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Fourth
session of the world youth forum ends in Dakar
Media report source:
UNDESA website, 13 August 2001
FOURTH SESSION OF THE WORLD YOUTH
FORUM ENDS IN DAKAR
A call for the establishment of an
Education and ICT fund to promote North-South and South-South cooperation
was one of a number of recommendations set out in the final document adopted
by the World Youth Forum, which ended on 10th August following five
days of debate and consultation between youth groups and representatives
of UN agencies.
The purpose of the Forum, which was
hosted by the Government of Senegal, had
as its central purpose the empowerment
of youth to participate more effectively in every aspect of society.
One of the most important developments
during the Forum was the adoption of a special annex on HIV/AIDS, which
indicated the commitment and dedication of the world's youth to tackling
this major health challenge.
The Forum's recommendations cover
youth concerns in the ten areas addressed by working groups, namely education
and information and communications technology, employment, health and population,
hunger poverty and debt, environment and human settlements, social integration,
culture and peace, youth policy, participation and rights, young women
and girls, and youth, sports and leisure-time activities.
The group on health and population
recommended increased access to national
and international resources in order
to establish formal and informal educational programmes on HIV/AIDS, substance
abuse, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health. It called on
Governments to ensure access by young people to health information, health
services, and sexual and reproductive health services. It also advocated
implementation of the recommendations adopted by the UN General Assembly
special session on HIV/AIDS, especially those pertaining directly to youth
issues.
The working group on girls and young
women identified three key issues relevant to promoting the advancement
of girls and young women - health, education and preventing violence. It
called for free education at all levels for girls and adolescents, as well
as cost reduction for contraceptives and treatment for HIV/AIDS, and prevention
and treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases. The group also urged Governments
to provide sex education and family life education at all levels. It called
for measures to combat gender-based violence, including the creation of
youth-
and female-friendly centres and
services for young women and girls. Other recommendations included education
programmes aimed at raising awareness and breaking stereotypes, and the
use of young women educated in math and
science as role models.
World Youth Forum: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/forum/index.html
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