Mr Abela referred to the youth as the driving force for the successful implementation of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda. “Bearing in mind that half the world’s population is under the age of 30, investing in youth is critical,” the minister said.

“Those who learn from an early age to appreciate democratic values can help build stable democratic and peaceful structures for the future,” the minister said. On this note, he mentioned that Malta became the second country within the European Union after Austria to lower the national voting age to 16, so they can also cast their vote in the upcoming MEP and local council elections. Minister Abela also praised the work of the National Youth Council in Malta and the contribution of Maltese youth to local council work.

“We believe that more emphasis should be put on the benefits of cleaner, climate-smart growth with a view to bringing new jobs, economic opportunities and innovation. Through the engagement of different stakeholders, including the private sector, we can increase the drive towards achieving sustainable, responsible investment opportunities,” Mr Abela said.

The minister added that while the Joint Synthesis Report (JSR) produced by the European Union and its member states on how to implement the sustainable development goals through EU Development Policy shows significant progress, it also has some deficiencies in follow-up measures on the agreed commitments. He urged the mainstreaming of sustainable development across all sectors, as well as he voiced the importance of contribution to be made to the JSR in view of the capacity building measures.

The Development Foreign Affairs Council — chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini — also discussed the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda. The ministers exchanged views on how to successfully tackle the challenges of climate change. The discussion contributed to the preparations for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, coming up in July this year, as well as to the Climate Summit and the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, to be held in September 2019, as a side event of the United Nations General Assembly, according to the DOI report.

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The aforementioned states are parties to the Child Rights Convention and its Optional Protocols, and are required to undergo regular reviews on how they are implementing the committee’s previous recommendations and the convention or its optional protocols, the press statement says.

The public sessions will take place in the ground floor conference room of Palais Wilson in Geneva.

The committee is scheduled to publish its findings on the respective states on 6 June 2019, and to hold a press conference on the same day.

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As an ECOSOC-member, Malta will make efforts in working toward “serving the international community in line with its commitment to the objectives and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,” according to the DOI press statement.

The ECOSOC aims to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development; economic, social and environmental, according to the official website of the body. “It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits,” the ECOSOC website adds.

ECOSOC was established in 1945, by the UN Charter, as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

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