The Northern Division Youth Conference in Labasa is targeted to help find ways and mechanisms to assist Fijian youths.
While officiating at the opening, the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Iliesa Delana said in many places youths did not have access to quality and affordable education and skills training which would help them get jobs.
Delana says lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual and Intersexed youths face discrimination and are subjected to inequalities and exclusion.
He adds that this has an impact on daily lives and thus the Ministry is determined to find ways and mechanisms to assist all youths to evolve given the resources Fiji has.
He said youths had their own challenges, and leaders were mandated to assist in finding solutions to these challenges.
The Assistant Minister also noted that the National Youth Policy which is currently under review, aims to provide an enabling environment where youth development is mainstreamed into various focal areas of national development.
Youth representatives from all areas in the North are attending the three day conference which ends tomorrow.
