11/08/1998

It is a privilege for me, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, to address this important gathering. We bring warm. greetings from his Excellency, the President of Namibia, Comrade Sam Nuloma and the Namibian people at large.

Secondly I would like to congratulate the Government of Portugal for hosting this important and unique World Conference of Nfinisters responsible for Youth. I also would like to take this opportunity to salute the United Nations for having recognized the importance of this gathering which I believe will send a strong message the international community attaches to this vital matter.

Youth ministers world-wide are entrusted with a heavy task of preparing or moulding young people to become responsible future leaders of the world. It is a heavy task because we are dealing with an age-group that represents the largest percentage of the global population. As future leaders of the world, it is paramount that their well-being today will make a great difference in determimig the socio-economic prospects of the future.

Hon Chairperson, Hon guests the youth of today are facing serious problems, such as, unemployment, insecurity, lack of proper health, education, homelessness, social exclusion and ethnic prejudices. These scourges of the modem age or era are the main causes of violence, alcohol and drug abuse, organized crime and other anti-social evils. Hon guests, ladies and gentlemen, as the UN Secretary General reminded us yesterday, "our best defence or remedy against these anti-social behaviour is effective education and training of our youth.

Namibia being the second last colony in Africa to obtain its independence, is still struggling to find means and ways to redress the past indiscrepancies of the apartheid evil system. We inherited a youthful population, disadvantaged over decades and decades by successive repressive regimes.

With a population estimated at about 1.7 million, with an annual population growth rate of 3 per cent and a youthful population 72 per cent (below the age of 30 years), we are faced with a heavy task. Still we have made many strides and have introduced youth programmes to address youth problems. Of all the achievement, in less than 10 years of independence, Namibia has managed to establish *institutions which care for the well-being and interest of the youth.

These include youth skills training centre, multipurpose ~ outh resource centres and youth credit facilities. In short, the Namibian Government has enabled an environment conducive for youth progress and development.

Hon Chairperson, the establishment of the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the National Youth Council, were ideal pillars upon which youth programmes and activities could rest on.

On education, the Government established two 'institutions of higher education since

independence, namely the University and Polytechnic of Namibia. We are now 'in a position to obtain qualified graduates from within, whereas before, we used to import graduates.

Currently, the Ministry of Youth and Sport which was mandated by Cabinet to address youth problems, have embarked on the following programme:

a)National juvenile justice - this programme is a life skill diversion programme aims

at diverting juvenile offenders away from the strict and formal criminal justice system to a system of life skills rehabilitation training.

b)Youth and Child Rights Advocacy Programme - this programme aims to promote public awareness and address issues relating to youth and child rights and to assist with the monitoring of these expressed Youth and Child Rights as embodied in Article 15 of the Namibian Constitution, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

c)Environmental Education Programme - This programme gives the youth an opportunity to actively participate *in the protection of our environment such as deforestation, conservation, population, etc.

d) Integrated Rural Youth Development Programme - this aims at empowering rural youth by providing facilities, services and educational opportunities in an informal setting.

e)Youth Health Programme - this aims at peer counselling and education, preventive health and research.

f)National Youth Service - this aims at school leavers and youth-out-of school as well as graduates to involve in, the socio-economic development of the country.

Hon guests, ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion our policy on youth development, is based on the principle of participation in decision-making that affects our youth. The youth must be encouraged and allowed the opportunity to participate and play a vital role in our development process.

To this end, Mr Chairman, this Conference should have a meaning to our marginalized youth and I propose that we support and endorse the Bragga Declaration of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the year 2000 and Beyond.

I thank you.