Delegate: Ms. Marlou Pijnappel (22 years)
9. Ms. Pijnappel (Netherlands), speaking as a youth representative, said that she and other youth representatives would like to see the United Nations Youth Unit propose a programme that would enable youth representatives from developing countries to attend the General Assembly, including its special sessions. All developed countries should donate generously to such a programme.
10. She wished to focus on the problems of young asylum-seekers. Since they arrived in host countries without any family to support them, young asylum-seekers ought to benefit from a special asylum policy which differed from the one applied to adult refugees. Once asylum had been granted, they should be assigned a legal foster parent, enjoy a smooth transition to suitable education and obtain professional help to overcome traumatic experiences. They should themselves strive for full integration and should receive support from national youth non-governmental organizations. In designing asylum policies, countries should bear in mind that young people were more vulnerable and had different needs. Young people themselves, native as well as migrant, were first-hand experts and should be consulted.
11. One aggravating factor for migrants was racist attitudes on the part of the inhabitants of the host country. Racial hatred was never justifiable, but particularly not among young people, who held the key to a more tolerant society. Young people had the flexibility to increase social cohesion through intercultural learning.
12. Youth representatives were involved in many projects, including the fourth session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, to be held in 2001 in Dakar, Senegal, where young people from developing and developed countries would be able to build partnerships to further implement the Braga Youth Action Plan. Another potential project was the negotiation and adoption of a Youth Rights Charter. Young people faced the paradox that they sought to become integrated into an existing order and yet they were the force that could transform that order and become the wind of change. In conclusion, she drew attention to a draft resolution on “honour crimes” which had been sent to all missions by her delegation, and to a documentary that was to be shown on the subject.
UN Doc.: A/C.3/55/SR.4
Cite as:
UN Doc.: A/C.3/55/SR.4, 26 September 2000, p. 3, Youth Delegate Search: https://youthdelegatesearch.org/netherlands-2000/, doi: 10.17176/20221018-195124-0.