UNITED NATIONS WORLD YOUTH AWARDS PRESENTED TO CARIBBEAN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

Press Release
DEV/2240

UNITED NATIONS WORLD YOUTH AWARDS PRESENTED TO CARIBBEAN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

NEW YORK , 5 April (DESA) -- The Youth Unit of the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), presented the United Nations World Youth Awards to three Caribbean youth organizations, at the opening of a Caribbean Regional Youth Conference in Castries, St. Lucia, today.

The Awards are given for notable achievement in implementing the United Nations World Programme of Action for Youth. The three Caribbean youth organizations receiving the awards are: Caribbean Federation of Youth; National Youth Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and National Youth Council of St. Lucia.

The Caribbean Federation of Youth, founded in 1986, is receiving the Award for its major regional contributions to the implementation of the United Nations World Programme of Action for Youth. The Federation, in particular, has contributed as a member of the International Planning Committee to three sessions of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System (1991, 1996, 1998) and to follow-up projects related to the Programme of Action on such priority issues as: youth and drug abuse, environment, human rights and youth policy and participation. The Federation is also on the International Planning Committee for the fourth session of the World Youth Forum.

The National Youth Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, founded in May 1966, is receiving the Award for its national contribution to the implementation of the United Nations World Programme of Action in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In particular, it organized a National Youth Symposium on “Youth Participation- Vincent Style” in 1999 as a national follow-up of the third session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System. That was one of a few national youth initiatives in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Asia to follow up the World Youth Forum. Further, it was one of a few national youth councils to participate in the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in August 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal. The Council has played an active role in the Caribbean over three decades.

The St. Lucia National Youth Council, founded on 14 April 1985 during the United Nations International Youth Year, is receiving the Award for its national contributions to implement the United Nations World Programme for Youth in St. Lucia. The creation of that national youth council was timed with International Youth Year and, since then, it has sponsored conferences and seminars

- 2 - Press Release DEV/2240 5 April 2000

on priority issues of the United Nations World Programme of Action for Youth, such as education, employment, environment and human rights, and participation.

The Caribbean Regional Youth Conference is being convened by the Caribbean Federation of Youth, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Youth Programme. The Conference is one of several regional youth forums being held in 2000-2001 to both follow up the third World Youth Forum in each region and to plan for the fourth World Youth Forum to be held in Dakar, Senegal, in August 2001. The calendar for the other regional youth forums follows: Latin American and Caribbean Youth Forum (July 2001 in Panama City), Arab Youth Forum (March 2001 in Cairo) and Asia-Pacific Youth Forum (June 2001 in Bangkok).

For more information on the Caribbean Regional Youth Conference, please contact: Caribbean Federation of Youth, tel/fax: + 1 784 456 2243; or Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Office, fax: + 1 592 268 371

* *** *