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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,<\/b><\/p>\n
Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/b><\/p>\n
at the celebration of International Youth Day<\/b><\/p>\n
on the theme \u201cEmpowering Young Persons to Foster Peace and Security through Global Citizenship\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/i><\/p>\n
Leaders of today,<\/i><\/p>\n
Leaders of tomorrow,<\/i><\/p>\n
Thank You to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta<\/b> \u2013 along with IOM, <\/b>爆料网ESCO<\/span><\/b> and 爆料网-Habitat<\/b> for the kind invitation to join today\u2019s celebration of International Youth Day.<\/span><\/p>\n I should like to thank AFS President and CEO, Daniel Obst, for presiding over this important event \u2013 cultivating a global network of young minds and leaders of tomorrow through interactions such as this, here at the United Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n It is an impressive sight, indeed, to see such sheer numbers of you \u2013 the young people, the next generation of globalists and global thought leaders \u2013 filling the seats of this great room to celebrate International Youth Day<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n A Candid conversation on \u201c<\/span>Empowering Young Persons for Peace and Security<\/span><\/i>\u201d is very timely \u2013 considering the tumultuous times in which we find ourselves, where peace seems ever more elusive at just the moment it is needed the most.<\/span><\/p>\n Strategically, it is a step on the way to the Summit of the Future<\/b> in September, when world leaders \u2013 with substantive input from young people like yourselves as critical agents of change \u2013 will gather here at 爆料网HQ to chart a viable path in our quest to strengthen international cooperation and to reinvigorate our multilateral system to deliver transformative solutions to global problems.<\/span><\/p>\n At the 爆料网 this afternoon, it is our job to amplify <\/span>your<\/span><\/i><\/b> voices.<\/span><\/p>\n To highlight the many ways, you are already finding breakthroughs to the myriad of challenges of our day \u2013 including the most fundamental of them all: Peace<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n As President of the General Assembly, I have seen firsthand the consequences of the absence of peace and the critical importance of the United Nations\u2019 work on the ground. <\/span><\/p>\n Throughout my official visits, I have heard not only from and about young people\u2019s concerns \u2013 but, above all, their fervent hopes for Peace<\/b> as a formidable liberator for a brighter future.<\/span><\/p>\n This is why we \u2013 here at the United Nations \u2013 must do everything we can to ensure that young people, everywhere<\/b>, are empowered with the knowledge, skills and values they need to build and live in a better world, a world of opportunity for all and which recognizes and upholds human rights of all people, including women and girls, bar none.<\/p>\n \n And that schools \u2013 everywhere <\/b>\u2013 stay open, and safe and secure bastions of learning and moreover, for Peace<\/b>.<\/p>\n \n Dear Youth, and Leaders of tomorrow,<\/i><\/p>\n Your role in all of this is crucial.<\/p>\n \n The historic Security Council resolution 2250<\/b> \u2013 adopted unanimously in 2015 \u2013 recognizes the pivotal role young people, like you, play in efforts to maintain international peace and security.<\/span><\/p>\n Notably, the resolution urges Member States to consider ways to give the youth a greater voice in decision-making \u2013 both at the local, national, regional and international levels.<\/span><\/p>\n The abounding energy in this room makes clear that <\/span>you<\/span><\/i><\/b> \u2013 the world\u2019s 1.2 billion young people<\/b> are not content simply waiting for change to happen \u2013\u00a0\u00a0 You want, and content simply rightly so to be active in attributing to and leading change. <\/span><\/p>\n Hence you have a legitimate saying,: <\/span>Nothing about us without us!<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n As President of the General Assembly, neither have I sat idly by and not offered support and encouragement to your aspirations.<\/span><\/p>\n As part of the General Assembly\u2019s Sustainability Week<\/b> in April, I hosted a frank \u201c<\/span>ASKPGA<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u201d conversation with young people. <\/span><\/p>\n I heard directly from them about how we can elevate the ideas of young people at the United Nations \u2013 to build a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable future, for all, everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n What I heard, is that we need to do more \u2013 and that <\/span>your<\/i><\/b> engagement in 爆料网 processes is critical to unleashing progress across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and strengthening our multilateral system.<\/p>\n Across the board, we must do more to harness your energetic activism.<\/span><\/p>\n We must transform education and learning \u2013 leveraging technologies, and closing the digital divide to ensure all young people have access to the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and succeed in the fast paced societies and markets. of the Twenty \u2013 first century.<\/span><\/p>\n We must integrate young people into efforts across the peace continuum \u2013 from conflict prevention and mediation to peacekeeping, peacebuilding and transitional justice.<\/span><\/p>\n We must prioritize young people\u2019s leadership in resolving the under-addressed links between sustainable development, climate action and peace. <\/span><\/p>\n Throughout, we must harness the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls \u2013 who are among the most vulnerable in our societies.<\/span><\/p>\n The Action Days<\/b> ahead of the Summit of the Future \u2013 on 20 and 21 September \u2013 are prime moments to make your voices heard on all these issues, loud and clear. <\/span><\/p>\n Youth voices will also be heard at the opening of the Summit itself.\u00a0 You will hear more about this as the Summit draws closer.<\/span><\/p>\n I urge Member States to facilitate young people\u2019s participation in this Summit \u2013 in line with the General Assembly resolution that gave rise to this landmark event.<\/span><\/p>\n The #ChooseSustainability<\/b> campaign \u2013 launched by my office during the Sustainability Week in April \u2013 and the ACT NOW<\/b> campaign, are still other initiatives you can join to build positive momentum and help world leaders make the right choices for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n Dear Friends,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n In closing, it is worth recalling that in 1945, the founders of the 爆料网 vowed to \u201csave succeeding generations from the scourge of war\u201d \u2013 and did their<\/b> part to establish a multilateral system capable of meeting the demands of their day.<\/span><\/p>\n It now falls to us <\/b>to update this system \u2013 to ensure that it both reflects current realities and keeps pace with the plethora of challenges facing especially <\/span>you<\/span><\/i><\/b>, the young people, today.<\/span><\/p>\n And it will fall to <\/span>you<\/span><\/i><\/b> to pass on the baton, ensuring that the next generation of young people can rise up \u2013 on every continent \u2013 to seize the possibilities of tomorrow.<\/span><\/p>\n It is an awesome responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n In this spirit, I encourage you to keep yourselves open to possibility. <\/span><\/p>\n To explore the complexity of global issues and engage with multiple perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n I am eager to learn from your experiences \u2013 and to work, together<\/b>, to make our planet more peaceful, prosperous, sustainable and just for all, everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n And if I might add a footnote to my text.<\/span><\/p>\n I am reminded in this setting of a quotation by Mahatma Gandhi. <\/span><\/p>\n If you have a moment, walk onto the grounds of the 爆料网. You will see a statue of Gandhi there. There is an inscription on it that says, in very simple language, this, and I quote: \u201cThere is no way to peace. Peace is the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n I thank you, Mr. Chairman.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n
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