UN YOUTH FORUM 2005 GIVES YOUTH A VOICE

UN YOUTH FORUM 2005 GIVES YOUTH A VOICE

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 7 September (UN Information Service) -- Young people from the Asia-Pacific region make up the largest generation of adolescents worldwide in history.  On Monday, 12 September, youth representatives from the region will gather at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok to let the region know what is important to them and how they can make a difference.

Approximately 200 international and Thai university and high school students, as well as young leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society will share ideas on issues affecting them covered by the 2005 World Summit, including development, security and human rights.

“Young people today are a generation faced with opportunities and threats.  They hold the key to mending problems in our region like drug abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, gender discrimination and HIV”, said Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

The “Young Voices for Change” United Nations Youth Forum is organized by ESCAP with the support of the World Youth Peace Summit NGO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Body Shop.

The “Young Voices for Change” United Nations Youth Forum is a lead-up to the 2005 World Summit on 14-16 September 2005, where world leaders will discuss issues raised in the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s “In Larger Freedom” report.

The programme will feature panel discussions by young people and experts on the “In Larger Freedom” report’s four main sections which discuss freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom to live in dignity, and strengthening the United Nations.  The Forum will also provide an opportunity for young people to workshop action plans for UN issues like the Millennium Development Goals in their communities.

Speakers and performers include Thai youth representative and pop star Lydia of R.S. Promotion, UNICEF youth representative Miss Wannakanok Pohitaeda on HIV in her Yala province community, and a young people’s choir from American School Bangkok, as well as Srisak Thaiarry, Executive Director, National Council for Child and Youth Development; Dr. Mark Tamthai, Director of the Institute for the Study of Religion and Culture, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand and Member of Thailand’s National Reconciliation Commission; Dr. Ioan Voicu, Assumption University; and UN representatives.

For more information: www.unescap.org/unis/YF/index.asp, http://www.un.org/ga/documents/overview2005summit.pdf, http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/.

Note to Editors

You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the “Young Voices for Change” United Nations Youth Forum. 

When:   9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Monday, 12 September 2005

Where:  Conference Room 1, level 2 of the UN Conference Centre, ESCAP, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok

For further information, please contact:  UN Information Service Bangkok, Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052, e-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record