Youth employment focus of meeting attended by Annan, Prince Charles

The global challenge of youth employment took centre stage at a meeting held in New York today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in attendance.

Organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the event offered participants a chance to examine the private sector's role in creating jobs for young people in developing countries.

The issue is of great importance to both Mr. Annan, who has created a special Youth Employment Network, and Prince Charles, whose Prince of Wales Trust is helping young people to start businesses in over 35 countries, according to a press release on the event produced by the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP).

UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis stressed the need for giving young people opportunities to find decent and productive work. "All of us ? in public institutions, in the private sector, in civil society ? have a responsibility to help this new generation fulfil its incredible potential," he said.