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UN envoy lauds Kuwait's participation in ECOSOC's youth forum

head of the Kuwaiti delegation to the two-day gathering Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs Shafeeq Sayyed Omar
head of the Kuwaiti delegation to the two-day gathering Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs Shafeeq Sayyed Omar

By Mohammad Al-Otaibi

NEW YORK, Feb 2 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth Ahmad Al-Hendawi said Tuesday participation of Kuwait in the 5th youth forum of the Economic and Social Council (2016 ECOSOC Youth Forum) signals the country's continued leadership of youth sector in the Arab region.
"Kuwait's representation at this gathering is very important since the country holds the current presidency of the council of Arab ministers of youth and sports," he said in a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of the forum which kick-started yesterday.
Al-Hendawi spoke highly of the prominent role of Kuwait's Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah in youth empowerment on the regional and international levels.
He commended as landmark, the speech delivered by Sheikh Salman last year on behalf of the Arab group of state to the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the World Program of Action for Youth (WPAY).
Kuwait is one of the main sponsors of the UN efforts to support the youth sector and humanitarian sector, he said.
Al-Hendawi affirmed that Kuwait's presence at "the 2016 ECOSOC Youth Forum - Youth Taking Action to Implement the 2030 Agenda" is crucial to translating into action the WPAY and other youth-related programs.
Meanwhile, head of the Kuwaiti delegation to the two-day gathering Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs Shafeeq Sayyed Omar said this is the first time for Kuwait to partake in the ECOSOC youth forum.
"We seek to share experience with young leaders from around the world while setting the stage for a forum on the national policies for youth in Kuwait next year," he said, noting that the UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth has raised this subject during discussions with delegates to the ongoing gathering.
Omar added that Kuwaiti youth leaders are looking forward to networking with their peers from friendly countries around the globe to gain experience regarding holding international conferences and workshops under auspices of the UN.
"The discussions during the forum dealt with the efforts to involve youth as key partners in the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development side by side with governments," Omar went on.
He added that the Kuwaiti delegation discussed, on the sideline of the forum, the plans for future joint action by the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs and the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth.
Led by Omar, the Kuwaiti delegation includes Sara Abdulaziz Al-Fares and Ali Tareq Al-Oraifan. (end) mao.gb