Fund Forum participates in United Nations High-level Meeting on Youth

July 27, 2011

The Fund Forum, which in 2010 was granted Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, participated in a high-level meeting on youth convened by the General Assembly on July 25 and 26, 2011 to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to the younger generation.

The high-level meeting, which had the overarching theme of "Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding" and was held as part of the International Year of Youth, was attended by representatives of numerous youth groups and NGOs.

The session was the concluding event of the International Year of Youth proclaimed by the UN for the period of August 2010 to August 2011. UN Resolution 64/134 proclaiming the year called upon governments, civil society, individuals and communities worldwide to support activities at local and international levels to mark the event. Youth organizations, governments, and civil society have been encouraged to organize activities that promote an increased understanding of the importance and benefits of youth participation in all aspects of society, as well as those that support youth to devote their energy, enthusiasm and creativity to development and the promotion of mutual understanding.

In his keynote speech, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged everyone to do everything to make sure that the youth inherit a world they deserve, a world based on dialog and mutual understanding, the world promised by the UN Charter.

The high-level meeting comprised two consecutive thematic panel discussions on July 25, 2011 and two plenary meetings on July 26 2011. The thematic panel discussions focused on: strengthening international cooperation regarding youth and enhancing dialogue, mutual understanding and active youth participation as indispensable elements towards achieving social integration, full employment and the eradication of poverty, challenges to youth development and opportunities for poverty eradication, employment and sustainable development.

Over 150 representatives of organizations, including the Fund Forum, delivered speeches during the session. The Fund Forum statement said that the organization supports and oversees youth projects in Uzbekistan aimed at reaching the goals set forth by the U.N. World Program of Action for Youth as well as the Millennium Development Goals.

The statement also noted the Fund Forum`s contributions to the organization of events in 2010, the year that was proclaimed the Year of the Harmoniously Developed Generation in Uzbekistan. The Fund Forum representative presented major projects such as “Kelajak ovozi” (Voice of the future) Talented Youth Contest, which was named the best youth project by the UN Information Center in Uzbekistan and UNFPA in 2010. Also, in 2010 the International Olympic Committee honored the Fund Forum with its annual “Sport – Inspiring Youth People” Trophy for its cultural, educational, sporting and social projects oriented toward the youth.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of an outcome document that emphasizes the need to disseminate among the youth the ideals of peace, freedom, justice, solidarity and commitment to the goals of progress and development. The document calls on member states to work to help achieve the goals set forth by the World Program of Action for Youth adopted in 2007.

In April 2011, the Fund Forum provided the UN Program on Youth Secretariat with detailed information on projects and initiatives run in Uzbekistan as part of the International Year of Youth. The information provided as well as reports by other member countries and civil society institutes will be used in compiling the UN Secretary-General`s report on the outcomes of the International Year of Youth.