Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalaamu alaikum and a very good morning.
On behalf of the Government of Maldives, it gives me great pleasure to extend a very warm welcome to the distinguished delegates and youth representatives, to the Maldives,. I believe the outcome of this meeting will pave the way for far-reaching positive impacts on the lives of young people in the South Asia region, who will carry this region forward, tomorrow
The youth of today represent the biggest generation of youth in human history. There are, at present, over 1.2 billion youth globally. 62% of them live in Asia and 26% live in the SAARC region alone. The regions is currently in a critical demographic period where the number of work-age adults exceeds the children and the elderly. This increased proportion of youth in the total population provides a demographic bonus,this is an excellent opportunity for accelerated and robust development. the benefits of this critical period can only be achieved if the youth are empowered with the education, skills, and opportunities to positively contribute to the advancement of themselves and their societies.
The reasons for placing youth at the very centre of the development agenda is compelling. We must ensure their meaningful participation in the development process. We must promote the health, well-being and potential rights of all young people and most importantly, we must include them in the design and implementation of policies and programs, especially those that affect their lives. In fact youth have to own these policies and programmes and be the agents of change.The vision of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom is encapsulated in the slogan "Youth, Economy, Hope" which cleary spells our the focus of our government on empowering youth.
Distinguished Delegates,
Ever since its inception, SAARC has continued to attach due priority to the issues related to youth. The Ministerial Conference on Youth in South Asia held in May 1994 focused on the broad theme youth and development.. In fact, the Year 1994 was designated as the "SAARC Year of Youth". Then in 1995, the SAARC Youth Resolution was adopted to advance the overall development of youth in the region.
SAARC youth camps are being held periodically on a designated theme with a view to promote cultural interaction among the youth, with the most recent being the Fourth SAARC Youth Camp hosted by India in February 2013 on the theme "Youth as Ambassadors in Global partnership for Development".
The SAARC Youth Awards Scheme was instituted in 1996 to provide recognition to extraordinary young talents and encourage the overall development of the youth in the region. Since then, eleven SAARC youth awards have been given to deserving young people from different Member States. I am very pleased to inform that the SAARC Youth Award 2011 on the theme "Youth Leadership in the Fight Against Social Ills" was awarded to a young man from the Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Faseen Rafiu.
Distinguished Delegates,
Today, as we move towards finalizing the SAARC Youth Charter, I believe that this Charter and its Action Plan will be an exemplary regional framework where the true aspirations, hopes and dreams of the South Asian youth themselves are reflected. I am pleased that fruitful discussions were held during the Youth Workshop yesterday. The energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas of our youth, will surely provide the right inspiration and impetus for the delegations as they begin the government consultations shortly.
I believe that this Youth Charter, with its five key areas of focus, Enabling Environment, Gender Equality, Education and Skills Development, Employment and Health, provides a sound foundation for the South Asian nations where efforts of Member States will complement each other in promoting the health, well-being and potential rights of all young people, male and female
Distinguished Delegates,
The estimated population of Maldives currently stands at 350,000. Of this, over 50% comprise people under the age of 25 years and the largest cohort, about 25% of the population is between 15 to 25 years. The rapid changes in our traditional lifestyles, attitudes and values have enormous implications and potential, especially for this young population.Their lives are subject to currents and forces very different from those experienced by their parents. While they are faced with numerous opportunities and access, the risks and dangers that can threaten their well-being has increased.
The Government of Maldives, recognizes the importance of empowering youth and officially started the development of youth activities here in the Maldives, in August 1980, with the establishment of the Youth Council by the then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. This was a very productive beginning for youth-centered development programs
Since then,we have made significant achievements. A comprehensive National Youth Policy was launched in 2003, which addressed key areas of education, employment, urban and rural disparities, housing, family, health, environment, crime and delinquency and youth participation. Today, a legislative framework, "Maldives Youth Bill" has been drafted and is in the process of being finalized. However, against these achievements, challenges faced by the youth in the Maldives and youth living elsewhere in the world have increased manifold.
Distinguished Delegates,
Investing in the youth is investing in the future. They are the leaders and decision makers of tomorrow.They are the ones to shape the destiny of our region and the world in the coming years. We cannot deny them their rights, opportunities or the resources that will enable them to play this important role. We need to ensure their active participation and ensure that their voices are heard.
We must make youth policies a priority. We must protect the rights of youth through legislative and administrative measures. We must eliminate discrimination against the youth based on gender, race, religion, caste, class or disability. We must eradicate violence and abuse of young people, especially girls and other marginalized groups.We must not let youth be deprived from an education or access to decent work. We must invest in the health and well-being of the youth.
Tomorrow, as the SAARC Youth Charter is finalized, let that be a significant moment in the history of South Asia, where we pledge to do all we can and play our part in the making of history by our young people. Let us pledge to invest in the future of South Asia.
Thank You.
ENDS.