Delegate: Mr. Ehrling
8. Mr. Ehrling (Sweden), speaking as the youth representative of Sweden, said that young people should be viewed as a resource for innovation, development and economic growth. Half the world’s population was under 26 years of age. Everyone must realize the potential inherent in that statement. The youth of the world deserved to be included in society and to have power over their own fate. Youth-led organizations could give them such power.
9. The greatest challenge facing his generation was climate change. As his country’s youth representative, he felt proud of Sweden’s efforts to promote a new global climate charter. Present and future generations needed an agreement stronger than the Kyoto Protocol. Swedish youth organizations would build on the Government’s efforts by inviting fellow young people to a global conference on climate and security. That, he hoped, would be a first step towards involving young people in formulating global solutions to climate change.
10. Unemployment among young people was a huge challenge for all countries, regardless of location or development status. It led to social alienation and powerlessness. Young people just entering the job market sometimes needed special support, such as informal and vocational education, as a complement to formal education. Civil society organizations could help young people to realize their potential by giving them experience working in the non-profit sector, which could subsequently be put to use for jobs in commercial enterprise.
11. The global society was a reality, and outdated visa policies should not be allowed to stop people travelling to or searching for work in other countries. The right to freedom of movement enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights need not be at odds with the national security of nations. However, some people crossed borders not for work or holiday but in order to survive. Some fled from countries where people were killed for no other reason than loving a person of the same sex. A person’s sexual preference should therefore be considered grounds for asylum.
12. The world could not afford to go on wasting the resource of youth. Young people were the key to development. He proposed that the Member States should adopt the goals and targets for the cluster “youth and the global economy” of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond.
UN Doc.: A/C.3/62/SR.3
Cite as:
UN Doc.: A/C.3/62/SR.3, 9 October 2007, p. 3, Youth Delegate Search: https://youthdelegatesearch.org/sweden-2007/, doi: 10.17176/20221018-194620-0.