SPORTS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY & PEACE
An International Reflection and Celebration
(UN - April 6.Org & Republic of Turkey's May 19th Youth and Sport Celebration)
West Park High School, NYC, May 18, 2015 - 7:00-9:00p.m.
"The youth is our social and human capital."
Photo: Julie Mardin
Welcoming Remarks by
Ayten ELER, Deputy Consul General of Turkey in New York
“A healthy mind is found on a healthy body”.
It is a great pleasure for me to join you this evening on the occasion of celebrating “Sports for Healthy Youth Development, Sustainability and Peace”.
At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Light Millenium, in collaboration with the Turkish Women League of America for organising this event on the eve of May 19, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.
On this special day, we commemorate Turkish Nation’s Great Leader Atatürk’s landing at Samsun on May 19th, 1919. This day marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence which ultimately led to the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with his vision and the importance he attributed to the younger generation, has dedicated the anniversary of this significant day to the youth, to whom he entrusted our Republic.
The yearly celebrations of the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day serves to emphasize the vital role and contribution of younger generation in all aspects of life.
Indeed, the level of development of our societies, our future, is directly linked with the role and the value we attribute to youth development.
That is why investing in youth, educating them, and, providing them with the necessary means to be healthy individuals are of key importance in building healthy societies and achieving a sustainable future.
I wish to underline here the importance of sports for a healthy youth development by a quote from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: “A healthy mind is found on a healthy body”.
These words should be the guiding principle of all nations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As known, the post--‐2015 process has been through a long series of negotiations that has allowed us to arrive at a set of Sustainable Development Goals that encompass a wide variety of issues relevant for children and youth.
We certainly have much to achieve and we need to continue to work towards this aim.
2015 is a pivotal year in terms of sustainable development goals. Unfortunately women and youth are the two largest demographic groups in the world still facing inequalities, limited choices and restricted freedoms, including in education, health, social protection, decent work, livelihood and economic opportunities. Therefore, we need a development agenda that leaves no one behind.
Factoring the youth in the post-2015 development agenda is a key issue. The power of countries cannot be measured with financial resources alone. The youth is our social and human capital. As such, it is our responsibility towards ourselves to protect and promote the rights of children and youth, as well as to hear their voices and prioritize their issues and concerns.
"...three I’s of the current G-20 Turkish Presidency:
Inclusiveness, Implementation, and Investment for Growth."
Ladies and gentlemen,
2015 will be a year where G20, which is the premier platform for global economic and financial issues, will focus its efforts on ensuring inclusive and robust growth through collective action.
This can be formulated as the three I’s of the current G-20 Turkish Presidency:
Inclusiveness, Implementation, and Investment for Growth.
I would like to note here that Turkey, after taking over the Presidency of the G-20, announced that the Youth 20 (Y-20) will be an official outreach program of the G-20 in 2015 as well.
Y-20 is the official youth engagement group of the G-20 which provides a platform for young people from across the G-20 countries to have their voices heard in regards to the most pressing global economic and social challenges.
The Y-20 Summit will be held this year in Turkey on August 15-21.
We should not leave no one behind.
Thank you, and enjoy the evening!
REPORT by Ali ERCAN on the:
SPORTS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY & PEACE
An International Reflection and Celebration - EVENT
(UN - April 6.Org & Republic of Turkey's May 19th Youth and Sport Celebration)
PHOTO ALBUM of the May 18, 2015th EVENT
PROGRAM - List of SPEAKERS
RunDown with the BIOS of the SPEAKERS
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