Delivered by: Reem AlAmeri, Attache
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Let me begin by thanking the Secretary-General for his briefing as well as for the transitional report on the UN Youth Office.
The UAE acknowledges the significant progress that has been made since January 2023 through the efforts of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, in collaboration with other Secretariat offices and departments, to advance the transition process to the new UN Youth Office.
We are pleased with the smooth rollout of the two-track implementation process and look forward to the full recruitment of staff and to finalizing the transition of responsibilities from the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth to the new UN Youth Office.
As we have mentioned before during the numerous consultations on the establishment of the UN Youth Office, the importance of youth in our region cannot be overstated. In the Middle East and North Africa, 55 percent of the population is under 30 years old, and they have emerged as a catalyzing force for positive change driving towards a more prosperous and stable future for themselves and their communities.
Young people will have to bear the consequences of our actions today. Our planning and decision-making cannot afford to ignore their interests or exclude them from the conversation. If young people are able to meaningfully contribute to these processes, then together we can build a better world for them and for generations to come.
Likewise, the engagement of youth is a high priority for my country. In February of 2016, the UAE appointed our first Minister of Youth, who at the time was 22 years old and one of the youngest ministers in the world. The UAE also enacted a National Youth Strategy and continues to engage youth in Government through our Federal Youth Circles.
Given the great importance placed on the engagement of youth at all levels, we would like to reiterate our full support to the UN Youth Office, as it will promote meaningful, inclusive, and effective engagement of youth with Member States and throughout the work of the organization.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.