Statement by Minister Bibeau on International Youth Day

August 12, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today issued the following statement:

“Today, on International Youth Day, Canada is celebrating young peacebuilders around the world.

“About 1.8 billion people today are between the ages of 10 and 24, and they are more interconnected than ever.

“These young people observe, but are disproportionately affected by, the impact of local and international conflicts. Their innovative solutions to conflicts need to be heard at all levels of power.

“In Canada, many young people are involved with the various Youth Councils so they can make their views known to the Prime Minister and members of Parliament. Last year, young Canadians also gave their opinions on what they think our international assistance priorities should be during consultations on this subject.

“In the developing world, youth are formidable agents of peace, but continue to deal with important issues, particularly in fragile nations. On a worldwide scale, more than half of all refugees are under the age of 18. Some 200 million young people have failed to complete their elementary school education and 73 million of them are unemployed. Each year, over 16 million adolescent girls become mothers.

“All this is why Canada is working hard to ensure the voices of young people are heard in government institutions and in civil society. Youth are powerful agents of change and valuable allies. Let us, with them, continue to build more peaceful and egalitarian societies.”

Contacts

Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie 343‑203‑6238
marie-emmanuelle.cadieux@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343‑203‑7700
media@international.gc.ca

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