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STATEMENT BY YOUTH
FOR THE 10 YEAR REVIEW OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR YOUTH TO THE YEAR 2000 AND BEYOND
Written by delegates attending the 2005 Sixth Young General Assembly Session in Blantyre, Malawi
We young people writing this statement have been delegated by the over 2 ½ million young people all over the world involved in the Young General Assembly to speak for them on the occasion of the 10-year review of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond. The United Nations defines youth as those people between the ages of 15 and 24. We represent the younger youth who are ages 15-18. We have discussed the status of youth in the world today and would like you to listen to our conclusions about the World Programme’s Priority Areas. However, it is important that you keep forward in your minds that we realize that member states are trying to overcome a large amount of problems and this is not an easy task.
Even though education is very essential for everyone, the standard of education is very low. Early childhood education, which could prepare children for success in primary school, is lacking. The supply of learning materials and class rooms is inadequate, therefore, preventing young people from going to school. Good teachers are leaving because of low salaries and they cannot support their families. Rural education is difficult to manage, but if it receives more focus, then better programmes could be developed and funded.
Some young people around the world are employed. Because many are trying to get an education at the same time while working,, there must be more financial support and training programmes that prepare youth for self-employment which allows them to set their own working hours. Laws setting adequate minimum wages must be made and enforced. Employment opportunities and training for disabled youth must be expanded
Hunger and poverty are worsening every day and effecting individuals at every level. Young people around the world do not have enough food and water and they suffer because of poverty. Many children under five are dying every day due to malnutrition. Hunger and poverty are increasing because of poor management of resources, population growth, poor distribution of resources and inappropriate technology.
The health of youth is poor because of poor sanitary conditions. Exposure to drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances puts youth at risk for infection. The rate of young people suffering from malnutrition and diseases such as diarrhea, cholera among others, is increasing due to poor hygienic conditions. Information about reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections, i.e., HIV/AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhea, is not adequately given to youth and this puts them at risk and makes them angry.
The environment has deteriorated and is not friendly to young people due to careless polluting and weak regulations. As a result, we are loosing too many species of animals, plants and aquatic life. Because of environmental deterioration there is a drop in the tourist trade. Due to ignorance, traditional doctors are ruining trees by using them for medicines and rural people are using too many trees for fires.
Young people are very vulnerable to drug abuse due to ignorance, peer pressure and fear. As a result many young people die. There are too many drugs being developed and too many drug abusers. Many unqualified nurses assist in child abuse by giving medicines that are unsuitable. Strict regulations need to be enforced so that pharmaceuticals are not given out before they have been researched properly. They bring about damaging effects in young people.
Juvenile delinquency laws need to be strengthened so convicted juvenile offenders can be given treatment that allows them to maintain their dignity and fundamental rights. Access to convicted criminals should be avoided because the language, the desire for alcohol and cigarettes are a bad influence on young people. Juvenile offenders must be handled by qualified social workers and judges who aim to have the offenders return to society as better people.
Leisure time activities would be positive for young people, especially those in poverty, if there were youth centres with programmes that are varied and attract young people.
Girls and young women are discriminated against in many societies and in many ways. If young people could participate in the fight against discrimination, the situation would be better. If governments would establish and enforce laws that ALL children must attend school, then the girl child could have an education, too.
We young people are distressed that youth participation is placed at the end of the World Programme of Action for Youth. It is the added element of youth participation that will ensure the complete fulfillment of the Programme. The young person sitting down receiving orders from an adult is NOT engaged in youth participation. True youth participation occurs when young people and adults work together as equal partners.
In Malawi, the Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services has instituted a national Child Protection Programme which includes a Child Protection Committee in every region. This committee is made up of governmentally trained Child Protection Officers, eight adults and two children. The eight adults are elected by the adults of the community and the two children are elected by the children of the community. The children have an equal voice and vote, the same as the adults. We hope the Malawi Model will soon be instituted in city governance all over the world. If children have a vote on their city councils, then they will feel respected and not turned away as they are now. Juvenile destruction of property and acts of violence made out of anger against the establishment will cease. Just picture a world in which the children grow up living responsible citizenship ! Imagine what kind of adults they will be !
Member states are beginning to organize national children’s parliaments and national youth councils, but they rarely have a permanent office that is well staffed and well funded. In many places they are not allowed to meet for long enough periods to be effective. It is hoped that member states will realise that by supporting these children’s and youth parliaments, they will be able to solve their nation’s problems more economically and more pragmatically.
Lastly, we are puzzled why the same resolution urging member states to include youth in their delegations to the United Nations General Assembly on a regular basis has been approved more than once and that it is only practiced by a handful of member states. Do you get so busy that you forget about us? We do have ideas. We do have awareness. More importantly, we know the depth of the problems that we are experiencing. We invite you to put youth participation at the top of the list. Include us. We want to assist you!
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