*************************************************************************** The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Secretariat. *************************************************************************** AS WRITTEN YOUTH VISION STATEMENT FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN BEIJING, 15 SEPTEMBER 1995. We are here today on behalf of the thousands of young women who have participated in both the NGO Forum and the Fourth World Conference on Women. Our presence here is unprecedented. Over the last two weeks, young women have actively participated in all caucuses, workshops, panels, and other activities that have taken place, as part of a strategy to mainstream all our needs and issues. This can be clearly noted by the presence of particular young women's issues in our Platform for Action. Without our participation, discussion on the areas such as education, poverty, health, and access to resources as they specifically relate to young women would have remained silent or at best theoretical. Because of our presence, however, discussion of these areas became informed, passionate, and realistic. This input has been vital in creating a Platform for Action that millions of young women can identify with. Our achievement in this Conference marks the ability and readiness of young women to act as partners in implementation of the outcome of Beijing. And this stands as proof that young women needed to be here to be listened to and consulted with - not because of who we will become in the future, but because of who we already are. Today, we wish to express our appreciation to the Conference Secretariat for the Fourth World Conference on Women for initiating and implementing a programme to bring the voice of young people into all stages of the process, including the Conference itself. We would like to congratulate the 64 countries that included young women in their official delegations, but this does not mean that our voices are adequately heard in the halls of power. We therefore encourage all 187 member states of the United Nations to follow this historic example at all future world conferences. Further, we urge the United Nations to continue this commitment to youth by ensuring youth consultations at every stage of the preparatory process for all these conferences. It is at such consultations that young people can access the information and resources necessary to create a meaningful and informed contribution. As highlighted in the mission statement of the Platform for Action, "special measures must be taken to ensure that young women have the life skills necessary for active and effective participation in all levels of social, cultural, political, and economic leadership". We urge United Nations agencies charged with the implementation of the Platform, to address these special needs of young women. The active support and participation of youth organizations as partners in implementation has been agreed to by all governments present here. In support of these tasks, as young women, we call upon the United Nations to reactivate and strengthen its existing youth programme. We now present to you an indication of our vision for a future that will be free of today's problems. A future where every girl and young women will have access and a right to education free of discrimination. A future where all women, young and old, will have full access to health care, related information, and complete control of their bodies. A future where women and men will share equally in the sense of ownership of the achievements of their countries. Also, a future where women can actively participate in determining a new world order free from armed conflict and guided by the principles upheld in the Culture of Peace. A future where a commitment to the preservation of our natural environment is reflected in all our international, national, and local development plans. A future where work done by women is recognized as an indispensable contribution to the world's economic growth. And in this vision, we foresee a Fifth World Conference on Women where the world will gather to celebrate the equality, development, and peace achieved from actions agreed upon at this conference. So let us begin today as full and equal partners for action.