WORLD YOUTH CONFERENCE AMERICAN PRECONFERENCE

May 24, 2010 - SALVADOR DE BAHIA, BRAZIL

Distinguished Ministers,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

1. First, let me applaud the regional efforts aimed at youth development, and the priority being given to youth in the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals during this meeting. Special thanks to the Governments of Mexico and Brazil for their leadership in organizing this Inter-American event in advance of the World Youth Conference to be held in August 2010. The presence of the Ministers and Highest Authorities of Youth of the region, as well as that of representatives of NGOs and international organizations, bodes well for the outcome of our deliberations. I believe that the collaborative efforts of this audience, composed of policy-makers and experts cognizant of the challenges and potential of youth, will have a significant impact on the situation of youth in the region.

2. Our commitment to youth progress and development certainly enriches this gathering, as we will:
• understand better common issues and solutions pertaining to youth in the hemisphere,
• share best practices that can help guide domestic approaches,
• explore ideas to create new strategies for youth contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, and also
• network for mutual support to make an optimal impact and advance the youth agenda.

3. The American Conference and the world youth summit both aim to address global challenges affecting youth. In just a couple of weeks the General Assembly of the OAS will explore effective solutions to issues regarding peace, security and cooperation in the Americas.

4. This is important for you to know as, starting with the 2008 General Assembly in Medellin, Colombia, OAS member states declared that the participation of young people in decisions relating to their own development is a right and a responsibility, which makes them necessary actors in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies.

5. In many of our countries, youth represent the majority of the population. They are today’s work force and tomorrow’s leaders. Yet, there is a disturbing trend emerging of disaffected youth who operate outside the mainstream of the development paradigm and, sometimes, outside the law. This is an unacceptable phenomenon!

6. Young people often feel frustrated, excluded and marginalized, because, in many cases, even with an education, they cannot find employment or opportunities for entrepreneurship. If this situation continues, the inter-generational transmission of poverty will remain a dismal reality for many young people and challenges for peace, security and stability will grow.

7. I believe strongly that governments and the business community should pay special attention to the situation of youth in their countries.

8. I believe that we need to pay more attention to providing more cultural exchanges across the Americas, strengthening programs for language instruction, providing job training, educating youth to enter the marketplace, and providing mentoring and internship programs, among other initiatives.

9. As our region continues to undergo fundamental transformations, we need to develop a new vision for the Americas, one that will provide hope and fresh avenues for meaningful change in the lives of our people.

10. Leaders have to commit through concrete initiatives to a hemispheric partnership for a comprehensive, holistic development, focusing on the human potential, advocating education for development which will improve the economic and security environment, creating stability and prosperity in societies. If we can achieve this, our youth population has an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development of this new vision for peace, development and progress.

I look forward to hearing the outcome of this meeting and will continue to follow closely the preparations for the World Conference.

I thank you for your commitment and contribution and wish you a most successful conference.