She was addressing delegates from the Pacific at the closing ceremony of the second Pacific Youth Festival in Suva.
Utoikamanu said it was important for governments to focus their resources in trying to tackle unemployment in the region. She added that with a high rate of unemployment, young people were then vulnerable to indulge in risk behavior which could lead to more problems.
“Youth unemployment needs political attention and resources. A lot of young people lack the skills for formal jobs and they are involved in risky lifestyles which not only affects them but their families,” she said.
Utoikamanu said the SPC was committed to solving issues affecting young people such as their health, empowerment, peace, culture, heritage and the environment.
She said the SPC and youth ministers from the region would meet in New Zealand next year to discuss youth issues with the Pacific Youth Council.
There were more than 300 delegates who came to the one-week festival held at the University of the South Pacific in Suva.
The young people discussed issues affecting them and put a challenge to the leaders of the region to help make a difference for the youths.
After the Pacific Youth Festival, participants put together an eight-page declaration in which they put together their concerns and acknowledgement of different issues affecting young people. In the declaration, the young people of the Pacific said they wanted to be recognized as young people and important human resources to development.
“In this regard, we humbly request governments and development partners to consider the importance of incorporating youth-focused programs in all sectors of governments. To embrace youth citizenship and welcome young people’s participation in the formulation and implementation of national development plans,” the paper said.
The participants for this year’s festival also acknowledged the improvement in preventative health services, access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The declaration also states that they were concerned with the challenges that obstruct the development of young people and hence the communities and nation. The declaration is known as the Suva Point Declaration.
