Hon. Purushottam Paudel, Minister of Youth and Sports, on APPDSA South Asia Sub-regional Consultation

Global Peace Foundation
March 23, 2015

APPDSA South Asia Sub-regional Consultation
March 23 2015
Kathmandu, Nepal
Theme: “
Youth Volunteerism to Promote Participation, Development and Peace”


Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased and honored to be here at this forum of 2015 Asia-Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance, South Asia Sub-regional Consultation on Youth Volunteerism to Promote Participation, Development and Peace in Kathmandu. 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the co-conveners, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) and the Global Peace Foundation, as well as local supporting partners.

Distinguished Delegates,
It is our pleasure to know that on 28 October 2014, 300 young leaders of Asia and the Pacific – and other participants, including representatives of national and multilateral agencies dealing with youth issues, civil society, development partners and the private sector – engaged in lively debates and discussions on enhancing partnerships with youth to address key challenges in clusters concerning the environment, health service, disaster, culture of peace and youth entrepreneurship. This is ground breaking initiation to enhance knowledge and strategies with regard to youth participation in the Post-2015 Development Agenda initiating consortia of Asia Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance (APPDSA) through youth engagement and volunteerism in framework of youth for peace and development.
As a representative from the Government of Nepal, I wish that this forum with Kathmandu Call for Action will successfully set the action-plans to meet the aspiration of youth in the region.

Distinguished Delegates,
In 2010, the Government of Nepal formulated and brought into action a National Youth Policy. In the near future, the Government of Nepal is planning to establish a national youth council to implement the overall youth development activities in a more integrated, effective and coordinated manner, therefore, is willing to work together with development partners and seeks support for capacity building and institutional strengthening on youth and sports. 

Distinguished Delegates,
Apart from this the Ministry has made a revision over Youth Policy 2010 better linking with Youth Vision 2025.  The main thrust of the revision is to reduce age limit by creating two categories in order to focus the programs according to age character and aspiration of youth.  Special emphasize is given to the programs of strategic importance and for the youth of deprived and marginalized communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to place hearty thanks to the organizing committee for engaging the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Nepal as co-convener of the program and inviting me to present a keynote address.
Finally, I would like to express very best wishes to all of those participating in the 2 day meeting representing diverse aspects of society. I believe that this outstanding event, benefitting from the collaboration of so many partners, will be especially fruitful for the individual as well as to society in broader terms. We are looking forward the broader cooperation and support from our partners to scale up youth development activities in Nepal.

Once again, I want to state that we are most grateful to all speakers on this stage and the participants representing various countries. We appreciate your being with us and have the great pleasure of welcoming you to Nepal.
Thank you all.

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