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15 July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies & Gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m delighted to join you in today\u2019s celebration of World Youth Skills Day.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Young people are our world\u2019s engines of change; they are the innovators and architects of our future.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Unfortunately, those engines are not running at capacity; they are deprived of the resources needed to reach their potential.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As it stands, millions of young people, especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalized such as young women and girls, continue to be negatively affected by social, political, economic, and cultural upheaval. This includes the COVID-19 pandemic and, of course, the continued impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n These challenges eliminate jobs and opportunities, reduce access to education, and impede the reskilling and upskilling of young women and men.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n More must be done.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n With global youth unemployment at an estimated 13.6 per cent, dialogues, such as the one today, are sorely needed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I am a proud champion of young people, and I am encouraged by the fact that the United Nations has always supported youth initiatives, youth empowerment, and the active engagement of young people.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n United Nations frameworks, such as the system-wide Youth Strategy, Youth2030, help to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are part of the decision-making processes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Similarly, General Assembly Resolution 69\/145, adopted in 2014, recognizes \u201cthat fostering the acquisition of skills by youth would enhance their ability to make informed choices with regard to life and work and empower them to gain access to changing labour markets<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For my part, I have been proud to launch the Fellowship for HOPE during my presidency of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly. Throughout this session, eight young diplomats from underrepresented countries have had the chance to learn firsthand the inner workings of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ; to acquire direct skills in diplomacy and to thrive in a multilateral context.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They are the legacy I hope to leave.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While we have a long way to go, I am encouraged by the broad consensus that exists towards youth empowerment across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and the multilateral sector.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Together, we recognize the need to empower young people, to transform and build skills for the future through policy making, education, technical and vocational training, and through access to technological advances. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today, as you discuss progress made, and deliberate recommendations for the future, I ask that you do so with a view to strengthening our recovery from COVID-19, to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to fueling these vital engines of our world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us explore how to increase youth employment opportunities while sustainably reducing the number of uneducated and untrained young people.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us act collectively to ensure an inclusive and brighter future led by skillful, educated, and well-trained youths, while leaving no one behind.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies, I wish you rich and fruitful discussions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Virtual<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"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-269577","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