Port Moresby— Four young people from Papua New Guinea will travel to the United Nations Headquarters in New York next week to attend the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, taking place between 30th and 31st January 2018. The Youth Forum is an annual platform through which youth from the Member States contribute to policy discussions at the United Nations. The United Nations in Papua New Guinea is supporting the participation of four youth who are from the different provinces of the country: Ms. Lydia Dimokari, Ms. Darusila Puipui, Mr. Milton Kisapai, and Mr. Joe Harry.

During the 7th Forum, youth representatives will voice their opinions, share ideas, and think together about what they can do to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They take part in brainstorming sessions, interactive speaker panels and discussions with Member States on a theme, “the role of youth in building sustainable and resilient urban and rural communities”. The Forum is an important platform for the youth delegation from Papua New Guinea to exhibit their commitment and innovative solutions to development challenges and to share their valuable experience with peers across the globe.

All four selected youth representatives have already been changing their respective communities by actively implementing activities for the betterment of people’s lives and that of the nation. One of the representatives, Ms. Lydia Dimokari, a 2016 Youth Champions 4 the SDGs, has been conducting various gender equality awareness sessions in the Gerehu community to empower girls and women. Another youth representative, Mr. Milton Kisapai, has been implementing educational sessions on the SDGs through sports, including in remote areas of the country, in partnership with the PNG Olympic Committee, as one of the Team PNG Champions for the SDGs. All four youth representatives to the Forum have completed three-day induction workshop to further understand the work of the United Nations and the development contexts in the country.

 “As a Team PNG SDGs champion, I have conducted several sessions to make people understand the Global Goals through sports channels. I feel humbled to be selected to participate in the Forum and would like to express sincere appreciation to the United Nations in Papua New Guinea. I aspire to absorb experiences of the other young leaders from across the world who are in the same Forum to benefit myself and the other youth in the country. I am also sure that the team of Papua New Guinean youth can share the good practices and experiences to the world,” stated Milton Kisapai.

Youth representatives are being financially supported by UNFPA, UNDP, and UN Women in Papua New Guinea to attend the ECOSOC Youth Forum.

“The meaningful engagement of youth in implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals affords them the opportunity to use their full potential to contribute to their attainment. The United Nations in Papua New Guinea always considers youth as inevitable partner to bring about positive change to the community and the entire country. Sending a set of such inspiring and proactive young Papua New Guineans to this Forum is our investment to exhibit the country’s strong commitment and great asset for the nation’s future,” commented Mr. Koffi Kouame, the Country Representative of the UNFPA in Papua New Guinea.

ENDS

For further information, please contact: Chika Kondoh, Communications Specialist at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), chika.kondoh@one.un.org | (675) 321 2877