News
New UN Envoy for Youth and Executive Director Discuss Priorities for Young People
- 26 February 2013
 Dr. Osotimehin and the new UN Envoy for Youth. Photo: UNFPA/Omar Kasrawi |
NEW YORK— Just after his first week in office, Ahmad Alhendawi, newly appointed United Nations Envoy for Youth, met with UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin to discuss shared priorities around young people in the years to come. As incoming co-chair of the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, UNFPA will work very closely with the UN Envoy, which is a new position.
Mr. Alhendawi and Dr. Osotimehin both expressed their enthusiasm to work together closely towards achieving shared goals around young people, whose participation and empowerment is key for sustainable development.
"I strongly believe that together we can raise the profile of issues of young people in the year ahead," said Dr. Osotimehin. "If we collaborate and also engage particular stakeholder groups, including young people as well as governments around the world, we can accomplish a lot."
The UN envoy emphasized that any sound approach to youth empowerment must address the importance of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. These, and other issues, were highlighted in a survey conducted as part of a UN System-Wide Action Plan on Youth. Mr. Alhendawi, who thanked UNFPA for leading by example in investing in youth.
"It is a great honor for me to visiting UNFPA, an organization that brings a unique contribution to addressing the issues of young people through inspirational work not only on the global, but also on the regional and national level," said Mr. Alhendawi.
