Chisinau - This year, during the International Youth Day, celebrated world-wide on August 12, the first Youth Festival took place in Moldova. The event was organized by the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM), with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Moldova and the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund in Moldova.

The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by Mr  Valeriu Streleţ, the Prime Minister of Moldova,  Mrs. Loretta Handrabura, Youth and Sports Minister, Mrs. Nune Mangasaryan, UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova a.i. and Mr. Wicher Slagter, the Ambassador of the European Union in Moldova.

Mr. Valeriu Streleţ, the Prime Minister of Moldova said: "For me, the International Youth Day is one of the most optimistic holidays of the year. A priority that we are going to focus is related to the employment opportunities of a young person, given that unemployment remains high among young people. I proposed, among other things, to create systems for labor and employment opportunities guidance and counseling and to encourage the access of young people to the labor market."

In the same context, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Loretta Handrabura, said: "Congratulations to the volunteers and youth organizations for organizing the event and for the launch of the index, which provides an opportunity for reflection on youth policies. It requires a holistic approach and an inter-ministerial cooperation to promote youth priorities. We will also involve young people in the decision making process and will consult them every time."

Resident Coordinator a.i. of the United Nations in Moldova, Nune Mangasaryan, said: "Young people can change their lives and the societies, in which they live, only if they have access to education and quality health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and only if they are part of decisions regarding their welfare and future."

The festival was held outdoors on the pedestrian street in Chisinau. The event, entitled "youth civic engagement", brought together over 25 youth organizations and UN agencies and projects at a fair where young people learned more about the activities of these organizations and volunteering opportunities.

With the occasion of the festival, the Youth Index for the Republic of Moldova was launched, a barometer that compares the situation of young and adult population in different socio-economic areas: unemployment, participation, health, risky behavior and violence. The index reveals the gap between young people and adults in each of the areas mentioned. Youth unemployment is three times higher (7.12%) than the unemployment among adults (2.95%). Young people often work in precarious environment or in shadow economy. The rate of participation and civic engagement is also low. At the same time, the rate of consumption of alcohol and tobacco among young people is the same as among adults. The index will be calculated annually and will be submitted to the Government, in order to develop evidence-based policies aiming at increasing the quality of life of young people.

Youth festival also hosted a photo exhibition. The event culminated with a concert featuring artists like the Wonder City, Mihaela Arsene The wax Road and Blvck Team.