International Youth Day 2022

Vice President of the Maldives, H.E. Faisal Naseem

Mayor of Kulhudhuffushi City Mr. Mohamed Athif

Distinguished guests,

Friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

A very good morning to you all.

It is a great pleasure to be with you today as we kick off partnership with Kulhudhuffushi City Council to celebrate this year’s International Youth Day.

Earlier in June this year, I visited Kulhudhuffushi City for the first time since my arrival in Maldives and had the opportunity to have incredibly valuable conversations with the Council, WDC, amongst others. Most compelling where those with our younger generation and the community of Kulhudhuffushi. The concept behind this year’s International Youth Day originated from these discussions. I am therefore very pleased to be here again today, and this time with the distinguished presence of Vice President Naseem. On behalf of the UN Maldives team, I also express our sincere appreciation to the Vice President for joining us. 

The main component of today’s initiatives, the ‘Zuvaanunge Holhuashi’ will therefore focus on the issues identified by young people in Kulhudhuffushi City such as lack of mental health support, domestic and gender-based violence and limited employment opportunities. Through these consultations, we hope to provide young people of Haa Dhaalu Atoll with the opportunity to engage with experts, and to create a safe space to express their views, while also deliberating on ways to tackle these challenges together.

As of 2020, over 43% of Maldives’ population comprises of young people. This year, Maldives will conduct the first Census in ??? years with the support of UNFPA, and I am sure that we will gain additional vital information on the demographics of the country to inform our policy making through to 2030.

We recognize the crucial role of young people’s participation in driving social progress and inspiring political change, and all of our analyses shows that young people have specific and tangible ideas to contribute to the decisions that policy makers take that directly affect their future. While we kick off these discussions in Kulhudhuffushi City today, I am happy to share with you that the UN will continue these conversations in across the country.

Secondly, in the spirit of this year’s theme for International Youth Day, we are also partnering with the Kulhudhuffushi City Council across generations for the “Revival of Traditional Crafts” Exhibition. During my last visit, and in fact in all my visits to islands across the country, young people tell me that they don’t know how to make their grandmother’s special recipe, or how to continue the unique Maldivian cultural crafts of their ancestors.

Therefore this event is for all generations to come together to share decades of experience and the vast range of knowledge, skills, and values that the older generation brings to the Maldivian society.   

Coming up in this morning’s agenda is the screening of a special video produced in Maldives to mark this special day. The video showcases contrasting perspectives of the lived realities and ideas of different generations within the community. Considering the drastic changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our daily lives over the past couple of years, this video highlights the importance of recognizing both the differences, and things in common between all generations, to create a more inclusive community.  

Ensuring long-term development and future prosperity does not lie with just the Government and development partners. It requires a whole of community approach, where we must work together. To make progress in improving the lives of people, and the health of our planet, we need to change our approach and include everyone, especially young people in our journey towards a sustainable future. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Athif and the Kulhudhuffushi City Council, for their dedicated efforts and support in bringing young people and the community together to celebrate Youth Day this year. It has been a dynamic and enthusiastic partnership between Kulhudhuffushi City Council and the UN which I am sure will continue to thrive.

I look forward to future collaboration in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, and other regions across the country to support Maldives to achieve the 2030 Agenda and leave no one behind!