Yara Aquino
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Three thematic chambers and two work groups were created by the National Youth Council for the purpose of making the government's youth programs and activities more effective.

The Integral Development Chamber will deal with issues (education, work, culture, and information technology) centered around ensuring the development of young people, who constitute around 30% of the Brazilian population, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The IBGE's National Residential Sample Survey (PNAD) shows that, in 2002, the contingent of unemployed youth was equivalent to 45.93% of the unemployed portion of the Economically Active Population.

Education is another important issue when it comes to youth. A UNESCO study, the Report on Youth Development 2003, analyzed the situation of Brazilian youth in the 15-24 age bracket with respect to schooling and concluded that the percentage attending school is less than 50% in the majority of Brazilian states and the Federal District.

The other Thematic Chambers are Quality of Life (health, environment, sports and leisure, and human rights), Safe Existence, and Respect for Diversity. The work groups, besides discussing the structure of the Council, will deal with such aspects of national youth policy as legislation and legislation and integration among governmental and non-governmental programs and activities.

The chambers and work groups are formed by members of the Council, which is presided by a representative of the Executive Office of the Presidency of the Republic and composed of representatives of government bodies and organizations from civil society.

The National Youth Council met on November 10-11 in Brasília to discuss the National Youth Plan and install these groups.

Translation: David Silberstein