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Speech

Republic of Korea – 2019

Delegate: Ms. Hyungwon Suh

32. Ms. Hyungwon Suh (Republic of Korea), speaking as a youth delegate, said that young people accounted for 16 per cent of the global population and had both rights and responsibilities as agents of change, innovation and improvement. The United Nations Youth Strategy, launched in 2018, acknowledged the potential and strength of young people and aimed to empower them in every domain.

33. As the founder of a youth-led non-governmental organization (NGO) involved in citizenship education, she had met thousands of young people from her country and been amazed by their insights and ideas. The Republic of Korea was financing institutions and policies to support youth entrepreneurship, and experts were tackling inequalities at different levels. Protecting the mental health of the young generation had been a major concern in education for some time.

34. Although young people could suggest creative and practical solutions, they were often hesitant to put them forward, as their lack of experience was often interpreted as a lack of knowledge and power. If no one listened to them, they would feel helpless and give up. Action for youth empowerment was not merely a matter of increasing the channels through which young people could express themselves. Young people needed to feel that their actions were effective. The international community should accept the contributions and insights of young persons and give them true agency in society.

UN Doc.: A/C.3/74/SR.2

Original Records

Cite as:
UN Doc.: A/C.3/74/SR.2, 1 October 2019, p. 5, Youth Delegate Search: https://youthdelegatesearch.org/republic-of-korea-2019/, doi: 10.17176/20221018-191444-0.

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