The Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, has announced that his Government has increased their commitment to youth through the endorsement of the National Youth Policy 2007-2017 which sets the direction for Youth Development in the country. This Government's endorsement of the National Youth Policy recognizes that youths are very important resources for the country's development and the future of this nation.
The endorsed policy would require K21 million for its implementation over the next 10 years.
Sir Michael when announcing this, challenged youths to see themselves as partners in the development of this country and contribute meaningfully as citizens. "The new youth policy is a shift in paradigm. The shift is about developing youths as opposed to social welfare systems of youth work. It encourages agencies to develop preventative model youth work as opposed to treatment model".
The Prime Minister said, "Youths must not be seen as problems but an opportunity and an important resource for current and future development". Today's youths will be tomorrow's future therefore priority must be given to them to set their own destiny through the development of programs and projects, Sir Michael said.
The National Government through consultations with stakeholders recognizes the major issues and problems experienced by young people which includes, poverty, unemployment and underemployment, illiteracy among youths and early school dropouts, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and delinquency - youths coming into conflict with the law, youths exposure to HIV/AIDs and Sexually transmitted Diseases, teenage pregnancies and violence and bullying just to name a few. Youths are vulnerable to other issues as well.
To address these youth related issues nine (9) key policies are provided for by the Government and they are:-
1. Improving the quality of life for young people to alleviate poverty;
2. Integrated Education to address illiteracy and school dropouts;
3. Nurturing Sustainable Livelihoods of young people to address unemployment and under-employment;
4. Promoting Healthy Lifestyles to address health related issues including the HIV / AIDs among youths and promote sports development;
5. Involving youths Building Stronger Communities to promote participation of young people as partners;
6. Strengthening Institutional Capacities that promote the advancement of youths;
7. Promoting youths and their identity through languages, cultures and traditions;
8. Conducting research and collect data on youth and related issues to better understand the root causes of problems and issues; and
9. Promotion and maintenance of safety, security and peace in communities.
Under each of the priority areas mentioned above are strategies with set targets that must be achieved over the next 10 years. The strategies are about the promotion of developing youths to become active partners in the development of PNG as citizens.
Sir Michael challenged that "this youth policy should not become another policy for the bookshelves but a guide that must be used by Bilateral and Multilateral agencies, National Departments and Statutory bodies, Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments, Non Government agencies, Faith Based Organisations, Communities, Parents and young people themselves for initiating youth development plans, projects and programs.
The Prime Minister particularly challenged National and Provincial Departments and Statutory bodies to mainstream the National Youth Policy to address youth issues in their policies and programs.
He further stated that the National Executive Council has directed the Ministerial Committee on Administration and Social Sector to establish a team to coordinate resources and oversee the implementation of the Policy.
M T SOMARE, GCL GCMG CH CF KStJ
Prime Minister
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