Today, I wish to congratulate the Youth of Tonga as they celebrate and commemorate International Youth Day 2024. This year’s theme focuses on the topic “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”.

Today, as we acknowledge the transformative power of digital technologies, we recognize their crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for Tonga. From enhancing education and healthcare to improving transportation and communication, and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, digital pathways are a powerful tool for empowering the youth of Tonga to thrive in an interconnected world. By investing in digital skills and ensuring equitable access to technology, we empower our youth to succeed.

Last week, I was very happy to speak at a symposium, the first of its kind, for Youth in Tonga’s ICT space and was organized by the Tonga Women in ICT (TWICT), a non-governmental organization driven by women and girls to empower women in the ICT and STEAM fields.

The symposium focused on how Tonga should use technologies to bridge gaps and create opportunities that enable every young Tongan to contribute meaningfully to our nation's development. I reminded the youth that having the right digital skills is crucial for making the most of Tonga's digital opportunities. Without these skills, there is a risk that issues like privacy breaches, mental health challenges (caused by cyber threats), and digital addiction could become common. As the future of Tonga, youth have an important role in promoting the well-being of our community in the digital age. This involves using technology responsibly, setting limits on screen time, taking breaks, and developing healthy habits with technology.

This year, Tonga will host the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa. This event provides a key opportunity for regional leaders to discuss the technology and connectivity challenges facing the youth and to explore how technology can be harnessed to advance progress and sustainable development in our region.

At the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, our commitment lies in crafting laws and policies that promote the productive and safe use of technology. We endeavor to establish frameworks that harness digital tools to bridge societal gaps and cultivate opportunities, ensuring that every young Tongan can make meaningful contributions to our progress.

Happy International Youth Day.

Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga as Guest Speaker at the Inaugural Youth ICT Symposium, organized by Tonga Women in ICT (TWICT).

Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, Minister for MEIDECC and HE Mr Brek Batley, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga as well as the Youth Participants at the first ever Youth ICT Symposium held in Nuku’alofa on 9 August, 2024.

Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, Minister for MEIDECC discussing ICT in Tonga with HE Mr Brek Batley, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga. The Youth ICT Symposium was enabled with the generous support of the Australian

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