Delegation of the European Union to Albania

10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2024 16:15

EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Social Development

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EU Statement - UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Social Development

3 October 2024, New York - Statement by European Union Youth Delegate Giulia Tariello at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee on item 25: Social Development

Honourable Chair,

I have the privilege to speak as the European Union Youth Delegate to the United Nations.

Young people aged 15- 24 make up about 16% of the global population. In some regions like Africa, these numbers are projected to increase up to 40% by 2050.

By the same date, 35% of the EU population is projected to be over 60 years of age, increasing dependency ratios and putting pressure on younger generations to drive economic productivity.

In this context, young people play a pivotal role in driving both the green and digital transitions, essential to our future sustainability.

We, the YOUNG people of the United Nations, are not just passive observers of global challenges - we are directly affected by them.

Youth in Europe are struggling with unaffordable housing and exploitative unpaid labour; young children in Gaza are seeking a place to call home; youth in Sudan are fearing for their lives; children in Ukraine and Lebanon are struggling to go to school; young women and girls in Afghanistan do not have their human rights fulfilled; youth in India, Pakistan, and the Pacific are combating severe flooding and climate disasters.

And we know that these challenges are all interconnected.

We are the first ones to experience the consequences of climate change, unemployment, wars, and lack of education - thus we are the first ones actively shaping the solutions.

In every corner of the world, youth are at the forefront of movements for climate justice, social equity and democracy participation.

The Summit of the Future and the adoption of the Pact for the Future reflect a strong, shared urgency among Member States, civil society, and youth to foster a sustainable future for all.

Yet, the fragile consensus behind this agreement highlights the need for action. We must move beyond mere adoption and focus on implementation.

For many, this Pact for the Future is a pact for today and we cannot afford to deceive them, once again.

During the Summit of the Future, I had the chance to listen to young people from across the globe. Some of them were only 9 years old. I then understood that youth participation is not about age, but about the courage to chase dreams and goals relentlessly.

However, our voices are still too often side-lined in decision-making processes. When a young voice is not heard, there's a missing puzzle piece that does not allow Member States to see the whole picture.

As the EU Youth Delegate, I have witnessed first-hand the power of structured youth engagement mechanisms, such as the EU Youth Dialogue, which bridges the gap between policymakers and young people, allowing youth to influence policy on issues such as education, employment, and environmental sustainability. It is crucial that such models are replicated and adapted at the global level, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to engage meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives, also in compliance with Actions 36 and 37 of the Pact of the Future.

By leaving us behind, we remain unemployed and uneducated. Let me give you some more numbers. According to the International Labour Organisation, in 2023, 20% of youth aged 15- 24 were not in employment, education or training. Around 263 million children and young persons are out of school globally.

Despite countless opportunities for change, the resources available to young people remain limited. While youth have the passion and innovative ideas needed to shape a better future, we often lack the financial resources to bring our visions to life. This is a frustrating paradox: We are repeatedly told that the future depends on us and that we have the power to change the world, yet we are left without the tools to do so. How can we expect to create real change when financial barriers and lack of influence hold us back?

To address this, investing in youth-led movements must go beyond simply providing funding. It requires nurturing these initiatives, offering mentorship, and building long-term partnerships between governments, private sector entities, civil society organisations, and international institutions. For example, the EU adopted the Youth Action Plan for 2022-2027, the first-ever policy framework for a strategic partnership with young people around the world. The main priority of the Plan is to shape external action in partnership with young people to ensure their ownership and thus accelerate progress toward the Agenda 2030.

It's not just about supporting individual projects; it's about recognising the broader movement of youth leadership and empowerment.

We are urging you to consider investing more in these priorities, ensuring affordable housing, free access to education, mental and physical health care, and concrete actions towards climate change.

The future belongs to those who dare to dream and act beyond boundaries. Do you dare to act with us?

I thank you.