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As part of the United Nations World Data Forum 2018, which is underway in Dubai and runs until 24th October, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, FCSA, today announced the launch of the ‘Youth Council of The Global Agenda 2030.’ The announcement came on the sideline of a session titled ‘Why the youth’s role is central in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),’ held in the presence of Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; and Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the FCSA and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the United Nations World Data Forum 2018.
The launch was also attended by members of local and international youth councils and student delegations representing universities in the UAE. The initiative is aimed at supporting the UAE in its efforts to adopt a proactive approach to addressing future challenges through highlighting the essential role of Arab youth in development and in achieving the SDGs.
Commenting on the initiative, Shamma Al Mazrui said, "In line with the wise vision of our leadership, the UAE has become a model in empowering the younger generations and strengthening their participation in various fields. The launch of this platform that adopts a global approach comes in line in line with the country’s goal to meet the SDGs under the UN’s Agenda 2030. This initiative is a huge support for decision-makers and helps them in their quest to create a positive change and to tackle the most important issues being faced across the world."
"The launch of the Youth Council of The Global Agenda 2030 is a reflection of our country’s well-established approach to provide a supportive environment that motivates young people to make the most of their potential and creative talents. This commitment contributes to the development of the next generation of leaders who can enhance the UAE’s position on international competitive indicators across all sectors and fields," he added.
"The launch of the council is in line with the UN’s strategy for engaging youth to achieve SDGs," said Mr. Lootah. "It reflects the UAE government's efforts to support young people and equip them with the skills they need to face the challenges of the future. It does this by adopting the latest technologies and solutions to collect data, information and statistics that give a clear and accurate understanding of each stage and which contribute to the strategies that are aimed at building a better future for generations to come."
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations said, "We believe in our responsibility for driving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and we have faith in the pivotal role that young people play in achieving them. The youth are the largest age group around the world; they possess massive potential to lead the efforts for sustainable development. The future we look forward to is theirs, therefore, their role should not be limited to simply participating in the decision-making process, but rather to make the decisions that best suit their capacity for creativity and forecasting the future."
The FCSA cooperates with the Federal Youth Foundation in targeting youth membership in the Council for the age group 15 to 35. Its selection of an equal number of males and females supports the fifth goal of sustainable development, which is gender balance. The launch of the council coincides with the launch of the United Nations strategy to engage young people in achieving the goals of sustainable development ‘Youth 2030’ as a basis for development and the future and as an effective factor in following up the most important issues related to the lives of young people, with a focus on SDGs.
The architects of the council said that it is a platform that represents an interactive and innovative space under which government and youth decision-makers form a central pillar in policy-making, strategic plans and the development of government legislation that is supportive of the younger generation. They highlight that it will serve as an effective youth model for other Arab and foreign countries to replicate.
The World Data Forum 2018 is being held under the umbrella of the United Nations in Madinat Jumeirah and brings together leading data producers and users to discuss innovative initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of data on the environment, education and other areas of sustainable development. The forum’s agenda has more than 80 sessions, including presentations on interactive visual data and panel discussions, allowing participants to interact and exchange ideas and opinions.
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