WHAT: Special event during United Nations Sustainable Development Summit

Dakar, 18 September 2015. In support of ongoing initiatives for countries affected by current instability caused by ongoing terror attacks in the Lake Chad Basin area (Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria), UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is organizing a special event during the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit.

The event will make an important contribution to dealing with the crisis and building resilient communities in the subregion and preserving the gains of and progress achieved during the Millennium Development Goals, while creating an environment for affected countries to pursue the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals.

In Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, insurgents are exploiting the huge youth populations. On the other hand, such a predominantly young population provides opportunities for employment, innovation and development. It is a potential, which, if combined with the right policies and demographic transitions, could provide the region with the opportunity to harness a demographic dividend and lead to rapid economic development. The demographic dividend is the accelerated economic growth that may result when a country’s working age population grows larger than the non-working dependents.

While the crisis damages entire communities, women are particularly targeted. As of April 2015, more than 2,000 women and young girls have been abducted, according to Amnesty International.

The UNFPA event, expected to be addressed by Heads of State of affected countries and leaders of international organizations, will offer an opportunity to propose and invest in strategic initiatives to support and empower young people and protect them from manipulation and radicalization.

WHEN: 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Saturday, 26 September 2015

WHERE: Conference Room 5D, United Nations Secretariat, New York

Invited Speakers: 
President of Benin, Thomas Yayi Boni
President of Cameroon, Paul Biya
President of Chad, Idriss Deby Itno
President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou
President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari
UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin

For more information or to set up interviews with participants, please contact:
New York: Anne-Isabelle Leclercq, +1 212 297 5014, leclercq@unfpa.org
Dakar: Habibatou Gologo, + 221 740 09 56 : gologo@unfpa.org