The Network of Youth on Population and Development (NYPD), coordinated by the Banjul Youth Committee as parent body of all youth organizations in Banjul, has been launched.

The launch, funded by the UNFPA, took place on 30 December 2006 at the Banjul City Council.

Over 35 representatives from various youth organizations, wards, and constituencies took part in the launch. Individuals with youth development initiatives attended also the launching ceremony.

In his address on the occasion, Pa Malick Ceesay, the Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council (NYC), who delivered the keynote address, called on the youth of Banjul to unite and form youth organizations, saying forming such organisations would give them the opportunity to effectively participate in youth activities and national development.

He added that the benefits the youth would derive from participating in youth work include leadership capacity building, relevant information on issues affecting the lives of youth, international exposure, among others.

According to Ceesay, the formation of the NYPD was sparked up by recommendations and resolutions from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). \

He said the ICPD calls on countries to address issues of adolescent sexuality and reproductive health, including unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections, drug abuse among other health and social hazards.