WORLD ACADEMY OF INFORMATICS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
ISSN : 2278-1315
full of girls as well as boys. Every year of schooling
HE TAUGHT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT FEMINISM
completed by them will be a step towards eradicating
DOES NOT UNDERSTAND GENDER, AGE OR RACE.
poverty and disease.
Annan was also one of the first voices to support the call for
gender equality, which he understood as "more than a goal in
GLOBAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN EVENT IN 2003
It is often said that education empowers girls by building up
itself". When giving a speech at the Beijing International
their confidence and enabling them to make informed
Conference on Women and Desertification in 2006, he
decisions about their lives. For those of us who attend
indicated that gender equality was a "precondition for meeting
benefits such as these, that statement may seem to be about
the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable
university degrees, income, or career fulfillment. But for
development and building good governance". A year earlier,
most of the world's girls, it is about something much more
at the opening of the UN Commission on the Status of
fundamental. It is about escaping the trap of child labour, or
Women, he said he could not think of a more efficient way to
the perils of going into the labour of childbirth while still a
bring development than by empowering women.
child yourself; about managing pregnancies so that they do
HE ASKED YOUTH TO RESPECT ALL FAITHS.
not threaten your health, your livelihood or even your life;
In 2010, the British Museum in London hosted Annan’s
about ensuring that your children, in their turn, are
lecture: "World Civilizations: Bridging the World’s Divides".
guaranteed their right to education.
There, he defended values such as compassion, solidarity and
respect for each other as common among all our great
WOMEN’S HEALTH COALITION IN 2004
Young people – with their dynamism, their energy and their
religions, and reminded us that problems that derive from
inherent understanding of our interconnected world – have
religious extremism are never due to faith alone. He indicated
much to teach us. Increased educational attainment,
that these great, enduring and universal principles are also
advances in technology and the spread of information have
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the
made this generation the best educated, most connected and
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and asked for
most informed in history.
incorporating them into our daily lives to "bridge divides and
make people feel more secure and confident of the future".
ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY IN 2013
I talk to a lot of young people - their attitude, determination
HE FOUGHT FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTH.
to make a difference, innovative spirit and desire to change
Paradoxically, much of Annan’s work with The Elders – an
things give me hope.
independent group of global leaders working together for
peace and human rights – focused on listening to and speaking
WE DAY VANCOUVER IN 2014
Despite significant progress in recent years millions of
with young people. He believed that youth are the best
African children have never set foot in a classroom or
educated, most connected and most informed generation, and
owned a book of their own in their lives. When people are
that they should be given a platform to express their ideas and
able to access education, they can break free of the cycle of
propose solutions to major public issues. His commitment to
poverty and contribute to building a fairer and more
the empowerment of youth was also reflected in his role as a
peaceful society.
counsellor at six different One Young World Summits. In the
2014 Summit in Dublin, themed peace and reconciliation,
30th ANNIVERSARY OF BOOKS FOR AFRICA IN
Annan stated that sharing ideas with young people was always
2018
YOUTH
CHAMPIONS
AND
KOFI
ANNAN
a rewarding experience for him. He firmly believed that
SUPPORTIVE ROLE
young people must be empowered as agents and not simply as
“The desire to participate is a defining characteristic of the
targets for peace and reconciliation efforts.
young people I encounter”. Kofi Annan, 2013. Here we will
HE SHOWED YOUNG PEOPLE THE IMPORTANCE OF
look at five ways Annan’s words inspired young champions
THE UNITED NATIONS.
to take on the biggest challenges that we all face today.
Throughout his life, Kofi Annan was committed to the idea of
HE REMINDED THE YOUTH THAT CLIMATE
global governance. He believed we share the same difficulties
CHANGE WILL BE THE DEFINING CHALLENGE
and challenges, and that cooperation and collaboration
FACED BY THE NEW GENERATION.
between nations is key for the ultimate success of humanity.
Kofi Annan was strongly committed to the fight against
This was best reflected in his message for the New
climate change. He highlighted the importance of disputing
Millennium on 31 December 1999:
those "climate-change sceptics who deny the facts". In 2015,
"More than ever before in human history, we share a common
when asked about his belief in the power and action of
destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that,
young people, he invited them to "make climate change their
my friends, is why we have the United Nations". These words
issue", for they can ultimately put pressure on governments
are as true today as they were at the end of the twentieth
and companies to adopt more environmentally-friendly
century, and so are all of Annan’s teachings. Let us never
policies and strategies.
forget them.
www.waims.co.in
ENDEAVOR 2019 | WAIMS ACADMIC PRESS
17 | P a g e