Minister speaks at Social Good Summit2015

York, Sept. 29 (BNA): Social Development Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh delivered a speech at the Social Good Summit2015 in the UN headquarters Sunday. Below is the text of the minister's speech: In the Name of Allah, Most Graceful, Most Merciful Kingdom of Bahrain, as always, confirms it’s active and real presence in international forums, and proves itself on the map of global development. Today, whereby world leaders are convening to recognize sustainable development goals beyond 2015 at the General Assembly meeting in New York, after passing stages and multiple steps in the global dialogue. Today, going in parallel is the Social Good Summit 2015, in which these goals will be discussed by the youth sector worldwide. Your presence in this meeting today, as active representatives of youth community in the Kingdom of Bahrain, coincides with similar assemblies around the Globe. The results of your discussion in this meeting would help in future policy-making, especially in relation to best ways of implementing the "Sustainable Goals" by 2030 not only on national, but also on regional and international levels. I am quite sure that you share with us what we have achieved in our Kingdom at the level of the previous eight development goals, through the various plans, programmes and initiatives. We, as governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector institutions, have always walked hand in hand towards the approach of working collectively on the national level. Bahrain, therefore, has passed many of the indicators developed for these goals. Nevertheless, we know that the achievement done and results reached not live up to the level of what we aspire to or hope. Our ambition, as governmental institutions, and on the base of development, was, still is and will remain significant. We will continue striving to reach out to the ambitious aspirations of all Bahraini children, Youth and Elderly. Dear Young Bahrainis, The Kingdom of Bahrain, in its quest to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, has always been serious about development work in a comprehensive manner. The past fifteen years has witnessed the emergence of the national reforms, led by his Majesty the King, in all its dimension and future aspiration, which intersect with all development dimensions set by the United Nations, and which all countries in the world were seeking to achieve. As an example of these achievements, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs was separated into two Ministries, one of which was assigned only for social development. The Supreme Council for women was established under the leadership of Her Highness wife of His Majesty, Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa. The Council was mandated to upkeep women's issues, and make sure women are given equal opportunities. Furthermore, many other initiatives and programmes has been introduced concerning youth, education, employment, training, health, environment, etc. All progress done towards the achieving of the MDGs has positioned Bahrain well on the developmental map, regionally and internationally, based on the human development concepts. This event, which we are doing in full coordination with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), comes at an early stage of the declaration of 17 new developmental goals (to be achieved in the coming 15 years from 2015-2030), which has been called "Sustainable Development Goals". Your presence with us here today is historical, as you will remember this remarkable day throughout the coming 15 years, and beyond, whenever the word human development is mentioned. World leaders from different categorized developing, developed, countries are gathering today at the General Assembly. Dear Young Bahrainis, Any development process seeking the advancement of nations on national, regional or international levels cannot move forward in absence of youths. We all know, today, that half of the world’s population (About 3 billion) are people under the age of 25. 87% of them live in developing countries. The Arab world is the home of the youngest generation in the world, with more than 100 million in the age group of 15-29. Young people have shown, throughout the past decades, their capabilities to help in solving world problems. Through them, presenting new ideas is very much possible; mainly innovative and ambitious developmental solutions nationally, regionally and internationally. When I, as a Minister of Social Development, look at the number of youths in the world and see how different countries are trying to make the best out of the energy of their young generations, especially in relation to development, I realize the importance of your presence today. Your participation in this event today is an important compulsion for us as decision makers in creating more successful and effective partnerships. One might ask, Why Youth.. This question might sound a bit naïve, as its typical answer would be well-know – They are builders of future; an integral part of the society and an important part of the present, which set the stage for a promising future! All this is true, but it will not benefit us much, unless we pull the future to the cycle of present. Unless we invest from today in the dynamism of our young generation. We have to be proactive in reaching for that and not wait for results that might or might not come. Yes, there is no end when it comes to human development and advancement. We understand the dimensions of this very well, and therefore we move forward confident, assured, united in what we will achieve – thanks to our youth – is what will put us in advanced classes, and help us to drive steadily forward. Thank you for being here with us today. I would also like to thank the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their active partnership with us in this event, from which I wish we could come up with ideas of pro-development initiatives that we can implement in the future. Peace be upon you all.