The
2016 United Nations Day was celebrated on Monday by the UN System in The
Gambia, in partnership with the Gambia government, civil society, school children,
local community and district authority, among others.
This
year’s UN Day was celebrated at the St. Peters Senior Secondary School in
Lamin, Kombo North, with the theme: “Engaging Youth in Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs,) promotion and implementation”.
UN
Day is an opportunity to highlight where the UN, in collaboration with national
and international partners, needs to redouble its efforts under Agenda 2030 to
meet the current and future challenges across the three pillars of its work -
peace and security, development, and human rights.
The
celebration was characterised by a series of activities, including a highlight
event in which the first-ever SDG club in schools was launched, and prizes were
also awarded to winners of an essay competition for students on the SDG.
The
competition, which took place from 3 to 9 October across all schools in Region
1 and 2, targeted children in the Lower Basic School, Upper and Senior
Secondary and the higher education level.
In
delivering a statement at the celebration, the UNDP Resident Coordinator, Ms
Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje, said it was 71 years since the United Nations was
formed and it has continued to promote peace and security, sustainable
development and human rights across the world.
In
The Gambia, she added, the UN is supporting government’s development agenda as
outlined in The Gambia’s long-term development Vision 2020 and the Programme
for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE).
The
theme highlights their commitment to focus on the role of Gambian youths in the
implementation of the SDGs, and to successfully implement the 17 SDGs in the
next 15 years, and they have to engage everyone, particularly the youths.
“We
have to empower them with knowledge of the goals and ensure they actively work
towards their realisation. As the emerging leaders and force for change for a
better, more developed and peaceful world, the youths must own the SDGs,” she
said.
The
UN System is partnering with the government and schools to pilot the setting up
of SDG clubs in schools across the country, she added.
The
SDG clubs in schools would empower students to participate and take up
meaningful SDGs activities and projects.
The
clubs will create the platform for students to reach out and engage their
parents, peers, neighbourhood and communities to promote the SDGs.
Also
speaking at the celebration was the permanent secretary, Ministry of
Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Ousman Sowe, who said the
participation of The Gambia in this important international day and event,
provides an important window of opportunity for them to join other countries in
the community of nations to observe, celebrate and reflect on the global body,
the UN, after 71 years of existence.
The
day marked another historic moment in the UN selfless services which the entire
world continues to benefit from, after 71 years of challenges and
progression.
The
UN and its specialized agencies such as the UNDP, FAO, WHO and WFP are engaged
and partnering in enhancing all aspects of human life, including education,
health, poverty reduction, food security, resilience building , the rights of
women and children and climate change.
PS
Sowe thanked the UN System in The Gambia for their efforts in all facets of
development in the country, among which is the youth project “Gambia Shangai
Initiative” in the North Bank Region,
which is aimed at empowering the youths in the country by providing life-long
skills.
