Geneva, 30 July 2002
The security and prosperity of youth is
the security and prosperity of tomorrow's Europe
On 26-28 August 2002, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE), jointly with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (UNDESA), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(UNHCHR), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),
will welcome more than 200 participants to the First Regional Forum on Youth:
Security, Opportunity and Prosperity. The participants represent governments,
youth organizations, the private sector, foundations and funds, international
and regional organizations, and all those who are concerned with the well-being
of the young and future generations of the UNECE region.
The programme for the 3-day meeting includes simultaneous discussions spread
over three working groups, each of which will focus on a specific set of issues:
(1) the health and security of youth; (2) the employability and employment
of youth; and (3) youth entrepreneurship. The choice of issues for discussion
is not incidental, since there are many reasons for concern for today's rising
generations.
Youth unemployment is staggeringly high in many countries, ranging from more
than 70 per cent in Macedonia to 6 per cent in Germany. Many factors are held
responsible for this situation: the lack of employability of youth, the failure
of the education establishment to respond to changes in the demand for skills,
economic depression, etc. There are, however, success stories, which will
be reviewed by the participants during the discussions in order to identify
possible remedial measures to the situation that are suitable to the specifics
of their countries.
The proliferation of HIV/AIDS is another issue of concern in many countries,
as more and more young people become infected: the number of young people
infected among new cases of HIV/AIDS has been rising. This could either indicate
that prevention efforts are not effective, or that high-risk groups have not
been affected by these efforts. Considering the potential devastating consequences
of the epidemic, there is an urgent need to address this issue jointly.
Violence both among and against youth is another important item on the Forum
agenda. There has been an increase in social deviance among youth in many
countries, which has been associated with dramatic and rapid social differentiation,
inequality and the growth of poverty. Youth opportunity sets have changed
because of such factors as transition reforms, globalization and technological
change. In many countries, the informalization of economic activities, often
coupled with an increase in illicit activities and organized crime, has created
an environment which aggravates the situation in which the youth of today
finds itself and, therefore, the vulnerability of young people is significantly
increased.
In a number of countries, civil wars and ethnic conflicts have had a shattering
effect on the whole generation of youth, which has witnessed communal violence,
displacement of families, urgent flight and bloodshed. This generation needs
to be urgently reintegrated to a normal life, and this is most especially
urgent in the light of the efforts made by militant groups and organized crime
to recruit new members from the younger generations.
The main goals of the Forum are to identify policies and policy measures
that could effectively mitigate these risk factors, and improve the integration
of today's youth into mainstream economic and social activities. It also aims
to assist in building partnerships among key stakeholders and in identifying
new instruments and mechanisms that could be employed to reduce the risks
faced by young people. One of such instruments is the new information technologies,
which could be used for educating and training, and also for generating jobs.
These possibilities will be discussed at the Round Table on the Role of ICTs,
which will include a presentation by ICT companies, as well as members of
the Swiss Media Association, on software programs and contracting-out options.
Youth entrepreneurship is another instrument which could be used to ensure
the participation of young adults in economic activities. Many countries have
launched youth entrepreneurship programmes which aim to provide young people
with additional career options, such as self-employment. The Forum will consider
to what extent and under which circumstances this option has been effective
by reviewing national experiences.
For further information, please contact:
Partner organizations:
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
United Nations Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
Participating organizations:
World Bank
Council of Europe
European Commission
Ref: ECE/OPA/02/12