PROBLEMS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NEED GREATER ATTENTION, GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD

27 October 1995

Press Release
GA/8976

PROBLEMS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NEED GREATER ATTENTION, GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD

19951027 Great Increase in Numbers Predicted; Vulnerability to Crime, Poverty, Neglect, Disease and Exploitation Is Stressed

Citing the large and growing numbers of young people in the global population, developing countries this morning urged the international community to give greater attention to the condition of youth. They were speaking as the General Assembly continued its discussion of the tenth anniversary of International Youth Year.

The Vice-Minister of Education of Colombia said there were 90 million young people aged from 15 to 24 years in the Latin American region, and that figure would increase to 105 million by the end of the century. That presented both an urban and rural challenge.

A representative of the Youth Federation of Mongolia said his country's young population -- with those under 35 representing 75 per cent of the total -- constituted the most vulnerable and marginalised group of society. Political pluralism and economic liberalisation had brought positive results to his country, but there were also negative aspects.

The condition of children in a number of countries, especially in Africa, remained critical due to socio-economic factors, said the representative from Uganda. Neglect, violence, exploitation, armed conflicts, demographic growth, environmental degradation and the scourge of diseases and epidemics such as HIV/AIDS were rampant.

The Youth Delegate from Canada warned there would be a massive upswing in the numbers requiring education, training and jobs, while the representative from China called for an increase in the budget for activities in the field of youth.

A growing phenomenon engaging the attention of Caribbean policy-makers according to the representative of Trinidad and Tobago was the emergence of street children and the incidence of homelessness among young people.

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The representative of Singapore spoke about his concerns regarding the influence of the INTERNET on youth, in particular worrying reports of youth thereby gaining access to pornography.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Peru and Mozambique, the Deputy Minister for Youth from Paraguay, the representative from India, the youth representative from Jamaica, the Manager of Youth Affairs from Malta, the representative of the Cote d'Ivoire, and the youth representative from Sweden.

The General Assembly meets again at 3 p.m. today to conclude its discussion on the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to continue its discussion on the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of International Youth Year.

The final text for the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, which was considered by the Economic and Social Council on 25 October, has not yet been agreed upon (see Press Release ECOSOC/5629 issued 25 October).

Statements

ADELINA COVO DE GUERRERO, Vice-Minister for Youth, Ministry for Education, Colombia, said an ongoing concern of governments should be to take care of young people. There were 90 million young people aged from 15 to 24 years in Latin America. That figure would increase by 105 million at the end of the century; that situation was an urban and rural challenge.

About 45 per cent of Colombia's young people lived in poverty, with 18 per cent in conditions of misery. Although great efforts had been made to increase secondary education, only 47 per cent of the young people of secondary school age had access to education. There was high unemployment among the young people, and the rate was higher for those from low income families.

The social, economic and cultural consequences on young people of drug trafficking was of great concern to Colombia. Action against it was focused on pragmatic integration and the development of young people through implementation of social policies for education, health, recreation and sports, culture, employment sports and housing.

ISABELLE POUPART, youth delegate, Canada, said that in the last 10 years there had been significant advances in such areas as infant mortality and the eradication of disease, but the world's population was growing by some 90 million people annually. There would be a massive upswing in the numbers requiring education, training and jobs. Canada believed more work was needed on how to meet the needs of youth in transition from school to work. Furthermore, the follow-up to recent United Nations conferences, must not forget the importance of youth issues. The barriers faced by young women needed particular attention.

She said too many young people died in wars or suffered as refugees and displaced persons. Everyone should have safe homes and streets, full employment opportunities, fair and equitable treatment at home, at school and on the job. The Government of Canada had initiated programmes to provide training in job skills and entrepreneurship, and internships in economic growth sectors.

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By engaging Canada's young people in learning and work experiences, it was cultivating solid citizens for the country's and the planet's future.

FERNANDO GUILLEN (Peru) said the approval of the draft programme for action to the year 2000 and beyond would strengthen the international commitment towards the improvement of the situation of young people world- wide.

In his country, 42.6 per cent of the population was composed of young people and children. In order to achieve the objectives of the programme for youth, his Government had considered three strategies: the setting-up of a high level Commission with the task of coordination and evaluation; actions geared at helping those young people in the poorest areas; and the participation of youth organizations to coordinate youth programmes. Among his country's major concerns as related to young women were sexual violence, maternal mortality and teen pregnancy. He stressed the importance of encouraging the promotion of peace education.

MARIA GUSTAVA (Mozambique) said that for the world programme of action for youth to succeed, it was necessary to adopt and take stock of equally important declarations and programmes of action adopted at previous forums. The proposed world programme provided the practical guidelines as well as the mechanisms to promote and improve the well-being and livelihood of youth. Most of the world's youth lived in developing countries where it was even harder for them to build for their future because of, among other factors, limited educational and training opportunities and lack of access to health and social services. It was therefore legitimate that priority be given to the developing countries. Mozambique was also particularly concerned about the use of young people in armed conflicts.

WANG XUEXIAN (China) said the issue of youth remained a weak link in the chain of the United Nations social development efforts. The United Nations and the international community should put the emphasis of their youth work on the developing countries, and the budget for activities in the field of youth should be increased. The United Nations and the international community should also play an active role in implementing the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond. The proposed programme would help resolve the problems faced by young people in different environments; create conditions for their full and effective participation in social development and decision-making; increase their access to education, health care and employment; protect them from the harm of drugs; encourage them to participate actively in environmental protection and other social activities; and promote mutual understanding and mutual respect among youth people of different racial, religious and cultural backgrounds.

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ANNETTE DES ILES (Trinidad and Tobago) said there was no genius like that which resided in the energy and creativity of youth. Areas in need of critical attention included education, malnutrition, sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancies, narcotic and psychotropic drug use and trafficking, the misuse of alcohol and tobacco, and psychological and mental disorders. She said another growing phenomenon engaging the attention of Caribbean policy-makers was the emergence of street children and the incidence of homeless among young people. Trinidad and Tobago wished to commend the efforts of the United Nations in formulating an international policy on youth. There must be concerted action by the international community to ensure the success of the world programme of action.

ENRIQUE RIERA ESCUDERO, Deputy Minister for Youth, Paraguay, said 70 per cent of his country's people were under 35 years of age, and half of them under 20. For that reason, the first proposal for a national plan on youth had been created. More than 2,500 young representatives from the different political parties and religious, youth and other organizations had participated in its creation. Youth was "the highest strategic resource of the country" since they learned fast and were more open to change. That was imperative in today's technological world.

He hoped that the youth of his country would be integrated into the new democratic order. He pledged to achieve a more peaceful international world. "We did not inherit this earth from our parents, we have it on loan for our children", he said.

MANIMEKALAI MURUGESAN (India) said that her country had instituted a national department under its Ministry of Human Resource Development to coordinate youth affairs. A number of programmes had been devised to appropriately channel youth energies, and to train the young at all stages. The scheme of national Yuva Kendras or youth centres which came into operation in 1972, focused on employment capabilities of rural youth. India had one of the largest affirmative action programmes aimed at the elevation of women and weaker sections of society.

She said the global picture had changed since 1985; young people were now faced with tougher choices and fewer opportunities, particularly in developing countries. They were exposed to societies increasingly succumbing to drugs, AIDS and street crime. The United Nations proposal to improve the situation of youth through concerted action aimed at enhancing youth programmes and the implementation and evaluation of such programmes at all levels needed all-round support.

It was unfortunate that families today were experiencing socio-economic changes which challenged their very structure and the multi-generational relationships that they nurtured. For the continuing stability of societies, communication between younger and older generations must continue.

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TSERENCHIMIDIIN ZORIGBAATAR, Foreign Relations Secretary of the Mongolian Youth Federation, Mongolia, said various problems facing society were more acutely felt by its young members, who were often the most vulnerable and marginalised group. In Mongolia those under the age of 35 made up 75 per cent of the population.

He said that the 1990 "wind of change" brought political pluralism and economic liberalisation, but it also resulted in an outbreak of social ills such as poverty, unemployment, social disintegration and erosion of societal fabric. Young people had been forced into the web of crime, and becoming street children, school dropouts and illiterates, unemployed and under- employed, and tobacco and alcohol addicts.

The Government of Mongolia, in cooperation with relevant non-governmental organizations, was taking energetic measures to redress and improve the situation of young people. They included the organization of short- and long-term training and skill training for income-generation by young people, thus helping create opportunities for self-employment for the poor and the weak. Mongolia had also adopted policies discouraging tobacco and alcohol use, especially among children. It planned to consider a draft single law to protect the rights of the young people and ensure their full participation in the life of society.

CHERRYL GORDON, Youth Representative, Jamaica, welcomed the attention given by the United Nations at this year's historic General Assembly to stir the international community to renewed action to ensure that the problems and concerns affecting the world's youth were properly addressed. Jamaica would seek the help of the Organization in providing technical assistance for such things as consultants, training, study and equipment to aid Jamaica's projects for youth. It also believed that young people world-wide would benefit from increased exchange of ideas among governments and government agencies responsible for youth. There could be no better way of ensuring their future than to lay the proper foundations -- "with our youth, for our youth".

PAUL MUKASA-SSALI (Uganda) said the condition of children in a number of countries, especially in Africa, remained critical, because of socio-economic factors. He spoke of neglect, violence, exploitation, armed conflicts, demographic growth, environmental degradation and the scourge of diseases and epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, factors which he said were rampant. In addition, the debt burden impeded African countries from adequately planning and preparing for the future.

He called on the international community, including financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, to increase the mobilization of resources to achieve the goals of the Decade for youth. It was essential

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to improve the international economic environment and guarantee the survival of children. Families weakened by economic impoverishment could be a source of larger dislocation and conflicts he warned.

TAN HUNG SENG (Singapore) said his country had joined the international community in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year. It had succeeded in raising awareness among the public and decision- makers throughout the world regarding the situation of youth, and it had been instrumental in laying the foundation for what was to become the world programme of action for youth.

Singapore had particular concerns regarding the influence of the INTERNET on youth, in particularover it being used by paedophiles, and over worrying reports of youth thereby gaining access to pornography. Youth should be educated on the healthy use of the INTERNET.

JOHN M. DEMANUELE, Director for Youth Affairs, Ministry for Justice and the Arts, Malta, said "Participation is the optimum medium to build tomorrow's society. It encourages young people to remain within, integrate into and lead fuller lives in society, where they can find ideas with which they can identify and to which they are willing to commit themselves". Youth organizations can provide links between youth and government institutions. Malta hoped that the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year would be another step on the road to joint projects between the United Nations and youth organizations. Intergovernmental cooperation in the field of youth should also be a priority on government agendas.

DJENEBOU KABA (Cote d'Ivoire) said that if youth were a challenge for the Member States, they could also be a treasure house when they were able to take their own futures in hand. To achieve that, it was necessary, above all, to listen to young people, taking note of their aspirations, their desires and their vision for society. Young people were the best disposed to support such values as tolerance, mutual understanding and solidarity, and they had a sense of innovation and creativity that could be of great help in conceiving and executing development policies. It was necessary to let young people organize themselves and meet with young people from other parts of the world, with the goal of greater mutual understanding and appreciation.

MALIN BERGGREN, Youth Delegate from Sweden, said the participation of youth in all sectors of society and in all areas of decision-making was the only way to tackle the challenges which faced young people. The world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond should be considered the start and not the end of a necessary process. Effective channels of communication were needed between youth organizations and the entire United Nations system. Sweden strongly supported a United Nations Youth Forum with the participation of youth organizations at all stages. Youth had no future in war; conflict prevention programmes for and by young people would enhance their role in preventing wars. Youth organizations could help shape the political will of governments.

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