NEW YORK (TOP) – The Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the UN is honored and proud to once again sponsor and co-host, together with the Youth for Human Rights International and the United For Human Rights, the 18th International Human Rights Summit at the United Nations Headquarters, with the theme “Empower. Unite. Transform. Driving change through Human Rights Education.”
Ambassador Dionisio Babo Soares, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the UN, noted that the theme encapsulates a powerful vision for positive global impact. Educating the people about their rights empowers them to demand justice, equality, and dignity and inspire the youth to become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace.
Timor-Leste has established its National Youth Policy which demonstrates the will and concern of the State to develop the capacity of young people to mobilize them in support of development in the country and improve the socioeconomic welfare of Timorese society in general. It aims to stimulate young people to provide voluntary work for the community, to form civic values based on their duties as citizens, and to create more and better opportunities in the labor market. Young people are oriented to become active citizens and to achieve sustainable development as well as to broaden their sphere of knowledge and participation.
Youth are the leaders of tomorrow and have a vital role to push for change in building a more harmonious and peaceful future. Human rights can empower youth to express themselves, participate in decision-making, and shape their future. Timor-Leste hopes that the 18th International Youth for Human Rights Summit will empower, unite, and transform young people to become powerful agents of human rights across the globe. The future belongs to the youth—they need to be respected as citizens with equal rights, equal voices, and equal influence.
The opening session also featured remarks from the distinguished Permanent Representatives of the United States, Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Australia, the Bahamas, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Pr)
