Ahead of Youth Day, UN chief hears concerns from young people across the world
United Nations, 6 August 2013: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday held an interactive
dialogue with young people across the world and launched an online United Nations
Platform for Youth in conjunction with his Special Envoy on this issue.
“Your
generation is the largest the world has ever known,” Ban told young people taking
part in the Global Interactive Dialogue on UN Youth Initiatives. “The tools at your
disposal for communicating and acting are unprecedented. But so are the challenges
– from growing inequalities and shrinking opportunities, to the threats of climate
change and environmental degradation.”
UN Chief’s Five-Year Action Plan has
as one of its priorities working for and with young people. As part of this commitment,
Mr. Ban appointed his first ever Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, earlier this year. “Ahmad
Alhendawi is working with different UN entities, governments, civil society, academia
and the media to empower youth within and outside the UN system,” Ban said, adding
that Alhendawi’s website, launched today, will also serve as an Online Platform for
Youth, through which young people can voice their concerns to the UN.
“I am
fully committed to working with youth and exploring how you can contribute more to
creating a sustainable, equitable future of opportunity and dignity for all,” Ban
said.
He added that Alhendawi is working with the UN Inter-Agency Network on
Youth Development to bring all parts of the UN together under an action plan for youth.
The
plan, which is partly based on the My World survey carried out among thousands of
youth from around the world earlier this year, focuses on five thematic areas: employment
and entrepreneurship; political inclusion; civic engagement and protection of rights;
education, including comprehensive sexual education and health.
Other initiatives
include UN youth volunteer programmes and forums where youth can engage with the UN
at the national, regional and global levels.
The interactive dialogue also
features the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Babatunde Osotimehin;
the Acting Head of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
(UN Women), Lakshmi Puri; the Special Representative of the International Labour Organization
(ILO) on Youth and Social Inclusion, Charles Dan; and the Assistant Secretary-General
and Regional Director for Arab States of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Sima
Bahous. The International Youth Day is observed on 12 August. Source: UN