Proposal Paper on Globalisation and Youth

Mr Chairperson and distinguished speakers,

We would like to draw your attention to our concern as young people regarding the issue of globalisation and multilateral institution. As expressed by many of the experts in the Sub-commission, especially in the report prepared by Ms Udagama and Mr. Oloka-Onyango, that a greater respect to human rights should be given by the multilateral financial institutions.

Mr. Chairperson and distinguished speakers,

We, young people, feel that the structure and the mechanism of the global market place us in a weak position. We become the main target of the globalised market, where young people are targeted to be the community of consumers. On the contrary, the multilateral institutions as the motor of the globalised market, never consult us. They do not ask what we think, what we feel, what we want.

We do not have any channel to express our concerns. We feel frustrated due to the fact that there is insecurity, uncertain future, inaccessibility to higher education and the problem of unemployment. We see, witness and feel that many of the policies of the multilateral institutions lead to the violation of our rights, the human rights. This fact makes us take the alternative way, which also becomes the only way for us, to go to street protest and to be heard. Nevertheless, instead of being heard, the respond given to us was the use of excessive and disproportionate force like in Genoa.

Therefore, we, Pax Romana would like to ask this forum to seriously discuss the popular participation of civil society in multilateral institutions and set a mechanism where popular participation, including the voice of the youths, is ensured.

I thank you Mr.Chairperson.