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It is with great pleasure that
I join you this afternoon for the 7th Youth Summit of the European Youth
Parliament (EYP) Cyprus. At the outset, allow me to congratulate the
organizers of the Summit, as well as the participants of the eight
committees.
As the official Patron of the
Long-Term Project of EYP Cyprus in 2023, titled - “Emerging from the past,
refuelling the future: embracing diversity” - I extend my best wishes for a
successful Summit, filled with fruitful discussions that will contribute to
increased awareness around a plethora of important issues that concern us all
– as individuals and as Government. Youth – all of you – constitute the most
vibrant section and the future of our society and that is one of the reasons I
am here today.
As Government, we have an
obligation to support and empower youth platforms that promote intercultural
encounters, pluralism, accessibility, diversity, civil, social and political
equality and that combat discrimination in all its forms. Above all, we ought
to listen and consult with you, we need to form policies that address in a
coherent way the needs of the future – of your future.
The EYP’s broad representation
in 40 countries across Europe over the past 35 years is key in terms of outreach.
Around 25,000 young people participate in more than 400 events annually
across the European continent at local, national and international levels,
while the alumni network is over 200,000 people. Since its foundation in
2006, the EYP Cyprus has succeeded in establishing the Annual National
Conferences with hundreds of participants from both Cyprus and other European
countries.
These are not just statistics;
they point to the EYP’s prominent role in shedding light on the importance of
youth and youth active participation and, also, on the vital mission it
serves: that of inspiring and empowering the young generation to be
well-informed, open-minded, responsible and active citizens.
More than 40 per cent of the
world population is under the age of 25 and therefore youth forms the
backbone of our societies. They are also the main agents of progress and
engaged citizenship, holding tremendous potential for positive action and
innovative solutions.
As a father of four, I have
always been strongly aware of the special role our young population holds in
every sector of daily life, from the education system, to the labor market,
within the family and also the broader society.
Along the same vein, I believe
that we have an obligation to actively and effectively promote the
contribution of youth in key consultation processes and in the
decision-making bodies.
I would therefore like to take
the opportunity that my participation today offers to outline some of the
Government’s priorities, both on youth empowerment as well as gender equality
and diversity.
To start with, our governance
program includes a distinct pillar dedicated to the young generation, with
specific actions on how to strengthen the role of youth in Cyprus.
First and foremost, we have
included actions to promote a tangible connection between the educational
system and the labor market, aiming on developing the necessary skills for
the citizens of tomorrow. In this context we also strive to create new
business initiatives and opportunities for young people through the proposed
Business Development Agency.
In addition, the national
action plan for the European Year of Skills titled “Modern Professional
Development for the green and digital transition” aims to train more than
100.000 people - including several categories of young people such as
students and soldiers - by the end of 2024. Our strategy focuses on the
strengthening of modern professional culture, the provision of socially
targeted professional learning and the promotion of professional specialization
and certification.
We also prioritize equal
opportunities in living, education, accessibility to social health services
and combating the existing stigma on mental health issues so as to guarantee
that authorities treat young people as equals in terms of care, protection
and treatment. This is particularly important in light of the fact that the
Covid-19 pandemic was especially challenging for young people.
Furthermore, in light of the
fact that youth participation is a central topic for youth policy within the
European Union and a key priority in the European Union Youth Strategy in the
period 2019 – 2027, we are also currently working on the formation of a youth
digital platform that will facilitate direct communication with the
Presidency. The voice of youth needs to be heard, and a core part of
achieving this is that youth participate in democratic processes, in
elections, so that they are represented and heard.
Emerging from the past and
embracing diversity, as the title of this Summit suggests, means to challenge
stereotypes, to combat inequality, to fight discrimination, and to advocate
for inclusiveness and acceptance regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual
orientation, age, physical abilities, religious and political beliefs,
ideologies and socio-economic status. This is key in forging a more inclusive
society and I plan to appoint very soon an Advisor for the Promotion of
Multiculturalism, Acceptance and Respect for Diversity.
Moreover, as a father of four
girls, gender equality is very close to my heart. As the UN Secretary General
has said, “achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the
unfinished business of our time and the greatest human rights challenge in
our world”. Regrettably, even though women and girls represent half of the
world’s population, we still have to address multiple forms of gender
inequality so that women possess equal access and representation to politics,
education, health, economy and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics) fields. Undoubtedly, there is a considerable room for
improvement in Cyprus, in Europe and around the globe.
Gender equality issues are high
on the Government’s agenda and relevant policies are being implemented
horizontally in all ministries and deputy ministries. Beyond the appointment
of a Commissioner for Gender Equality, in the first week of March the Council
of Ministers decided to appoint in each Ministry an official specifically
responsible for promoting gender equality in their respective field,
coordinated by the Commissioner. Moreover, the implementation of actions is
underway, aiming at combating violence against women, reducing the pay gap,
achieving gender balance in decision-making and promoting equal treatment in
all spheres of life.
Fostering multicultural
education is also of great importance for this Government and me personally.
Multicultural awareness in education is vital for students as it encourages
acceptance and pluralism, helping them to effectively tackle the
unprecedented challenges of today’s rapidly interconnected world.
At the same time, I would like
to underline the importance on adequate disability inclusion policies. The
Government places particular emphasis on providing disability awareness and
on encouraging employers to hire individuals with disabilities. Our aim is to
adopt a holistic approach within the framework of a new National Strategy
aiming to enhance the integration and well-being of persons with
disabilities. This is why we fully endorse the European Disability Strategy
2021-2030 and the 7 flagship initiatives launched by the European Commission
under the umbrella of achieving a European Union of Equality.
In closing, I wish to once
again congratulate EYP Cyprus for their work in promoting civic and political
engagement, social acceptance, equality and inclusion. Such platforms are a
valuable asset for each Government that has set high on its agenda the
respect of individual rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and
democracy.
The alignment of your platform
aspirations with the objectives of the Presidency in the domain of
establishing equality and embracing diversity in all spheres of human
activity fills us with hope and optimism. While thanking you for granting me
the opportunity to address tonight’s event as the official Patron of the 2023
EYP Cyprus Project, let me share with you my commitment to integrate
diversity and inclusion to the policy-making procedures, with the aim of
aiding people reaching their fullest potential regardless of race, religion,
disability, gender and sexual orientation.
I wish you every success in
your future endeavors. May this Summit be an inspiring and meaningful
experience to all of you.
(RM/MV)
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