Mr. Chairman,
First, let me thank you for organizing this important event today. Sri Lanka attaches great importance to the subject of youth and would also like to associate itself with the statement made by South Africa on behalf of G-77 and China and Portugal on behalf of the Group of Friends of Youth.
Mr. Chairman,
The World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) has experienced many changes over the years. Since its adoption two decades ago, global economic shifts accompanied by the spread of new communicative technologies such as the internet have allowed young people to find new opportunities to define themselves and to mobilize themselves collectively as a group. Young people are becoming more and more involved in decision making processes and are actively shaping the world around their priorities and needs, as global citizens of the future. This conceptualization of youth as critical actors in policy making represents a great leap forward from the notion of youth as marginal actors which prevailed three decades ago. There is a renewed interest in identifying how youth shape the current global order and how it is being shaped by their experiences within a globalised community. Therefore, assessing and incorporating the needs and wants of the youth into processes which define their future is essential. Sri Lanka has firmly recognized the importance of treating youth as not only beneficiaries of but also partners in formulating, implementing and following up the Post-2015 development agenda. We acknowledge the value of listening to the voices of the youth at national, regional and international platforms as we make policy and as we implement plans for the future. The concerns of youth are today’s challenge – not tomorrow’s. Their inputs to the discussions on development are, therefore, crucial. In this context, today’s discussions on ‘stocktaking the implementation of WPAY during the past 20 years’ and ‘role of WPAY looking ahead’ are all the more relevant.
Mr. Chairman,
Sri Lanka has contributed to the efforts of the youth to voice their concerns and priorities for the Post 2015 Development Agenda by hosting the ‘World Conference on Youth’ which was held in Sri Lanka in May 2014. This conference brought together youth from around the world to share ideas, experiences and innovative approaches for effectively contributing to the Post-2015 Development Agenda and its implementation. It was also intended to facilitate a process that increases awareness and implementation of World Programme of for Action on Youth (WPAY). The discussions which were held during the World Conference on Youth well as the outcome document of this Conference titled ‘Mainstreaming Youth in the Post-2015 Development Agenda’, clearly highlights the most important issues for youth. These includeinter-alia Inclusive Youth Led-Development, Poverty Eradication and Food and Nutrition Security, Realizing Equal Access to Quality Education, Full Employment and Entrepreneurship, Gender Equality, Ending Systemic Inequalities and Environmental Sustainability, Realizing Peace, Reconciliation and Ending Violence, Disaster Risk Reduction and Youth Centered Urbanisation. These could constitute priority areas that today’s youth envisages to be reflected in the post 2015 agenda framework.
These themes also touches on all fifteen priority areas that were highlighted in the WPAY.
Mr. Chairman,
One of the key requests that was made by the young people during this Conference has now been fulfilled. During the 69th Session of the General Assembly, the Member States of the UN have unanimously recognized the importance of skills development of the young people and declared 15 July as the ‘World Youth Skills Day’. The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York joins hands with UNDESA, ILO and UNESCO to celebrate the inauguration of this day and to highlight the importance of development of a ‘skilled’ youth. We would take this opportunity to invite all Member States to join with us to celebrate this important day on 15 July 2015.
Mr. Chairman,
Inclusive Youth Led-Development is deemed to be one of the main priorities of youth groups. Sri Lanka has taken measures to prioritize young people in all aspects of development in our country. The government of Sri Lanka has endorsed a comprehensive youth policy which addresses a broad range of issues faced by young people and includes extensive policy guidelines and recommendations to improve the lives of young people. The priority areas of WPAY and the areas identified by youth at national level and international level have served as guiding principles in formulating the youth policy in Sri Lanka.
In conclusion Mr. Chairman, it is evident that the fifteen priority areas identified for immediate action two decades ago at the adoption of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) remain relevant even today. Whilst many of these areas are yet to be fully fulfilled, we firmly believes that WPAY continues to serve as the concrete basis in formulating and guiding the priorities of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.