Mr. Chairman,
What do people, especially youth, really think of the UN? I believe a common perception is that it’s only about beautiful words. And yes, UN is about words. About common commitments that we give one another about what we will strive and work for. And these words, these commitments, they are important.
But UN must never only be about producing beautiful words and signing papers. As the most important international body, UN must also be about making commitments matter. To make actions out of the beautiful words. This is our responsibility as the United Nations, as member states, as decision makers, and eventually as human beings.
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Mr. Chairman and the Bureau,
Despite all beautiful words agreed upon here in the UN are there plenty of injustices. Wars, poverty and dictatorships. They are often the results of national policies not respecting our common international agreements. Let me give you some examples:
First example: Despite article 19, in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights that says quote, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression” end of quote, are millions still living in dictatorships without the right to express their opinion. Many young people and plenty of youth organizations are severely troubled by these countries’ policies and authorities. The right to freedom of opinion and expression is a right of all human beings. No matter where you live or who you are. No matter if you belong to a majority or a minority of the country you live in. As human beings we all share the same rights.
Second example: It is regrettable that despite far efforts from the international community and the UN there are still people in some parts of the world living under foreign occupation. Thousands of young people are because of this forced to live in refugee camps with no right to live and prosper on their own land.
Last example: Despite the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo 1994, are unsafe abortions and female genital mutilation everyday-life for many young women. The Programme states that quote, “all countries should … assess the extent of national unmet need for good-quality family-planning services and its integration in the reproductive health context” end of quote. It also states, quote “all governments … are urged to strengthen their commitment to women’s health, to deal with health impact of unsafe abortions as a major public health concern” end of quote. This is unfortunately in many countries far from the reality.
It is not acceptable that the joint commitments of the United Nations are arbitrarily broken. Instead it must be our mission to respect them and turn them into actions. This is a common task for all of us. UN bodies, member states, and civil society.
Young people are particularly vulnerable in all countries. Especially in societies torn by conflicts or polluted by oppression. But also in societies living in peace and welfare.
This makes the global youth policy, the World Programme of Action for Youth, so important. It is a common commitment about improving the situation of the world’s youth. To be successful we must work together to turn also these beautiful words into action. The best way to do so is to cooperate with youth civil society. Because youth must not only be seen as a target group. Young people are important actors needed in the whole society. Governments and parliaments should enable youth to involve in all policy areas. It can be done through consultations with youth led initiatives and democratic youth structures. And through letting youth NGO:s participate in the implementation on national and local policies relating to youth.
It is also about enabling youth to participate here in the UN. Remembering our mutual commitment in UN General Assembly Resolution last year on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, it is surprising to see that so few countries are making reality of the commitment saying that youth representatives are important in national delegations. This must be improved. I’d like to use this opportunity to ask all member states to make sure that all country’s delegations will be reinforced by a youth delegate at next session.
Youth policy must be a double folded mission: The power to decide, and the right to welfare. Summarizing it, it’s about recognizing young people as human beings that hold the same human rights as anyone else. Social and economic human rights as well as political and civil human rights. They are equally important. Also for youth.
Parallel to the work to turn the Global Youth Policy, the World Programme of Action for Youth, into reality, we need to continue to develop reliable indicators in order to measure the actions taken and the results of them. This is a question of credibility and efficiency. Naturally must young people be part of the process developing these indicators.
UN is about words. Beautiful words and important commitments. However, it must not end there. UN must also be about making commitments matter. It’s a matter of dignity and credibility. But it’s also a question of showing that UN and multilateralism are important. My wish is that the future general perception of the UN is that UN is not about words, but that it’s also about actions.
This is our responsibility.
Thank you.