BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Apr. 4. 2018 - THE Minister of Youth in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), Hon. Eric Evelyn says that Youth Month is an opportunity to celebrate and highlight young people, and to educate them on a range of issues they are facing.
April is recognized as Youth Month across the world, and Minister Evelyn believes it is also an opportunity to empower and develop youths.
“This year, the theme surrounds the very important Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, and seeks to educate our youth, as well as the entire population on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“The year 2030 is the target year for the attainment of these goals and we do not want anyone, particularly our youth to be left behind,” Evelyn stated.
According to the Minister, there is no doubt, even at the international level, that the engagement and involvement of young people is pivotal to the successful attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In light of this, he said, the United Nations Development Programme highlighted several key facts in the January 2017 publication “Youth as partners for the implementation of the SDGs”.
“Today’s generation of adolescents and young people (between 10 and 24 years old) is close to 1.8 billion – more than at any other time in history – approximately 90 percent of whom live in less developed countries.”
He continued: “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a total of 169 targets, were adopted in 2015. More than one third of SDG targets reference young people explicitly or implicitly, with a focus on empowerment, participation and/or well-being.”
The Minister noted that young people’s involvement is key if the call for participation, inclusion, accountability and revitalized global engagement embedded in Goals 16 (peaceful, just and inclusive societies) and 17 (partnerships and implementation) are to be achieved.
He said that it is impossible to fully explore all 17 during a one-month period. As such, they will continue the process of education which started a year ago, through the department’s efforts.
According to Evelyn, it is important to note that the activities of the Ministry of Social Development and in particular the Department of Youth to serve the young people will not be limited to the Youth Month 2018 activities.
“We plan to continue to engage local, regional and international partners to continue to empower our youth. As such, we encourage all young people to join the 2018 Youth Month Activities.”
