Interviews with Youth Delegates to the 57th session of the General Assembly, October 2002
In order to increase the influence of young people in decision-making processes, the United Nations has long been encouraging their member countries to send youth delegates as part of their delegations to the General Assembly. The delegates are democratically selected delegates of the youth of their home countries. They take an active part in the discussions as well as giving a statement in the Third Committee of the General Assembly, which discusses social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
The youth delegates of 2002 included delegates from Australia, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden:
Rebecca Jenkin, 23, Australia
Rebecca is from Canberra, the capital of Australia, and has just finished studying politics and law. She has been involved in a number of youth and student organisations, primarily including the United Nations Youth Association of Australia (UNYA).
How were you selected to be a youth delegate for Australia?
The Australian Youth Representative position is open to all young Australians aged 15-24 to apply for. The selection process is run by the UNYA. Applications are received from all over the country, and UNYA (which is an organisation run entirely by young people under the age of 25) interviews applicants. The final selection is made by a national panel comprised of the UNYA National Executive, the previous two youth delegates and a representative of another Australian youth organisation.
What is your role as a youth delegate?
My role has a few aspects. One aspect is working with other youth reps to promote youth participation within the UN. The second is providing some youth expertise within work of the Australian delegation (for instance I was quite involved in the negotiations on the youth employment resolution this year). The third aspect of my role is generally assisting in the work of the Australian Mission, such as monitoring debates and negotiations, writing reports and attending meetings.
What can the UN learn from youth involvement?
I think effective youth involvement in any sphere demonstrates that young people are very capable and do have a alot to offer, and that this resource is often untapped.
Do you think having youth delegates is important?
Definitely! For one, it demonstrates a country’s commitment to meaningful youth participation in an exceptionally tangible way. But more importantly, it provides young people with a mechanism to feed into the deliberations of the General Assembly. This is particularly important when the youth resolution is considered every second year.
What difference does your presence make?
There are tangible things that we can point to in terms of the outcomes of the GA that would not be there but for youth reps. For instance, the reference in this year’s youth employment resolution to involving youth organisations and young people in addressing this problem, as well as numerous clauses in the biennial youth resolution. However, I believe we make a difference more generally in getting people to think about youth participation more positively and hopefully this leads to action within their home countries and within UN agencies to improve youth patricipation.
What will you take home from your experience as a youth delegate?
The idea that individuals can, and do, make a difference within the UN System.
Do you think you can achieve more on an international level than a national level?
I don’t think you can say that one or the other achieves more – they achieve different things. I think results are easier to see at the local, grassroots level and that the results of what takes place at the international level are often harder to identify but nonetheless can be quite widespread in their impact. I do think, however, that one of the challenges in the youth sphere specifically and for social development at the UN generally, is to strengthen links between the two arenas – especially in terms of strengthening the flow-on from what occurs at the international level to implementation at the local level.
What more do you think the UN should do for youth participation?
In terms of what UN Agencies are doing, I think there are some great examples of meaningful youth participation in some agencies (such as UNEP and UNICEF) whereas some other could probably improve on this front. In the political organs of the UN, like the General Assembly, there is definitely a long way to go. Only six countries include youth reps in ther delegations regularly. However, I am optimistic we can change this over coming years.
What will you do to improve youth participation at the UN?
The major thing I’ll be focussing upon is helping develop an information kit for youth organisations to use to lobby their own governments for youth rep positions. We’ve talked to other youth organisations about using their networks to promote this – many youth organisations don’t even know youth rep positions to the General Assembly exist!
What will you do when you return to your country?
I’ll be sharing my experiences at the UN with as many young Australians as possible, through speaking at schools, universities and other gatherings of young people. I hope to be able to teach them a bit about the UN and global politics, as well as encourage them to get involved in decision-making processes in their own communities.
Mads-Erik Schionnemann, 26, Denmark
Erik is from Copenhagen, Denmark. His youth involvement started when he became a member of Youth For Understanding – Denmark, and has been active in YFU ever since. Since 1997 he has also represented YFU in the Danish Youth Council and in the European Youth Forum.
How were you selected to be a youth delegate for Denmark?
I was nominated by YFU-Denmark and selected by a selection committee in the Danish National Youth Council. I think some of the reasons why I was selected was my long experience with a diversity of youth organisations in umbrella organisations, and experience with working with civil servants.
What is your role as a youth delegate?
My role is to convey the global policy of the Danish Youth council to the UN system and to bring home knowledge and inspiration for the Danish youth organisations. As a part of that I am to co-operate with other youth delegates to ensure that there is a focus on issues relevant to young people in UN policies and programmes, and promote that young people are invited to contribute within the UN system.
What can the UN learn from youth involvement?
It is funny to experience, how the UN offices with many young people employed are much more visionary and dynamic than the others. Young people have an open mind towards what can and should be done on the global level, and they have a natural egoistic desire to care about how the world will look in 50 years.
Do you think having youth delegates is important?
I think having Youth delegates are a very good means to make young people take part in the responsibility for developing the world. I think it should be obvious for everyone, that development will be very inefficient, if we do not develop people, who can lift the challenges for themselves and others.
What difference does your presence make?
I provide easy access to the UN system for Danish youth. It is much easier for them to speak to me, than to some civil servant they don’t know. In fact I will go directly to them and offer the inspiration. In addition I think my presence at the GA has reminded many people that there is a somewhat different and more youthful way of thinking about global development. I hope it will be inspirational.
What will you take home from your experience as a youth delegate?
Personally I have gained so incredibly much both socially, for my personal development, for my youth work and for my career. This is good, because it inspires other young people to demand a lot from me.
For the Danish Youth very much knowledge that will allow us to initiate valuable and complementary efforts.
Do you think you can achieve more on an international level than a national level?
It is similar to comparing apples and oranges. In fact I believe one of the key aims in internationalisation is to learn to deal comfortably and consistently with issues across levels from local, over national and regional to global.
If the question on the other hand is, if countries should act internationally by pursuing individual foreign policies or commit themselves to international structures and agreement, I strongly believe in the latter.
What more do you think the UN should do for youth participation?
In general I think an attitude adjustment is needed. Young people should not just be consulted, when it fits the budget, when it is politically attractive or when someone gets the idea. Young people and their democratic organisations should automatically be heard in the development of policies and programs that will develop the world, they are to grow up in.
What will you do to improve youth participation at the UN?
First of all I will encourage Member States, and especially the developing countries to include delegates of their young civil society in their delegations to the General Assembly. In addition I will encourage all the programmes and funds to include youth as a resource when they design and implement programmes and strategies.
What will you do when you return to your country?
I will continue to be a part of the ongoing work of the Danish National Youth Council to provide young people in Denmark with access to work at the global level. Specifically I will be available to speak about my experiences in youth organisations and other places where young people meet, and I will contribute to the preparation of future youth delegates.
I will together with a UN-working group at the Danish Youth Council organise different seminars on UN-themes related to youth – e.g. on HIV/ AIDS and the involvement of youth in programmes to inform about and prevent HIV/ AIDS.
Leontien Peeters, 26, The Netherlands
Leontien is 26 years old and an International Relations student at the University of Amsterdam (currently in the process of writing her thesis). In the past she has been involved in many youth projects in the Netherlands (especially disadvantaged youths) as well as in Slovenia (summer camp for young refugees) and Ecuador (street children and disadvantaged youths). She is a member of the commission for international participation of the Dutch National Youth council and participates in two peer education projects on the subjects of Children’s Rights, and Religion and Democracy.
How were you selected to be a youth delegate for The Netherlands?
The position of youth delegate is open to all young people in the Netherlands under the age of 27. The position is advertised in different national newspapers, free daily newspapers handed out in public transport, and various youth organisation publications. The selection committee consists of the previous youth delegate, one member of the board, the chairperson of the commission for international participation and a representative of a member organisation of the Dutch National Youth Council. All candidates are asked to complete three written assignments including a speech in English. On the basis of these assignments candidates are invited for an interview.
What is your role as a youth delegate?
My role is to act as an advisor to the Dutch government on youth related issues being discussed at the UNGA, and to act as a liaison between the Dutch youth organisations and the Dutch youth and the Dutch government, specifically the permanent representation of the Netherlands at the UN.
What can the UN learn from youth involvement?
Young people can break certain bureaucratic patterns that have evolved over the years by showing that things can be done in a different, more effective way. They also provide an important reality check, bringing the delegates at the UN directly into contact with the current situation of young people in their own counties. This can lead to better policies that are more in line with reality and thus more effective, put new problems facing youth on the agenda, and introduce innovative and fresh approaches towards solving problems already on the agenda. Also young people can break traditional barriers between countries and form new alliances.
Do you think having youth delegates is important?
Yes. For the youth and youth organisations it can be a very effective tool towards getting their opinions heard by their national governments as well as by the international community. It also gives these organisations a common international focus leading to better co-ordination and co-operation on the national as well as international level.
For the national governments a youth representative can be an important asset, providing their delegations at the UN with vital, up to date, information on youth and youth problems, and adding to their legitimacy as permanent delegates of their countries.
For the UN itself and its agencies youth delegates can be important channels of communication with youth and youth organisations around the globe. Current and future support for the UN and its important work is more likely when young people are better informed about the UN system. They will also be more aware of their own role and responsibility towards reaching the various goals set out by the UN when they participate in setting those goals.
What difference does your presence make?
It is difficult to measure the difference our presence makes in direct concrete results, its definitely a long term ‘battle’. By being present – addressing the third committee, talking to delegates informally, having meeting with different UN agencies, and handing out newsletters and organising seminars – we make sure that the there is a focus on youth in general and the specific situation of youth in relation to items on the UNGA agenda. This will lead to better decisions with a greater chance of effective implementation and positive results. We also introduce many delegations to the concept and advantages of youth participation, hopefully making them more open to the idea of including a youth delegate in their delegations in the future, thus opening up participation opportunities for our peers in other countries. We also provide new energy and inspiration for delegates that have been at the UN for a longer time, and add a personal note to the often abstract discussions in the UNGA. We also bring UN agencies and NGOs in contact with youth organisations back home opening up opportunities for information sharing and co-operation towards reaching common goals.
What will you take home from your experience as a youth delegate?
A better understanding of the UN system and the important role it plays in making the world a more peaceful and just place. New ideas on how the UN system can improve. Many new and interesting contacts, personal as well as professional, providing me with information and inspiration.
Do you think you can achieve more on an international level than a national level?
No. I believe that the focus should be on the international as well as the national level. The two can be complimentary and are both important towards reaching various goals. Because of growing interdependence, and regional and international co-operation, the international level is gaining in importance. On the national and equally important local level results are more concrete and direct but the international level is important in setting long term goals and ensuring the international co-operation that is often vital to ensuring sustainable results.
What more do you think the UN should do for youth participation?
The focus on youth as a separate demographic group needs to be consolidated and more information on youth needs to be gathered and disseminated. This must be done in better and more meaningful co-operation with youth and youth organisations from all regions of the world. The UN must provide more information about the UN to youth and make that information more accessible. Of course it is the member states that make the decisions in the UN but the secretariat and different UN agencies can encourage and support youth participation, especially by focusing attention on the importance of youth participation towards reaching better results.
What will you do to improve youth participation at the UN?
I will do my very best to ensure the Dutch government continue to include youth delegates to the UNGA as well as other international conferences. I will also support youth in other countries that are trying to get their countries to include a youth delegate to the UNGA next year, in close co-operation with the other youth delegates, national and regional youth councils, international youth organisations and the Youth Unit. I will also work toward better co-ordination and co-operation between the different youth delegates.
What will you do when you return to your country?
I will write report back to the ministry of foreign affairs and to youth organisations in the Netherlands, by writing reports and speaking to interested organisations in person and attending various debates and discussions. I will be a member of the selection committee that will select next years youth representative at the beginning of November, and once selected prepare and support him or her in any way possible. I am planing to set up a peer education school tour on the millennium development goals (MDGS), in co-operation with Dutch youth organisations, Dutch development organisations and the UNDP, providing Dutch youth with information on the UN and the MDGs in general and focusing attention on the role they can play towards reaching these goals. Together with next years youth representative I plan to organise a UN information and input day open to all Dutch youth. I will also continue to attract positive media attention for youth participation and the Dutch National youth council. With the other youth delegates we plan to set up a youth delegate web-site where we can exchange information, keep each other and others up to date, and provide other youth with important information to lobby their governments.
Christoffer Gronstad, 24, Norway
Chris is 24 years old and a member of the Norwegian Rural Youth Organisation and is a board member of the Norwegian Youth Council. He is also a member of the Socialist Youth League and an organisation named Nature and Youth. As one of the two Norwegian Youth delegates, Chris’ work was continued by Kari Anne Moe.
How were you selected to be a youth delegate for Norway?
I applied, and the Norewegian Youth Council in co-operation with last year’s youth delegates from Norway decided after an interview.
What is your role as a youth delegate?
One of the two Norwegian Youth delegates gets the opportunity to address the third committee. The rest of the time we cover meetings and informals. We follow the program of the delegation of the Parlamentarians during our tree weeks in New York. We have a meeting in the Norwegian Mission every morning. We are here to learn, but also to participate.
What can the UN learn from youth involvement?
Efficiency.
Do you think having youth delegates is important?
Youth delegates can make a difference, and presenting their view they can give UN bodies the possibility of better decision making.
What difference does your presence make?
First of all, it gave Norway an own statement under the item of social development. It also gave a youth perspective on other statements given by Norwegian and other delegates in the third committee. It gave Norway the possibility to cover more meetings – and everything on youth =)
What will you take home from your experience as a youth delegate?
The importance of keep working for educating young people about the differences in the world and to point on the importance of cultural understanding.
Do you think you can achieve more on an international level than a national level?
No.
What more do you think the UN should do for youth participation?
Demand youth participation and that the participants are democratically elected.
What will you do to improve youth participation at the UN?
Keep focused on being a good representative so that other countries realise that youth delegates are useful.
What will you do when you return to your country?
Give interviews in different newspapers, give statements and share my memories in “my” organisations.