Opening remarks by the RC a.i/HC at the Regional High-Level Meeting on Young People’s Learning, Skilling, Social Inclusion and Transition to Decent Work

Excellencies, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Young people of the region,

It is my pleasure and honor to welcome you to this High-level meeting organized under the UN’s Regional Issue- based Coalition on Adolescents and Young People in North Africa and the Middle East. This is the inaugural event of what we hope will be a series of re-current meetings held in different countries across the region to jointly work towards a shared agenda for the region that creates opportunities for young people in the region to contribute to the positive social and economic development of their societies.

The meeting we are opening today is also part of a global effort to renew emphasis on the need to transform education and find solutions for youth employment across the globe. It will represent a significant contribution from the region to the UN Secretary General’s Transforming Education Summit to be held in September.

I would like to congratulate the national delegations on their commitment to this important agenda. Many countries are spearheading impressive initiatives to ease young people’s transition from learning to decent work, and we hope that this event will provide a platform for sharing good practices. 

For the first time, we are coming together as Ministries, workers’ and trade organizations, private sector companies, the United Nations, and importantly young people with a shared understanding that the challenges we are facing collectively in light of a rapidly changing economy and world of work require a whole of society approach. 

And to the young people in the room, young men and women like you are bringing new energy, creativity and dynamism to labour markets, to schools, to universities, and to government. The United Nations is working with you and for you to provide opportunities for a better future.

There is a need to forge a revitalized regional partnership across all spheres of society and I hope that over the next two day we can sow the seeds for this agenda to build the momentum for collective action for years to come. 

On behalf of the organizing UN agencies, UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO and UNDP I thank everyone once again for your dedication and commitment. We look forward to a fruitful two days of discussion ahead.

I declare the High-Level meeting on Young people’s Learning, Skilling and Transition to Decent Work officially open.

Thank you