A/RES/58/133 adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1998, 4 and its resolutions 56/117 of 19 December 2001 and 57/165 of 18 December 2002, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the World Youth Report 2003 5 and on promoting youth employment; 6 2. Reaffirms that the ten priority areas identified in the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, namely, education, employment, hunger and poverty, health issues, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure, girls and young women, and youth participation, remain areas of crucial importance; Takes note of the five issues of concern to young people identified in the 3. World Youth Report 2003, namely, the mixed impact of globalization on young women and men, the use of and access to information and communication technologies, the dramatic increase of human immunodeficiency virus infections among young people and the impact of the epidemic on their lives, the active involvement of young people in armed conflict, both as victims and as perpetrators, and the increased importance of addressing intergenerational issues in an ageing society; Recognizes the importance of the full and effective participation of young 4. people and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels in promoting and implementing the World Programme of Action and in evaluating the progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation, as well as the need to support the activities of mechanisms that have been set up by young people and youth organizations, bearing in mind that girls, boys, young women and young men have the same rights but different needs and strengths and are active agents in decision-making processes and for positive change and development in society; Also recognizes the great importance of empowering young people by 5. building their capacity to achieve greater independence, overcoming constraints to their participation and providing them with opportunities to make decisions that affect their lives and well-being; Calls upon all Member States, United Nations bodies, specialized 6. agencies, regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort to implement 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; Takes note with appreciation of the work done by the regional 7. commissions to implement the World Programme of Action, to follow up the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth 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; _______________ 4 See WCMRY/1998/28, chap. I, resolution 1. E/CN.5/2003/4. 6 A/58/229. 5 2