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..Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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Date 7 September
2005
Press Release No: N/42/2005
UN YOUTH FORUM 2005 GIVES YOUTH A VOICE
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)--Young
people from the Asia-Pacific region make up the largest generation
of adolescents worldwide in history. On Monday, 12 September,
youth representatives from the region will gather at the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) in Bangkok to let the region know what's important
to them and how they can make a difference.
Approximately 200 international and Thai university and high school students, as well as young leaders from NGOs and civil society will share ideas on issues affecting them covered by the 2005 World Summit, including development, security and human rights.
“Young people today are a generation faced
with opportunities and threats. They hold the key to mending
problems in our region like drug abuse, commercial sexual exploitation,
gender discrimination and HIV,” said Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive
Secretary of UNESCAP.
The "Young Voices
for Change" United Nations Youth Forum is organized
by UNESCAP with the support of the World Youth Peace Summit
NGO, UNICEF and the Body Shop.
The "Young Voices
for Change" United Nations Youth Forum is a lead up
to the 2005 World Summit on 14-16 September 2005 where world
leaders will discuss issues raised in the UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan's In Larger Freedom report.
The programme will feature panel discussions by young people and experts on the “In Larger Freedom” report’s four main sections which discuss freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom to live in dignity, and strengthening the United Nations. The forum will also provide an opportunity for young people to workshop action plans for UN issues like the Millennium Development Goals in their communities.
Speakers and performers include Thai youth representative and pop star Lydia of R.S. Promotion, UNICEF youth representative Miss Wannakanok Pohitaeda on HIV in her Yala province community and a young people's choir from American School Bangkok as well as Mrs. Srisak Thaiarry, Executive Director, National Council for Child and Youth Development, Dr. Mark Tamthai, Director of the Institute for the Study of Religion and Culture, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand and Member of Thailand's National Reconciliation Commission, Dr. Ioan Voicu, Profession of International Relations, Assumption University and UN representatives.
For more information:
www.unescap.org/unis/YF/index.asp
http://www.un.org/summit2005/
http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/
NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are
cordially invited to attend the "Young
Voices for Change" United Nations Youth Forum.
When: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.,
Monday, 12 September 2005
Where: Conference Room 1, level 2 of the UN
Conference Centre, UNESCAP, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok
For further information please contact:
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
http://www.unescap.org
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