A/RES/56/117 Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Asia were invited to intensify their cooperation and to consider meeting regularly at the international level under the aegis of the United Nations to provide an effective forum for a focused global dialogue on youth-related issues, Recalling that, in the World Programme of Action, the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System was invited to contribute to the implementation of the Programme through the identification and promotion of joint initiatives to further its objectives so that they could better reflect the interests of youth, Welcoming the support of the Government of Senegal for the holding of the fourth session of the World Youth Forum at Dakar from 6 to 10 August 2001, Acknowledging that poverty, among other factors, represents a serious challenge to the full and effective participation and contribution of young people to society, Recognizing that global cross-sectoral youth policies should take into consideration the empowerment and full and effective participation of young people, and their role as a resource and as independent decision-makers in all sectors of society, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond; 5 2. Calls upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort towards the implementation of the World Programme of Action, aiming at cross-sectoral youth policies by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and decision-making processes relevant to youth; 3. Also calls upon all parties concerned, as mentioned in paragraph 2 above, within the framework of the World Programme of Action, to consider the appropriate ways and means to provide follow-up to the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth; 2 4. Takes note with appreciation of the work by the regional commissions to implement the World Programme of Action and to follow up the World Conference in their respective regions, in coordination with regional meetings of ministers responsible for youth and regional non-governmental youth organizations, and to provide advisory services to support national youth policies and programmes in each region, and encourages them to continue to do so; 5. Invites all relevant programmes and funds, the specialized agencies and other bodies within the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and regional financial institutions, to give greater support to national youth policies and programmes within their country programmes as a way to follow up the World Conference; the 6. Calls upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental _______________ 5 2 A/56/180.

Select target paragraph3