude we, Namibians have, considering our longstanding association with and sustained assistance from FAO, from the difficult days of our liberation struggle and happily until this day. I recall the first-ever World Food Day ceremony held in Windhoek, our capital city, in 1990, the year of Namibias independence, and keynoted by President Sam Nujoma. This clearly underscores the importance which my country, Namibia, attaches to World Food Day. I am, therefore, elated to address this historic World Food Day, at centurys end. Our pride and gratitude assume even greater intensity in seeing at the helm of FAO, my brother and colleague, Dr. Jacques Diouf, its Director-General. You have been an indefatigable worker for a most worthy cause in the world and I will always be in your corner.
We are assembled here today to remember the millions of hungry people in the world and to strengthen our commitment to finding workable solutions that will save lives and ensure food security for all. As we look back on the last fifty years of this century, we are reminded that many countries from virtually all regions of the world have experienced major famines and suffered from food shortages. In the African region, we have seen hunger and famine devastate some 25 countries during the last two decades.
This phenomenon, coupled with adverse climatic conditions, as well as armed conflicts in a number of countries, has contributed to food insecurity and rampant malnutrition. In the wake of globalization, the lack of resources, notably financial and trained human resources, has greatly affected the capabilities of many nations
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to ensure their own food security. Armed conflicts and wars must end, and human and financial resources used for destruction should instead be spent on reconciliation, reconstruction and development.
In this context, let me recall the United Nations General Assembly resolution, A/35/70, adopted on 5 December 1980. This important resolution confirmed that food is a requisite for survival and a basic human need. It also urged governments, as well as national, regional and international organizations to contribute to the effective commemoration of World Food Day. Today, more than 150 countries observe World Food Day on an annual basis. This is, in itself, a testimonial to humanitys concern about food as a fundamental human right.
Furthermore, I should also like to recall another General Assembly resolution which declared 1985 as the International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace. These resolutions introduced new measures in the United Nations system aimed at promoting and encouraging the role played by youth in development. In 1995, the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond was adopted. Its purpose was to address the problems of young people and to increase their opportunities for active participation in the societal goings on.
At the 1996 World Food Summit, convened by FAO, world leaders from 186 nations committed themselves to cut by half the number of hungry people in the world by the year 2015. As awareness continues to grow in the world concerning food security, policies and programmes are being adopted in conjunction with national development plans and as a follow- up to the World Food Summit. FAO has been promoting the preparation and implementation of national food security strategies and priorities. FAO also provides resources to project beneficiaries through the TeleFood Microprojects programme.
During the 1996 World Food Summit, a parallel International Youth Forum was held with participants from some 130 countries. The Declaration of the Forum, which was submitted to the Summit, emphasized the commitment of young people to universal food security.
In my opening address, when I assumed the Presidency of this General Assembly session, I noted that millions of the worlds children and youth continue to face a future of hunger, poverty, illiteracy and child labour. Youth are the leaders of tomorrow and to reach their full potential as productive citizens, they must have a compassionate social environment -- they need both physical and cultural nourishment from the communities around them. World Food Day provides an opportunity to stimulate awareness and mobilize resources for food security. The involvement of young people in the process can further enhance the possibilities of success. This years World Food Day
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theme, Youth against Hunger is most appropriate in view of the important role which young people all over the world play in their daily struggle to fight hunger and contribute to household food needs.
Young people make up one fifth of the worlds population. This alone makes of them a truly commanding voice that we must listen to. It is clearly an impetus for social change. By mobilizing the idealism and energy of youth, we are giving them the opportunity to act as subjects of history, champions of their own future and, at the same time, as active participants in the fight against food insecurity.
These young people, however, face a variety of problems as they grow up and mature. The youth must often deal with their own hunger and malnutrition, because they lack resources and economic access to food. They cannot effectively contribute economically without jobs and income. They invariably also lack access to other vital facilities, such as education, training, health care or credit. Because of these social handicaps, as well as limited access to public services, young people everywhere become vulnerable. The heavy burden of hunger, poverty and illiteracy hold them back. This situation also prevents them from making productive contributions to society and preparing themselves for future leadership.
Notwithstanding these problems they face, the young people are our hope for the future. They are destined to and capable of making significant contributions to society. I can personally attest to this and I know that I am not unique in this regard. Youth are open to innovation and can be mobilized for political, economic, social and cultural goals and other public activities that will improve the quality of life of the people, including in the fields of farming and environmentally sound practices.
I, therefore, commend FAO for its foresight in encouraging the youth of today to be a constructive force for social change and contribute towards ensuring food for all. On the eve of the new millennium, it is todays youth who will shape the vision and reality of the world of the future. The earlier they are allowed to join in the fight against hunger, the more food-secure tomorrows world will be. They are the real weapon for poverty reduction and empowerment of the people.
That is why we must all actively participate in this important World Food Day ceremony. History will look back and ask what legacy we would have left for the next generation. Our answer should be that we had left a vision and a hope that future generations will continue the effort to solve human civilizations most fundamental and yet vexing problem -- the problem of world hunger.
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On this magnificent World Food Day, I invite you all once again to critically reflect on the clarion call to reducing hunger, locally and globally. I call, in particular, upon all governments, industry, institutions and social groups at national, regional and international levels, to join hands in our common fight against hunger and malnutrition. By involving the youth and mobilizing them against hunger, we provide opportunities to millions of young people in the developing, as well as industrialized countries, thereby helping to keep their hope on the eve of the new millennium.
In so doing, we also reaffirm our faith in and the critical role of the United Nations as the repository of humanitys conscience, and in furthering social justice in the world. I trust that you will all join me in reiterating the first decade of the new millennium as the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. This is, indeed, a clarion call to duty which is most dear to my heart.
Lastly, I now have the distinct honour and pleasure to formally declare this nineteenth observance of World Food Day, with its special focus on the theme of Youth against Hunger, open.
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