STATEMENT BY MR JUSTIN HOW, DELEGATE TO THE 72ND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 27(B), ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, THIRD COMMITTEE, 2 OCTOBER 2017

Mr Chair,

1          Thank you for giving me the floor.  Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Ecuador on behalf of the G77 and China.

2          Youth development is critical to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  We therefore welcome the attention given to this issue in the Agenda, and welcome in particular the report by the Secretary-General on “Youth development links to sustainable development” (A/72/190), where the Secretary-General identifies young people as agents of change, entrusted with fulfilling their own potential and ensuring a world fit for future generations.

3          Singapore is committed to building a more caring and inclusive society, and recognises the need to groom our youth and equip them with the necessary skillsets for the future.  In this regard, Singapore has developed comprehensive youth policies and strategies to ensure that young Singaporeans from all walks of life have the opportunity to better themselves. First, Singapore has invested heavily in our education system and made available subsidies for children in need. We strongly believe that education remains the main vehicle for social mobility and so our education system is designed to provide each child, regardless of socio-economic status, with a good head start in life, so that each child is sufficiently prepared for the future. 20 Special Education Schools ensure that children and youth with special needs are not left behind. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Singapore's education system as top in Asia and fifth overall out of 35 economies worldwide in an index that looks at how effective countries are in equipping young people aged 15 to 24 years with the skills needed in future labour markets.

4          Second, we have also established institutions and programmes aimed at the holistic development of our youth. The National Youth Council of Singapore focuses on developing strong qualities and values in our youth as well as inspiring them to give back to the community. To imbue a more entrepreneurial spirit in our youth, Singapore has also put in place programmes such as SPRING’s Young Entrepreneurs Scheme for Schools, under which more than 40,000 students in about 150 schools have participated in entrepreneurship activities since 2008. The Outward Bound School, which all students aged 15 years old will attend from 2020, provides outdoor educational programs to impart values of resilience, leadership, empathy and service among Singapore youth.

Mr Chair

5          Youth participation is critical for the young to be agents of change. An active youth citizenry can contribute to finding solutions to better our collective future. In Singapore, the government established a non-profit organization, *SCAPE, to support youth in realizing their potential and to provide a platform to express themselves, including through social participation. We established the Youth Corps, a national institution that champions youth volunteerism. We also formed a dedicated corps of sports volunteers, including about 9000 youths under the age of 20, who run sports programs for the vulnerable and marginalized in society.

 Mr Chair,

6          The youth are our future, and in Singapore we have invested heavily in our future.  We are pleased to note that the policies we have in place, which are part of our national efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda, are in sync with the Secretary-General’s recommendations on youth, which are contained in his report A/72/190. We have developed and strengthened national policies for youth development; prioritised and committed adequate resources for the implementation of youth-related policies; mainstreamed the perspectives of youth into national policies and programmes; and are harnessing data to contribute effectively to the achievement of the youth dimensions of the 2030 Agenda. We maintain a holistic youth development perspective, including investing in culture, sports and civic engagement. However, we recognise that there is still scope to improve.  In this regard, Singapore will continue to strive to maximise opportunities for our youth, listen to their voices and enhance their active participation in society. Doing so can only propel us further in fulfilling our commitment to leave no one behind.

I thank you.

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