Azernews.Az

Youth employment is undoubtedly one of Azerbaijan`s most pressing problems. Young people graduating from universities often fail to find work they are qualified for, although it is younger human resources that lie at the core of any country`s economy.
Providing assistance to youngsters is one of the founding principles in the policy of any government today. Many international groups have expressed concern about the current situation in the employment of youths worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly has passed a number of resolutions and approved campaigns in support of youths, while the UN secretariat oversees the implementation of such programs and awareness campaigns.
For instance, in 1995 the UN adopted a worldwide program of action to meet the interests of youths for the period until 2000. It also enacted an international strategy on solving young people`s problems and broadening opportunities for their involvement in the global social life. At the Millennium Summit, leaders and heads of government passed a declaration "to develop and implement strategies granting young people, anywhere, a real opportunity to find decent and productive jobs."
At the request of the UN secretary-general, a system on ensuring youth employment was created in 2001 as part of a joint initiative by the UN, International Labor Organization and the World Bank. Also, a movement emerged to address the challenges faced by youngsters, while discussions on these issues take place regularly at the Youth Employment Summit (YES), which has been held since 2002.
The fourth YES summit was held in Baku last week with the participation of some 600 representatives from over 100 countries. The four-day event was supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth and Sports and Youth Employment Summit (YES, Inc.)
In a congratulatory letter addressed to the participants, President Ilham Aliyev wrote that the employment of youths is an important issue in countries around the world. He also said the participation of representatives from all corners of the world at the summit in the Azerbaijani capital was an indication of the great interest taken in youth employment issues on a global scale.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Azad Rahimov, said in his remarks that the goal of the summit was to step up efforts, worldwide, to solve problems regarding unemployment and ensuring efficient employment of young people.
He said the state programs prepared in Azerbaijan in recent years targeted reducing unemployment rates among youths, supporting their entrepreneurial activities as well as arranging career training sessions.
The minister emphasized that, as a result of the work done on youth employment, Azerbaijan was included in the International Labor Organization as one of the champion states.
Addressing the event, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who co-chaired the summit, said the Azerbaijani government has always supported the development of youths in the country.
"Azerbaijan is a country with an increasing number of youths, who account for 51% of the population. Although ensuring youth employment in the country is challenging, given that Azerbaijan is facing Armenia`s aggression and has over a million refugees and displaced persons, as a result of the work done by the state, the problem has been left behind, and youths attributed to this group are now benefiting from the modern education system, as well. Such measures are aimed at ensuring a bright future for our youths."
Aliyeva said enlightening youths and improving their intellectual development was part of the domestic policy pursued by the government. She noted that quality education and subsequent employment of youngsters remains one of the top priorities of the government.
Marianna Vardinoyannis, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, said Azerbaijan is among the top reforming countries seeking to reduce poverty. She welcomed the support provided to youths, and their education and care for their futures, emphasizing that the country could serve as an example for other states in this respect.
"Azerbaijan is a happy nation considering that those suffering from poverty make up a minute portion of the population. Children in your country think not about making a living, but about receiving education.
"But unfortunately, 85% of the world`s young generation is concentrated in poor countries, and they lack the opportunity to receive education like others and to engage in efficient work. We want to attract the attention of the world community and international organizations to this."
Nearly one billion children worldwide are suffering from poverty, according to UN estimates.
Egypt`s First Lady, Suzanne Mubarak, another co-chair of the summit, and Poonam Ahluwalia, President of YES, Inc., said in their addresses that peace and stability are among key pre-conditions for the normal economic development and ensuring employment in any given country. They expressed hope that by capitalizing on the extensive experience of various countries represented at the Baku summit, new approaches will be developed in addressing youth employment issues and proposals prepared on ways of applying them.
The first YES summit was held in 2002 in Alexandria, Egypt, under the chairmanship of former US President Bill Clinton and Egypt`s First Lady Mubarak. The second such event took place in Mexico City, while the third one was held in Nairobi, Kenya. At the last summit, it was agreed to act upon the proposal of the Azerbaijani delegation to hold the next summit in Baku.