Ban launches new initiatives enhancing UN efforts to work with and for world's youth

Ban used the opportunity provided by International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August, to announce the new steps to address advance peace, promote employment and tackle poverty. Indeed, in his message on the day, he said: “Young people are directly affected by the tragic contradictions that prevail on Friday: between abject poverty and ostentatious wealth, gnawing hunger and shameful food waste, rich natural resources and polluting industries.”

With these things in mind, he announced the formation of an Advisory Group of Experts for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, as mandated by UN Security Council resolution 2250 (2015), the first such measure to recognize the important and positive role young women and men play in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.

By that historic text, the Council requested  Ban to “to carry out a progress study on the youth's positive contribution to peace processes and conflict resolution, in order to recommend effective responses at local, national, regional and international levels.” The findings and recommendations of the study will be presented to the Council in December 2017, on the second anniversary of the adoption of the resolution.

Also on Friday, the UN chief announced a new Special Envoy for Youth Employment, the former Chancellor of Austria, Werner Faymann. With more than 70 million youths are unemployed worldwide, the new official will aim to help tackle the challenge posed by the fact that young people have all the skills and energy needed to contribute to society – but they lack opportunities for decent work.

Going forward,  Fayman will work with the Secretary-General's Youth Envoy, Ahmad Alhendawi, and the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).

Photo: PANDI/UNFPA Colombia

Source: www.justearthnews.com