UN-HABITAT marked International Youth Day on Saturday 12 August with an appeal to decision makers and the general public to engage young people as key stakeholders and participants in the future of sustainable development, especially in towns and cities around the world. In a statement the agency said it was crucial to understand the importance of young people and their role in tackling the issue of poverty. It is critical that our future generations are empowered to become active leaders at local, national and international levels today. UN-HABITAT said young people had to be active agents of change in the reduction of poverty around the world and in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “UN-HABITAT sees young people as key stakeholders and active participants in the future of sustainable urban development,” said Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. “The World Youth Forum and the Third Session of the World Urban Forum held in June 2006 in Vancouver, Canada provided a unique opportunity for engaged youth to demonstrate that they are willing and capable of conceiving, designing and implementing successful community-building projects in some of the most marginalised regions of the world,” she said. International Youth Day 2006 – Tackling Poverty Together, is an opportunity to recognize the potential of young people in our battle against poverty to commemorate the International Youth Day to be observed on 12 August, the UN human settlements agency said the Youth Strategy for Enhanced Engagement was also aimed at fostering inter-agency and partnerships with youth organizations, engaging youth at international level and helping formulate international understanding of pressing youth issues as well as creating a platform where the youth can act as effective advocates of change, both to decision-makers and the general public |
For the full statement see: