(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The youth should be engaged in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which will build upon the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post-2015 development agenda of the UN, remarked UN Goodwill Ambassador Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand.
Delivering the keynote address yesterday at the Doha Youth Forum, which precedes the United Nations 13th Conference on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, she exhorted the participants of the forum to challenge themselves to tackle various crimes.
Princess Mahidol explained that the rule of law and sustainable development are linked both nationally and internationally as it is the only path to comprehensive development.
"Youth can be the protectors of law. Social and economic growth coupled with education can lead to prevention of crimes and the rule of law."
She urged that law should be fair and applied universally. Youth should be included in strategies of societies that plan the rules for prevention of crimes.Vigilant and determined youth are the voice of the future.
The UN goodwill ambassador observed that youth should challenge themselves to tackle crimes, especially several modern crimes such as cyber crimes. Another emerging threat is the cultural property trafficking. Looting of the cultural properties from some of the heritage sites leads to the loss of several important heritage properties around the world.
Princess Mahidol, who has led a campaign to end violence against women, said: "It is not only physical violence that women face, but also psychological violence and discrimination. This needs to be prevented in a serious way."
She called on the society to fight corruption and enhance accountability and transparency.
Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Qatar's Permanent Representative at the UN, in a televised message at the opening ceremony of the conference, said: "The forum is a pioneering initiative in the history of UN conferences, as it provides the youth with a unique opportunity of self-expression and allows them to play their part in influencing the future."
"The rule of law is an important element in development and sustainability, and it is the desired path to build the world we want, and this cannot be achieved without the youth.The world's attention should be brought to the importance of youth participation in the decision making process," urged Sheikha Alia.
She stressed the importance of co-operation for a sustainable world ruled by law. She added that it was something that Qatar believed in, as it has built the bridges of co-operation with all states. Page 6
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