Policy seeks to empower PNG youths

 THE National Youth Policy 2007-17 aims to empower the community, especially youth groups, the National Youth Council says.

NYC policy monitoring analyst for NYC said during the World Population Day, the policy targeted oung people between 15-25 years old.

Lasaka Aiputus, who is also a project officer with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said NYC was responsible for all youth development work in the country. 

He said the National Youth Policy would be implemented according to theVision 2050 and its seven pillars.

“The first pillar enabled wholesome achievement in human capital development gender, youth and people empowermen to ensure the nation’s population is healthy, educated and wealthy to participate and contribute towards the development in PNG,” he said.

“Thus, the 40% of the energetic youth population should be honest and fully developed to contribute. 

“Without this group, the nation is likely to lack the delivery of other government strategies, the Vision 2050 and significantly, the UN’s MDGs.”

Aipitus said the NYC had aligned its programmes and activities with the Medium Term Development Plans ( MTDP) 2011-15 to address youths cross cutting issues and declare agreement with development partners, donor agencies, non-government organisations, faith-based organisations, provincial governments and local-level governments. 

Aipitus told the youths that, the NYC only provide policy and technical advice to the national government on issues that are related to youths in the country.

He said Acting commissioner Notris Luio acknowledged the O’Neill government for five-year Provincial Youth Development Plan (PYDP) as a working document that aligns with National Youth Policy 2007-2017, MTDP 2011-15, PNGDSP 2010-30, Vision 2050 and provincial Plans so that the NYP is implemented throughout. 

Several pamphlets and information booklets about the NYC policy were showcased at the World Population Day in Port Moresby.