By Mohammed Al-Otaibi
NEW YORK, Feb 1 (KUNA) -- A Kuwaiti delegation attended today the opening of the fifth Economic and Social Council's (ECOSOC) Youth Forum that emphasizes taking action to implement the 2030 sustainable development Agenda.
UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson underscored, in his opening speech, the crucial role of young people in shaping the 2030 Agenda, calling them agents of change whose contributions will bring benefits both to themselves and to society.
Eliasson also highlighted the challengers confronting young people today, including obstacles in finding decent job.
The UN estimates that nearly 75 million young people around the world are out of work. Some 40 percent of all economically active youth are either unemployed or working in poverty, he confirmed.
Eliasson stressed that decent work, particularly for young people, is the "backbone of development and stable societies." As more than 800 young leaders gather in New York for this annual forum, UN officials launched a new initiative to tackle youth unemployment, making it clear that success in fighting poverty and inequality will largely depend on them being a driving force.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, said that the launching of this timely initiative reflects the UN commitment to tackle youth unemployment and promote decent jobs for youth.
He affirmed that it reflects that youth employment should be a priority at all levels to unlock the potential of 1.8 billion young people, "a recipe that is imperative for development, as well as peace and security." The two-day forum will discuss ways in which young people can play an active role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will also address how the youth can best communicate on the Agenda, bringing on board the innovative use of social media and communication tools.
Furthermore, the event will feature brainstorming town-hall sessions, interactive panels and discussions with Member States, providing youth representatives with an opportunity to voice their opinion, share ideas, and think together about specific issues of relevance to youth in the context of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Kuwaiti delegation headed by Assistant Undersecretary of Youth Projects at the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs Shafeeq Sayyed Omar, Sara Abdulaziz Al-Fares and Ali Tareq Al-Oraifan. This is Kuwait's first participation in this forum. (end) mao.bs