World Conference on Youth 2014 concludes with Colombo Declaration

Monday, 12 May 2014 00:15 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014 concluded on Saturday with adoption of the Colombo Declaration which aims at youth development in the post-2015 era. It said that youth participation in development at all levels should be a strong pillar in all current and future development frameworks. The WCY also reaffirmed the importance of the World Program of Action on Youth and its role in guiding UN and intergovernmental processes and youth programs at all levels through relevant plans.   To better improve youth inclusion in development and other rights, the declaration called for an enhanced and active role for youth in policy formulation and implementation and evaluation of processes related to development. It also called on countries to advance economic policies so as to guarantee young people equal opportunities for development by ensuring gainful employment, education, food security, health and decent housing. The WCY encouraged free universal early children, primary and secondary education of the highest quality for all children and young people, based on the principles of equality and non- discrimination and ensure equal and equitable access to education at all levels. It also asked the international community and countries to promote healthy lives and access to quality health care for youth, to improve full employment and entrepreneurship of youth and to realise gender equality and no violence on young people. The WCY also urged the UN agencies, countries and other stakeholders to give particular attention to the areas of shortfall in the implementation of the World Program of Action on Youth. It calls on the UN Secretary General to incorporate the Colombo Declaration on Youth as a significant input to mainstreaming youth in the post-2015 development agenda and make appropriate to it in his synthesis report. The WCY also encourage member states to table the declaration at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly so as to acknowledge and welcome the recommendations. Kicked off on Tuesday under the theme of mainstreaming youth in the post-2015 development agenda, the WCY 2014, which gathered 1, 500 young delegates from 169 countries, focused on development of young people.

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