[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-41px|||||” custom_padding=”33px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-19px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ text_orientation=”justified” hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
6 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is my honor to welcome you all to this High-level debate of the General Assembly.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I would like to extend my appreciation to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office for Drugs and Crime for their support in organizing this event, as well as commend their efforts in crime prevention and the strengthening of criminal justice systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today\u2019s discussion on empowering youth in crime prevention and justice initiatives builds upon the 2021 Kyoto Declaration and the outcomes of the 14<\/span>th<\/span> United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It asks the question: <\/span>what can we do as an international community to empower youth in making our cities and communities safer?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As we endeavor to answer this question, we must first recognize uncomfortable facts and address these in our responses.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This includes the fact that young people are disproportionately viewed as the primary perpetrators of crime.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The fact that young people are also amongst the most vulnerable to victimization, particularly around gang-related crime, violent extremism, and sexual exploitation, all the while lacking sufficient coverage or protection.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And the fact that prison systems remain, by and large, overcrowded, under resourced, and, in many instances, unsafe.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As I have emphasized throughout my presidency, by virtue of their age, energies and learning abilities, young people are key agents of change in effectively addressing many world challenges.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Their importance in crime prevention is no different, and they deserve a greater say and contribution in how this is undertaken.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Achieving this means ensuring safe and supportive environments for young people, so as to prevent their involvement in criminal activities. This includes initiatives such as skills development, school counselling, health treatment for substance abuse, and problem-oriented policing.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It means also addressing risk factors that lead young people to engage in violence and crime, including on the developing and human rights fronts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It means involving young people in decision making at all levels as it pertains to crime prevention, justice, and the rule of law.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As President of the General Assembly, I have made empowering youth a keystone of my presidency, and I have engaged with young people at each and every opportunity, whether in the GA or on trips abroad.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In that vein, I am delighted to welcome a youth representative here with us today, to shed light on his experience as a young person working to instill crime prevention in his community.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As our youth representative will speak to shortly, empowering youth in crime prevention policies and programming is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart and effective thing to do. Prevention through education, rehabilitation, and reintegration has been proven to work.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For all the efforts by United Nations and our governments, there remains a perception among young people that there are still not enough opportunities for their meaningful engagement in promoting the rule of law.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us help to change that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies, I encourage you, as outlined in GA resolution 76\/187, to adopt multi-sectoral crime prevention policies and programmes for youth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Further, I encourage you to develop and implement comprehensive, evidence-based crime prevention policies, national and local strategies, and action plans based on an understanding of the multiple factors that contribute to crime.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By empowering young people \u2013 by bringing them into the process and giving them ownership, as well as hearing their concerns and suggestions, we can strengthen the system and make our communities safer for everyone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I wish you all the best in today\u2019s debate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" United Nations General Assembly, New York<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-267050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n