On the occasion of Ukrainian Youth Day, United Nations in Ukraine pledges to support the Ukrainian youth during these critical times and commits itself to work with and for young people, recognizing the important role they can play in shaping a positive vision for transformation, wealth creation, the achievement of development goals and attainment of peace and security.

Youth in Ukraine (aged 14-35) constitutes one third of the country’s population. Yet it is a population group that has long been marginalized. Youth aspirations and needs have to be addressed in a manner that enables young people to contribute to the socio economic development of the country and live productive and healthy lives. This is particularly important today as in the current crisis, youth in Ukraine is increasingly perceived as the main driving force for inspirational values and new standards for the fulfillment of rights.

The security conditions in different parts of Ukraine affect the daily lives of people, creating an insecure and unpredictable environment and increased hardship. Youth is being exposed to a number of challenges that could have a long-lasting implications for their future lives if not addressed in a timely manner. It is estimated that currently there are some 54.400 internally displaced people in Ukraine, out of which more than one third are children and youth. The United Nations will be a partner in addressing urgent needs as well as the systemic and structural barriers that prevent youth from exercising their rights and accessing services, education and employment, and facilitate the optimal expression of their talent, ideas and aspirations.

In this context the United Nations commends recent steps taken by the Government to initiate work on the development of a new Youth Policy until 2020. A participatory and inclusive process that seeks inputs from a wide cross section of youth will ensure issues such as young people’s access to quality education that equip them for the job market, access to quality health services, affordable housing, social and economic safety nets, are adopted as urgent national development priorities.

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United Nations in Ukraine provides assistance at the central and local levels in pursuing sustained economic growth, good governance, rule of law, respect for human rights and other international standards and norms for the well-being of the people of Ukraine. It is present in Ukraine since 1992, with currently 15 UN system organizations and more than 1.200 staff members working in the country.

Youth remain a critical target group for the United Nations activities in Ukraine. In the framework of the recently established inter-agency Youth Working Group, it supports the national partners in addressing the development challenges the youth in Ukraine face today and contribute to the development of the new National Youth Programme 2016-2020.

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For further information, please contact: Victoria Andrievska, UN Communication Officer, Tel. +380442539363, victoria.andrievska@unic.org, www.un.org.ua