The pressing challenges of today's young generation

The struggle for peace with the participation of the younger generation , like the struggle for human rights and humanity, is not one in which, having reached the peak of the mountain, the final goal comes into view. Rather, it should be thought of as the permanent work of generating an uninterrupted and unstoppable flow of strong commitments that connect and are passed on from one generation to the next.

In the operative part of the Commission for Social Development resolution under review, a most significant paragraph reiterates that the primary responsibility for implementing the World Programme of Action for Youth lies with Member States, and, consequently, the Commission urges Governments, in consultation with youth, youth-led and youth-focused organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to develop holistic and integrated youth policies, programmes and action plans, including for those who are poor, vulnerable or marginalized, and to address all aspects of youth development, in line with the World Programme of Action and all the internationally agreed development frameworks, in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the same time, the Commission reaffirms that the strengthening of international cooperation regarding youth, capacity-building, the enhancement of dialogue, mutual understanding and the active participation of young people are crucial elements in efforts towards achieving the eradication of poverty, full employment and social inclusion, and in this regard stresses the importance of promoting access to health-care services, nationally owned social protection and social services as an important instrument for empowering youth.

A special call is addressed to Member States to promote innovation among youth by ensuring that information and communications technologies are fully and appropriately integrated into education and training at all levels, including in the development of curricula, teacher training and institutional administration and management, and in support of the concept of lifelong learning.

In a more specific manner , the Commission recalls that access to quality formal and non-formal education, at all levels, including, as appropriate, catch-up and literacy education, including in assessing information and in information and communications technologies for those who did not receive formal education, information and communications technologies, extracurricular activities and volunteerism are important factors that enable young people to acquire the relevant skills and to build their capacities, including for employability and entrepreneurial development, and to gain decent and productive work, and calls upon Member States to take the action necessary to ensure that young people have access to such services and opportunities.

For its topicality, it is relevant to remind Commission's clear recognition that substantial digital divides and data inequalities exist in all regions, and between developed and developing countries, and that many developing countries lack affordable access to information and communications technologies. Therefore, the Commission urges Member States to take concerted action to further digital governance and economy, scientific research, emerging technologies and new data sources and to build resilient, inclusive and integrated data and statistical systems, under the leadership of national statistical offices, that can respond to the increased and urgent data demands in times of disaster, and ensure a path towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Conclusion

The recommendations formulated by the Commission for Social Development are future-oriented. That's the reason for which they encourage the UN Secretary-General to continue to bring the voices of young people to the United Nations system in the areas of participation, advocacy, partnerships and harmonization, inter alia, by considering appointing special representatives, envoys or advisers, while working closely with Governments, United Nations entities, civil society, youth organizations, academia and the media, to empower and strengthen the position of young people within and outside the United Nations system, including by conducting country visits, at the request of the Member States concerned.

Young people themselves at the global level should be encouraged by the request addressed to Member States to consider including youth representatives in their delegations at all relevant discussions in the General Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies and at relevant United Nations conferences, as appropriate, bearing in mind the principle of gender balance and non-discrimination, and, inter alia, to consider establishing a national youth delegate programme. In this regard, it is emphasized that youth representatives should be selected through a transparent process that ensures that they have a suitable mandate to represent young people in their countries.

Finally, given its organizational significance, we reproduce in toto the paragraph by which another important UN body, the Human Rights Council, "Welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to convene a one-day high-level plenary meeting of the Assembly, at the level of Heads of State and Government and with the full and effective participation of youth, during the general debate of the eightieth session of the Assembly, in 2025, to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, with a view to addressing the challenges still faced by young people in the realization of their full potential and human rights."

Beyond any future anniversary, the recognition of primordiality of young generation's problematique must be treated as an imperative duty at the local, national, regional, inter-regional and planetary levels.

Educational factors should be inspired by the Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) by which Member States are urged to consider ways to increase inclusive representation of youth in decision-making at all levels in local, national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflicts, including institutions and mechanisms to counter violent extremism, which can be conducive to terrorism, and, as appropriate, to consider establishing integrated mechanisms for meaningful participation of youth in peace processes and dispute-resolution.

Readers should not minimize a powerful topical quote on youth participation in peace processes:"There is no age limit on changing the world." – UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has frequently emphasized the role of young people in building peace, advocating for their inclusion in decision-making and conflict resolution efforts. This quote highlights the transformative power of youth engagement in shaping a more peaceful and just world.