Honourable Mr. Blerim Gashani, Minister of Sport and Youth,
Honourable Ms. Veronika Vashchenko, Head of the UNICEF Office in Kosovo,
Honourable Mr. Stephen O’Malley, United Nations Development Coordinator,
Honourable Mr. Habit Hajredini, Chair of the Council for the Rights of the Child and Director of the Office for Good Governance at the Office of the Prime Minister,
Honourable representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, professors of the University,
Dear young women and men,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, on International Youth Day, we are not only marking a date on the calendar, but celebrating the potential, energy and future of the Republic of Kosovo, as the country with the youngest population in Europe. And this is not merely demographic data, it is a great opportunity for our state.
Our greatest wealth is our young people, but potential, as we know, does not develop on its own. It requires opportunities and support. It requires quality education, adequate employment, security and, above all, well-being.
Therefore, when we talk about the future of Kosovo, we must also talk about the mental health of our children and youth. Because we cannot build strong human capital without investing in the emotional well-being of children. We cannot expect young people to learn, create, work, contribute and build the future if, as a society, we do not provide them with the environment and support they need.
The report being launched today makes this responsibility even clearer. The mental health of young people is a growing concern around the world. Kosovo is no exception. Therefore, it is important that we place this issue at the centre of our discussion and action.
Mental health is not the responsibility of a single ministry within the government, nor of a single health sector, but is linked to the education they receive, the families in which they grow up, the communities where they live, the public services we provide and the opportunities we create for them. This is also why, as a Government, we have placed children and young people at the centre of our policies.
From child allowances and support for students, to employment programs, such as Superpuna, and youth engagement initiatives, such as Kosovo Generation Unlimited, and the State Youth Strategy, we are investing in the generation that will lead Kosovo tomorrow. Therefore, we welcome the recommendations of this report and see them as a roadmap that helps strengthen services in schools and communities, as well as improve cooperation among institutions and different and distinct mechanisms, ensuring that no child and no young person is left alone in facing challenges. All of this is not simply social policy, it is investment in the future of the Republic.
Dear young women and men,
Today I want to address you directly. Your voice matters greatly. Your well-being matters greatly. Your dreams matter greatly. The future of the Republic of Kosovo will not be built only by us for you. It will also be built by you and together with you.
Our duty as institutions is to create the conditions for each of you to live with dignity, develop your talent and potential, have opportunities for education and employment, and build the life you want and deserve.
We thank UNICEF, the University of Prishtina, the Ministry of Sport and Youth, the Office for Good Governance, other institutions, experts, civil society organizations and, above all, the young people who have contributed to this process. Because the best investment we can make as a state is investment in our people.
Happy International Youth Day, and thank you for your participation and attention.