IPU, Alm.del - 2009-10 - Bilag 6: Preliminary draft resolution, First Standing Committee. Report, Second and Third Standing Committee.

1.We are living in a youthful world with almost half of the current global population underthe age of 25 according to the UN World Youth Report 2007. Eighty-five per cent of theseyoung people live in developing countries.2.Youth, as a concept, varies from culture to culture and from one society to another. Thetheory of lifetime transitions is a viable mechanism through which the nature of contemporaryyouth and the process of becoming an adult can be understood and described. Even thoughsome people argue that youth is a state of mind, from an economic and social perspective,youth is a special period of life between childhood and adulthood.3.According to the United Nations, young people fall into the age-group of between15 and 24 years. These boundaries are not static and in many cases this distinction is toonarrow. In some countries, for example, the male transition to adulthood, in terms of achievingeconomic and social stability with steady employment, may extend into the late twenties. Forsome men in developed countries who have not completed secondary school, the transition tostable work can take up to roughly the age of 35. The category of youth is heterogeneous.Generalizations about young people should be avoided, given the diversity of their ideas andexperiences across different geographical regions and within societies across the lines of class,education, gender, race and ethnicity. Sociologists have long argued that "youth" is a socialconstruct rather than a biologically determined period.

4.For these reasons, the definition of youth as the period of transition from dependence toindependence is relevant to all societies and can serve as one of the fundamental principles ofthe global agenda concerning youth. The second fundamental principle is a young person'sself-confidence and trust in society. Young people need solid structures – a societal skeleton –to cling on to and build upon for their growth and stability.5. Thetransitionalperspectivearticulates the issue of when and how young people achieve the status of becoming fullyoperational members of society – and thereby acquire citizenship in all of its dimensions. Theconcept of participation then becomes relevant; embedded in the theme of transition is a linkbetween participation and gaining independence.PARTICIPATION

6.The direct relevance of human rights instruments to global youth policy is noteworthy.The general prohibition of discrimination applies to many issues of concern to young peoplearound the world. The principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights (1948).7.Like all other social groups, young people have a legitimate voice and an important roleto play in society, but that voice is not heard adequately and their contribution to the society isnot always universally recognized.8.Young people are a group that is traditionally constructed and perceived as beingincapable of making decisions on their own. This has led to a situation of underrepresentationof youth in decision-making processes, which today is viewed as a real threat to the future ofparticipatory democracy. Moreover, human rights and political rights are guaranteed to allcitizens, not just some. Young people face real obstacles to fully exercising their rights.9.In comparison to women and ethnic minorities, young people perceive their owngeneration as the group which is the most politically disadvantaged. In modern society, age-based discrimination or ageism has yet to become a political issue to the extent that genderdiscrimination has, but it is logical to assume that inequalities based on age will gain moreimportance following the more frequent articulation of demands for changing the currentsituation.10. Regarding the optimal integration of youth in society, which includes a number ofaspects of everyday life – from socialization in the family, education and employment topolitical activity – the political participation of youth seems to be especially problematic.11. Youth participation means involving youth in responsible, challenging actions that meetgenuine needs and giving them the opportunity to participate in planning and/or decision-making. Their participation in decision-making is especially important because it:••leads to better decisions, actions and outcomes since young people have, as social actors,experiences unique to their situation;promotes the well-being of young people and the development of their skills: learning,questioning, expressing views, participating in the implementation of specific projects,etc;strengthens the commitment to and understanding of human rights and democracy;empowers and protects young people; well-informed and knowledgeable youth engagedin peer-to-peer activities are more useful than adult-only activities with youth.

12. The dimension of youth participation in decision-making processes is also recognized bythe United Nations. The UN World Programme of Action for Youth, along with the ensuingimplementation reports emphasized the importance of ensuring the formal circumstances toenable young people to participate locally, regionally, nationally and internationally indecision-making processes, through their organizations at the highest levels of government. TheUnited Nations also recommends that more governments adopt national politics for youth andallocate funding from national budgets.13. However, political apathy and a lack of interest in joining traditional organizations seemto characterize the younger generation in many countries. To many young people, the world ofpolitics seems far removed from their daily realities. Low voter turnout and dwindlingmembership in political parties (especially in the western countries) should not lead to theconclusion that young people are disinterested in the political future of their societies. It shouldbe noted that a substantial number of young people are still involved in traditional politics andpolitical youth organizations. These young people should be recognized for their contributionto democracy.14. The concept of participation can easily become little more than a rhetorical device basedon the "feel good" factor. Indeed, a major criticism by young people is that participatorystructures, where they do exist, are tokenistic, a rubber-stamping experience for decisionswhich have already been made. This may be one of the reasons why they have "tuned out".15. Youth participation is more than just a political engagement. It includes theempowerment of young people through capacity-building and increased access to humandevelopment opportunities. It represents a situation in which young people are no longer seenas passive recipients of resources or as the cause of society's ills, but rather as vital contributorsto their national development – contributors whose efforts are acknowledged and whoseinvolvement is encouraged.EMPOWERMENT AND CAPACITY-BUILDING

16. An institutional criterion entails, among other things, points of entry into society foryouth as equal participants in decision-making and in influencing social development, fromparticipation in various civic activities, programmes and initiatives as individuals and members,to participation in political and party life at all levels in all spheres of society.17. Development of human potential as the second criterion for full participation implies theavailability and accessibility of education and the acquisition of the knowledge and expertiserequired for the full and active and involvement of young people in society.18. Gaining of knowledge and expertise required for full and meaningful participation insocietal development begins early, already during the phase of formal education. According tonumerous studies, as well as examples in many countries, the introduction of "education andtraining for democracy and active citizenship" as a required course in schools has beenvalidated as the first major step forward in acquiring knowledge and a more solidified pictureof the status of each individual in society. In addition to curriculum adjustments over thecourse of formal education, greater emphasis has been placed on the influence of studentcouncils in schools, and on carrying out various educational projects and programmes throughwhich students acquire valuable first-hand experience in decision-making. Such participationrepresents a good starting point for youth to become full-fledged members of society in thefuture.

19. Of equal import is non-formal education which, although entailing no certificates,nonetheless hones abilities and expertise through targeted practice. Depending on the level ofdevelopment of institutional criteria, non-formal education can be further expanded throughvarious volunteer programmes and internships in government agencies and organizations, non-governmental organizations and other places where young people can become betteracquainted with democratic processes and begin to prepare for a more active and equal role insociety.20. For the purpose of enhancing participation and capacity-building, young people need tobecome much more directly involved in different institutional structures through internshipsand volunteering in executive bodies, advisory workshops and consultative forums.21. In all regions of the world, the ever increasing involvement of youth as volunteers invarious organizations attests to the desire of young people to become actively involved in socialprocesses. It is incumbent upon States, and indeed it is their responsibility, to marshal thisimmense potential for societal development by creating the conditions for the full participationof young people.22. However, it is not sufficient to foster and promote youth issues and rights, in a more orless declaratory fashion, to satisfy the criteria for youth participation in democratic processes.Many organizations and institutions make a similar mistake when they deem the set of youthproblems as encompassing a narrow field of themes important to youth, such as drugs, alcohol,violence, teenage pregnancy, and even the age-limit for voting in parliamentary elections. Inthis manner, young people are relegated and limited to the small democracy playground. Bydoing so, one neglects the basic tenet of full youth participation in society: where youngpeople are equal partners, and all themes and problems faced by society are their problems aswell. Therefore, they must participate in problem-solving.THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION-THE DIGITAL GENERATION

23. Access to information is equally relevant for the best possible involvement of youngpeople in political processes in society and is extremely vital to full youth participation. Inorder to facilitate the most suitable and comprehensible information, young people should beinvolved in the creation of this information through practical education and participatoryprogrammes in various institutionalized projects. Without complete access to information onall social problems, policies being formulated and considered, and on the political actorsinvolved in decision-making, young people would not be able to genuinely and substantiallyparticipate in any decision-making processes.24. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are therefore a very significant factortoday which influences the political, economic and social spheres. The rapid development ofICTs creates many opportunities such as on-line education, but also poses challenges to thefuller involvement of young people in society. Through the Internet and other technologies,young people today may participate in a multitude of civic activities, using ever more availableinformation and thereby becoming better acquainted with current national, regional and globalissues and even the negative impact of globalization. Thus they can enjoy all the positiveeffects of globalization that are also supported by rapid ICT development.25. However, there is also the increasing negative effect of globalization reflected in growingunemployment, increased market-only philosophy, irresponsible corporate giants, a weakeningpublic sector and the creation of imbalances between private and public interests. Over

200 million young people earn less than a dollar a day, while 515 million earn two dollars orless per day.26. For young people the impacts of globalization go even further beyond economicconsequences, affecting expressions of their participation in society and civic activism ingeneral. For young people, globalization has fomented the expansion of the arena of activismfrom the national to international level, thereby creating something of a paradox. In a desire toactively participate in current processes and themes, young people are facing global questions,and using the Internet to join various initiatives and organizations, and they are very active and,in some instances, quite passionate about anti-capitalist protests, environmental protection andanimal welfare, etc.27. In parallel to extensive activity at the global level, young people are exhibiting passivity atthe national level, because they have no faith in the effectiveness of national socialmechanisms. For many, including youth, the reason lies in the repercussions of globaldevelopment, which has moved today’s initial drivers of political processes from States toglobal compacts such as international commercial agreements between multinationalcorporations and the world’s most highly developed economies. Even though theaforementioned agreements were concluded beyond the realm of national spheres, theireffects on the lives of young people are felt at the level of wages, employment, etc. Althoughvoter apathy in individual countries is not solely the fault of young people, thanks to theaccessibility and inescapable use of ICTs, young people focus on matters which, they believe,they can influence only at the global level.INSTITUTIONALIZING PARTICIPATION-FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PLAYGROUND TO FULLPARTICIPATION

28. In the creation of institutional frameworks for youth activity, three models ofparticipation can be discerned which are simultaneous models for intergenerational relations.29. The first model is the participation of youth in adult-led processes. This model does notmeet the criteria of full youth participation. In most cases, youth participation under this modelis reduced to young people being speakers at various conferences for consultative purposes(event-based participation). The selection of topics and adoption of recommendations orcriticism are beyond the influence of young people.30. Adult-initiated processes constitute a move toward the youth participation approach.These are projects and programmes or organizations initiated by elder authorities, with theirdevelopment and direction left to youth. Examples of such a process are youth councils oryouth parliaments, where young people elect their representatives and determine theirpriorities. Even so, it should be noted that there are cases in which youth parliaments orcouncils serve as a guise for meeting formal democratic standards, while not actuallyrepresenting youth or dealing with their genuine problems. Such traditional forms ofassociation are often reflections of the current political structures of adults, on which they arefinancially dependent, while young people join them for careerist rather than idealisticmotives.31. This is precisely the source of youth disdain for such associations, as their functioningmakes them feel more excluded rather than encouraged to participate, exchange ideas andpromote their own reality and everyday needs. Thus, the view that young people are apathetic

toward politics and civic engagement is actually superficial: the interest exists, but for anentirely different form of expression and participation.32. Genuine empowerment is best manifested in youth-initiated and youth-led processes,such as initiatives, campaigns, strategies and even organizations. Such processes frequently gainthe support of governments and non-governmental organizations due to the enthusiasm andpotential they engender, although they are often not perceived as very serious.33. A broader and more comprehensive approach to distributing participation at levels (theso-called "participatory ladder") defines the lowest level of youth participation as an activitywithout significant participation in programmes and institutions. The second level isconsultation of youth on programme implementation, but without participation in decision-making. This is followed by the level at which youth are empowered to influence decision-making in enabling programmes, although not included at the institutional decision-makinglevel, and the level of youth empowerment in enabling programmes and consultation ininstitutional decision-making. The fifth level foresees management and decision-making byyoung people at the institutional level, while the last and highest form of participation ismanagement of institutions by young people.34. A paradox is frequently encountered when analysing international and national reportsand documents pertaining to youth. Namely, youth participation is presented as a virtuallyfashionable element on the political scene, and many countries have an established legalframework for participation in the form of strategies, plans, policies, etc. However, researchover a longer period has shown a dramatic decline of youth interest in participating in any formof political and social activity. This, however, has been shown as only partially accurate: thelack of interest by young people pertains primarily to traditional forms of social organization.35. Today’s experiences show that the young population is ready to engage in very specificcommunity and youth issues through public debate, signing of petitions, membership in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and participation in demonstrations, provided that there isno pre-determined rigid, formal organization, structure and hierarchy. This form of youthparticipation relies on the use of ICTs, thus enhancing the opportunities for participation by thewidest possible circle of participants and the most equal possible relationship between them.36. The problem remains, however, that although this dimension of participation satisfies,empowers and inspires young people, it does not increase their competence and leaves noroom for concrete and relevant decision-making. Therefore, until youth ideas and needs arechannelled into targeted and feasible activities, with measurable outcomes, all of theaforementioned types of youth engagement will remain a "playground" or "valve" for releasingsocial tensions, potential dissatisfaction with current affairs or demands for social change. Itwould therefore appear that a lesser challenge would be to encourage young people to engagein social activity, rather than attempting to establish channels for direct involvement indecision-making based on the "here and now" principle.37. While involving young people in the decisions that affect society is beneficial from boththe policy-making and youth development perspectives, it is not always effectively practised.The nature of youth engagement ranges from manipulation and tokenism to the assumption offull responsibility for the design and implementation of programmatic responses.

38. One should be aware that the decision-making system is largely in the hands of the"older, mature generation". This is why the support of adults is necessary. This means authenticintergenerational cooperation in the establishment of a cooperative relationship with youngpeople/youth associations. Such a relationship would generate mutual benefits and satisfaction,not only in the social context, but also at the personal level.39. One-off interventions or isolated structures that support youth participation are notsustainable; there must be broader, synergistic feedback mechanisms that include input fromand dialogue between young people, their families, local councils and other communityinstitutions, national governments, and the international community.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENTS40. Parliaments can play a decisive role in facilitating and advancing youth participation. Thisrole of the parliament, although not always recognized, is nevertheless important for a well-functioning democracy. Being the most visible actors in democratic societies, parliaments mustensure that within their different structures and procedures all parts of society are representedand all voices are heard.41. Although there is no official systematic data on young parliamentarians in nationalparliaments, numerous estimates indicate that only between 0 and 2 per cent ofparliamentarians are below the age of 30. Many parliament study-cases on this issue lead tosame conclusion of very significant under-representation of young people in parliaments.42. There are two main reasons for this under-representation of youth. The first one is wide-spread opinion that young people are not capable of making decisions and are not matureenough for such an "important job". That is why, in many countries, minimum voting age is notthe same as minimum age of eligibility to run for office. As a result, even if young peoplewanted to run for elections, by law they are not allowed to.43. The second reason lies in the lack of will of political parties. Regarding the politicalparticipation of youth, political parties are the main recruiters of the political elite. Althoughpolitical parties within their structures have some form of youth organization or wings andnominally support their younger members, senior members of political parties very rarelychoose to hand over power to new and young people.44. Many parliaments around the world organize different forms of participation of youngpeople. By so doing, parliaments are overstating the fact that the voices of young people arenot heard enough in parliament and its deliberations.45. Although they can be seen merely as "democracy playgrounds", youth parliamentsprovide valuable opportunities for young people to develop their political literacy, demonstratetheir knowledge and understanding about social and political issues, practise theirdiscussion/debating skills and represent a point of view on behalf of others. Youth parliamentscan provide a space where young people, in some cases elected by their peers, can representthe views of others and see those views acted upon.46. In addition, parliamentarians also can promote youth participation by helping to create asafe, protective and non-manipulative environment. In some parliaments youth voices are partof the legislative and parliamentary process by means of young people’s participation in

48. The universally accepted principles of human rights have set the standard for equalitybetween women and men. This concept extends to the recognition that girls and youngwomen are unique individuals with rights and responsibilities similar to those of boys andyoung men.49. There are some specific circumstances that distinguish the lives of young women fromthose of young men: many young women are relegated to the home and unpaid labour, insome societies young women are viewed mainly as "reproductive labourers", they have fewerrights to political and economic participation than boys and young men, and they still livemostly in the private sphere, as the public sphere remains largely a male domain. In each ofthese spheres, some girls and young woman are far more vulnerable than others due to thestructural lack of resources, primarily in terms of education, vocational training, health care andhousing.50. Stereotyping and discrimination prevent girls and young women from participating fullyin society. In order to practise equality, young people should be aware of the harmful impactof gender barriers imposed by cultural beliefs, role perceptions and traditional practices indifferent cultures and societies.51. Efforts should be undertaken to build the capacity of young women so that they canovercome the social, cultural and economic barriers to full participation in society. Young menneed gender-sensitive orientation to nurture their gender-consciousness.52. In spite of this, however, there are new levels of individualization requiring youngwomen to resolve the conflict between the often irreconcilable goals of occupationalcompetitiveness and motherhood; however, they are well aware that they have more optionsand opportunities than their mothers did and do not wish to turn back the clock.CITIZENS OF TODAY-LEADERS OF TOMORROW

53. The effective engagement of youth as equal partners requires recognition of the rights ofall young people to participate at all levels of decision-making and to make productive use oftheir knowledge, perspectives and experience.54. Youth are not a passive group waiting for resources and opportunities to be handed tothem. In all regions, they want to make a better life for themselves. However, lack of adequateinvestment in youth, challenges related to globalization and other changes in the worldeconomy, as well as social and cultural constraints, are contributing to the currentlyunfavourable context for youth development and participation. An enabling environment foryouth development and participation is urgently needed if youth are to attain their fullpotential and contribute to national development.

55. Effective youth participation requires fundamental changes in the way society perceivesyoung people. In order to introduce such changes, it is necessary to provide adequate funding,introduce innovative ways of spreading information, provide training to facilitateintergenerational collaboration and create organizational structures that welcome new voices.Strategies for youth participation must move away from ad hoc, activity-based approaches andfocus instead on making youth input a central component of social structures, institutions andprocesses.56. While the importance of participation and its role in a young person's life has notdiminished, its nature has changed. Youth participation today tends to be issue-specific andservice-oriented. Increasingly reluctant to join formal organizations or councils, many youngpeople prefer to take advantage of open opportunities created by communities and institutionsto become involved in addressing the issues that concern them. In line with this trend, newparticipatory structures have evolved and they tend to be based on collaborative networks andcommon interests. To ensure that effective participation is an option for all young people,concrete efforts must be made to address obstacles such as cultural norms that favourhierarchical relationships, economic circumstances that preclude participation in anythingother than income-generating activities, and the lack of access to the information and skillsnecessary for active political involvement.57. What young people need is an enabling environment that provides opportunities forthem to be seen and heard. Giving youth greater visibility and a role in the developmentprocess strengthens their resolve to contribute to the advancement of a world in which theyare equal stakeholders – a world for which they will be responsible for many decades to come.58. Very often, youth are principally regarded as "adults in the making"; the emphasis beingon "becoming" rather than "being". But, young men and women are not just our future; theyare also our present.