(Dubai) – The United Arab Emirates has celebrated the International Youth Day under the slogan “The Youth Lead Sustainability”.
The General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare organised a ceremony at its headquarters to celebrate the event. It was organised under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
Shamma bint Sohail Faris AlMazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Khalid Isa Al Midfa, Assistant Secretary-General of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, Frode Morinj, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Ahmad Hindawi, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Youth.
A group of young people and those with interest such as researchers, journalists and decision-makers and some of the innovative young men in the area of youth work, were also present.
This year’s celebration coincided with the national programme of summer activities, “Summer of My Country” being organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare.
In her statement during the opening ceremony, AlMazrui said that the youth in every society are the driving force of innovation and sustainable development, and today the Emirati youth and those around the world are sharing the occasion, which represents an important stimulus for them to adopt a promising future vision to address all the challenges and accomplish achievements in all fields as well as promote human society.
She also added that the UAE leadership spared no efforts in providing opportunities for the youth and instil values and principles that urge them to innovate.
The theme of the 2016 International Youth Day, which falls on 12 August, is “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”. The UN says this year’s Day is about achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.
(Courtesy WAM)
