Delegate: Ms. Geil
37. Ms. GEIL (Denmark) said that the young people of the world were growing impatient and wanted immediate action on vital issues such as the environment, human rights, world peace, the debt crisis, poverty and development in the least developed countries. They wanted real and not merely formal influence and were ready to accept the attendant responsibilities. At the local level, they were very concerned about environmental issues, and were the group that was most ready to change its living habits to improve the environment. At the national level, youth organisations all over the world urged their countries to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and encouraged its implementation, especially in the areas of health and education. The youth of the world hoped that the good intentions expressed at the World Summit for Children would be realised. At the international level, youth co-operation was promoting the human contact and understanding that were the basis for a peaceful world.
38. Young people wanted freedom and democracy and urged the international community to intensify pressure on countries that did not observe human rights. The welcome improvement in international relations unfortunately had not bean accompanied by any reduction in the growing gap between the rich countries and the poor ones. The relative position of the least developed countries in particular, whose very number was increasing , was deteriorating, and young people were among those most affected by that situation.
39. Another area of young people’s concern was the ecological deterioration of the planet, and developed countries had a special responsibility to show the necessary political will to solve environmental problems. Young people must be kept informed and encouraged to help save the environment. Youth must be involved in the solution of problems both locally and internationally and must participate in decision-making processes. Unfortunately , very little had been accomplished to ensure young people’s participation at the United Nations, where only 3 of the 150 delegations to the General Assembly included youth delegates. Young people should participate in the preparation of United Nations youth policy and all
countries should allow young people to be represented in their official delegations. Youth representation at the United Nations should be given priority and consultative status for non-governmental youth organisations should be reviewed.
UN Doc.: A/C.3/45/SR.13
Cite as:
UN Doc.: A/C.3/45/SR.13, 26 October 1990, p. 11, Youth Delegate Search: https://youthdelegatesearch.org/denmark-1990/, doi: 10.17176/20221018-195353-0.