Press Release No. G/09/2000
10 March 2000

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) -- The All-China Youth Federation has been selected as the recipient of the 1999 ESCAP Human Resources Development (HRD) Award for Youth Empowerment. The Award is given annually by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Each year's Award focuses on a different theme, which this year is youth empowerment. The Award carries a US$30,000 prize, contributed by the Government of Australia.

The All-China Youth Federation is a nongovernmental umbrella organization encompassing youth organizations throughout China. The Jury selected the All-China Youth Federation because of its wide range of human resources development activities for youth, covering many diverse areas of youth development, and the impact of those activities on young people at both the national and local levels. The Federation was also commended for the high level of youth participation in its programmes.

A Jury of experts in HRD and youth development met during 22-23 February at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok to select the winner of the Award, which recognizes exemplary work in human resources development by a government agency, nongovernmental organization, or individual in Asia and the Pacific.

In addition to the All-China Youth Federation, the Jury chose Micronesia Bound, which provides life skills and vocational training to unemployed Micronesian youth, as runner-up, recognizing its strong commitment to human resources development and its special focus on youth in difficult circumstances. The Jury elected to confer honourable mentions on Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan of India, for its extensive youth-related activities; the National Youth Achievement Award Council of Singapore, for its innovativeness and sustainability; and Tayo ang Tinig at Gabay of the Philippines, for its innovativeness and commitment to youth participation.

Youth, defined by the United Nations as the age range of 15 to 24 years, make up about 20 per cent of the population of Asian and Pacific countries. They bear a disproportionate burden of unemployment, with young women, school leavers, and drop-outs being particularly vulnerable. Millions of young people still lack access to basic education and other skills.

Youth empowerment is predicated upon the belief that young people are themselves the best resource for promoting their development. Empowering young people means creating and supporting conditions under which young people can contribute to the economic, social, and cultural advancement of their societies and gain self-fulfilment. These enabling conditions include education, knowledge, information and skills, access to health and other social services, and employment opportunities.

Applicants for the 1999 ESCAP HRD Award for Youth Empowerment were judged on the basis of five criteria: commitment to human resources development, responsiveness to the needs of youth, innovativeness of their approaches, impact of their programmes, and sustainability of their activities.

ESCAP received applications and nominations for this year's Award from 83 individuals and organizations in 24 countries throughout Asia and the Pacific. The Award will be presented to the All-China Youth Federation during the 56th ESCAP Commission Session, to be held in Bangkok in June.

More information on the Award is available from ESCAP's HRD Website: <http://www.escap-hrd.org>