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Youth represent promise, not peril, says UN chief

Xinhua, April 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that youth represent promise, not peril, at an open debate on youth's role in countering violent extremism and promoting peace.

Though violent extremists deliberately target youth and recruit them, young people with more resources can be "a force for peace" and solution to the problem, Ban said at the UN Security Council debate.

He said that the overwhelming majority of young people yearn for peace, especially in conflict situations, and many of those who commit violence are victimized by depraved adults who abuse youthful innocence.

Ban highlighted young people's role in fostering peace, at the negotiating table and in peace building. "Young people are inheriting the world. With more resources, they can be a force for peace, reconciliation and democratic governance."

He called on the international community to "see young people as the solution to our most vexing problems."

The debate was presided by Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II of Jordan, the youngest person ever to chair a Security Council meeting, as noted by Ban.

Hussein, 20, said that swift measures should be taken to "stop feeding the fires of terrorism with the blood of our youth", noting that poverty, unemployment, ignorance and weak familial ties create fertile ground for extremist thought and dismal ideas, as indicated by studies.

He also pointed out the trend that extremist groups spread their ideology across social media platforms to lure young people and stressed the need to form intellectual networks and alliances that can reach out to young people and lead the youth's public opinion to adopt values of coexistence, respect for diversity and rejection of violence.

The prince said that Jordan will host the first international conference on "The Role of Youth in Making Sustainable Peace", in partnership with the UN in August this year.

"This event is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of young peace-makers in confronting extremism and terrorism," he said. Endite