KABUL - A senior United Nations official in Afghanistan today called for greater investment in the country’s youth to ensure a stable future for the country.

“This generation of young people presents a historic opportunity to invest in them and lead the country towards development, security and stability,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mark Bowden, in his comments at the launch of “Afghanistan National Youth Policy” in the capital, Kabul.

Afghanistan has sizeable youth population, with 63 per cent of the country’s estimated 27 million people being below 25 years-old.

The national policy, developed over the last three years and launched today by the Government of Afghanistan, focuses on four key priorities: youth employment, adolescent and youth health, education and participation. 

Former Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, approved the policy last September. It is to be implemented through a National Youth Strategy and Action Plan that is currently under development.

Mr. Bowden said the UN will continue to support Afghanistan so that every young woman and man can live a healthy and productive life. He added that the policy identifies youth-specific needs and current gaps in programming, providing a legal framework and strategic guidelines for sustainable youth development.

“With their hard work on the National Youth Policy, Afghan youth have sent a clear message that they need education, jobs, protection from violence, empowerment of women and girls and that they should be part of the decision making that affects them,” said Mr. Bowden.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs, Taimoor Shah Eshaqzai, said that the progress made in implementing the policy will be monitored by an inter-ministerial  commission under the leadership of Second Vice President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sarwar Danish. 

“The National Youth Policy has the support of national and international partners,” said Mr. Eshaqzai, expressing his hope that its implementation will reduce the problems facing the Afghan youth over the next five years.