In 2005 it will be ten years since the General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth in 1995. With over 200 million youth living in poverty, 130 million youth illiterate, 88 million unemployed and 10 million young people living with HIV/AIDS, the case for a renewed commitment to the goals of the World Programme of Action is clear. In the World Youth Report 2005, an official report to the General Assembly, it is argued that too often, youth policy is driven by negative stereotypes of young people, including delinquency, drug abuse and violence. What seems to be forgotten that young people are a positive force for development, peace, and democracy. John Parankimalil SDB http://www.dbbulletinindia.com/February2006/index.html