African ministers acknowledge political stability as key to youth development

Several African youth ministers and top officials, taking part in the Lisbon's World Youth Conference, acknowledged that political stability and a safe living environment are the key to the efficiency of national policies on the youth.

Participants also warned against the devastating effects of regional armed conflicts on youth who are deprived from perspectives of a decent future and threatened in their capacities to become mature adults and parents.

The African delegates to the first youth ministerial conference held this August 8 - 12 under the United Nations aegis, called for the exchange of information among youngsters to enable this social category learn about cultural, linguistic and religious traditions of the world populations and provide the opportunity to consolidate cooperation between countries.

They likewise underlined that, in the present globalization era, youth are now sharing many features, thanks to the flow of information, warning against images of violence circulated by TV and Internet. A call was launched by African countries for the contribution of the United Nations Organization and other inter-governmental organizations to set forth cooperation programs for least-favored countries.

In this regard, several proposals were made, such as the promotion of the UN Fund for the youth, the creation of a UN center for the development of youth, and the creation of regional networks to follow up implements and recommendations adopted by the conference.