Item 11 : Situation regarding the promotion, full realisation and protection of the rights of children and youth

Madam Chairperson,

While talking about the children and youth, we are talking of about 40 % of the population of whom those aged between 15 and 24 make up approximately one sixth of the world's population. The International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Pax Romana welcomes with great interest the speech by the High Commissioner Mrs Robinson who sounded very concerned about the situation regarding the promotion, realisation and protection of the rights of children and youth. This is very encouraging especially considering the fact that the youth have been a neglected sector within the UN system itself.

While juveniles are generally considered to be those below the age of 18, the term "youth" has not been defined and seems difficult or ambiguous to define though they are easy to describe and identify. This could explain why the youth are always talked about but never really given a stake in the economic, social and cultural rights platforms.

Pax Romana notes that the whole UN system talks of democracy and participation. We therefore ask, "In what other ways can the youth participate when they are not able to cast their vote?" Though the world may pretend that the youth cannot contribute much, it must be noted that they are among those who spearhead reforms, especially university students. Notable examples include the Indonesian students protest against the dictatorship of Suharto, the South Korean experience and the South African case during apartheid. Education, employment creation and political participation are among the means to help the youth attain their economic, social and cultural rights.

Education

The education of young people is key to a number of issues including, development. As noted in the General Comment No. 31 of the 21^st Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, "Education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realising other human rights." It is unfortunate however, that more and more youth find themselves not only without homes but definitely out of school as most countries in the south, and more so in Africa, require that fees be paid in full. Subsidies have been stopped as a result of the undemocratic Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) reforms imposed on the least developing countries without due regard to the effect and impact that this will have on the most vulnerable section of the population i.e. the youth, and indeed the weak economies of these countries. The Sub-Commission should therefore alert the Commission and advise it to be proactive in promoting investment in young people's education. Higher education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and the full realisation of other rights. The UNDP Human Development Report 2000 points to the importance of higher education as a means to "spur political action and to demand more social and economic rights." The report points to the example of the Indian state of Kerala, where it states, "higher education and political awareness made a crucial difference in health achievements which surpassed those even in states that has higher per capita spending on health and more hospital beds per person."

Unemployment

Widespread youth unemployment today not only represents a challenge for the rights of young people but also creates a challenge for society as a whole. The ILO estimates that there are over 60 million young people who cannot find work. It goes on to say that those within the "15 to 24 age cohort are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as adults." Overcoming these high levels of youth unemployment especially in the developing countries is central for development and overcoming poverty and is linked to the inappropriate education systems.

In her opening address to the Sub-Commission, Mrs. Robinson reiterated the request of Secretary-General Kofi Annan for "governments to develop strategies to reduce joblessness among youth." Madam Chairperson, governments can only do that if, together with the world financial institutions, they come up with development strategies with a human face. In the present context many harmful practices are carried out against young people including the trafficking of young people and young girls being forced into prostitution. At the present time there are no strong mechanisms that can be implemented to protect these young girls.

Youth Involvement and Political Participation

NGOs, governments and UN agencies can only benefit from more active participation by youths on all issues and in all levels of decision-making and must be the ones who minister to their own on civil and political rights. The UNICEF State of the World's Children 2000 stresses that youth involvement "provides a unique opportunity to break a number of vicious, intergenerational cycles, such as gender discrimination, violence and poverty." It goes on to stress that ensuring youth participation "in their own communities and civil society is fundamental to protecting their right to development and to ensuring that their rights are protected and met." Repressive laws are enacted to combat students organising themselves. In Malaysia for instance, the "University and Colleges Act" was enacted and is still in force today in order to prohibit students from discussing, engaging or involving themselves in any political issues.

Conclusion

Taking all this into account, we note that if empowered, youth can contribute a great deal to the fight for human rights and in view of the foregoing therefore, Pax Romana would like to recommend the following actions.

1. That the Sub Commission undertakes a study to find out what impact Globalisation has had on the youth with regard to their lack of access to education and repression of their participation
2. That the Sub-Commission makes a recommendation to the Commission to appoint a special rapporteur to study the extent of illegal migration of youth in all countries as a result of poverty and /or unemployment and the reforms imposed by the World Financial Institutions without due regard to the unique development of countries in the south.
3. We request that a greater effort be made to include youth in the human rights framework, including the Sub-Commission and that more youth NGOs be accredited to the World Conference against Racism, even those that are not international.

Thank you for your attention.