Delegate: Ms. Eunjae Choi
92. Ms. Choi (Republic of Korea), speaking as a youth delegate, said that many young persons and marginalized people were unaware of the rights and freedoms they were entitled to under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They must be given full access to the relevant information to ensure that, in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, they would not be left behind. The inclusion of young people through empowerment, education and participation in decision-making processes was crucial. She took pride in her country’s commitment to building a more caring and inclusive society and in the existence of the Youth Participation Committee which enabled youth to propose policies and participate in decision-making in central government agencies and local authorities.
93. States and Governments should prioritize gender equality and gender-responsive policies, while non-governmental organizations should also play a role in addressing the gender gap in employment, work-life balance and the eradication of violence. A robust civil society was essential for sustainable development and social inclusion. In the Republic of Korea, civil society activism had played a central role in promoting human rights and democracy over the decades and had been instrumental in attaining the free, fair and egalitarian life that her country currently enjoyed.
94. The reaffirmation in September 2018 by the leaders of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of their commitment to end 70 years of hostilities and move towards peace was a historic event that resonated with the 9 million young people in her country who yearned for peace. Given the history of the Korean peninsula, peace could not be taken for granted. Yet, peace, freedom and prosperity were fundamental to the achievement of a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future.
UN Doc.: A/C.3/73/SR.3
Cite as:
UN Doc.: A/C.3/73/SR.3, 3 October 2018, p. 14, Youth Delegate Search: https://youthdelegatesearch.org/republic-of-korea-2018/, doi: 10.17176/20221018-191931-0.