Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is due to stories like these that I have and will continue to advocate for an increased role for youth in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and that of their community. Today’s generation of youth is the largest the world has ever seen. And young people are the large majority of the population in all countries affected by armed conflict. Libya is no exception to this trend, with nearly two-thirds of the population under the age of 35. 50% between 15 and 35.
No country can emerge from conflict without the support of the youth. In 2015, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2250, acknowledging the role of youth in peace and security. This was overdue! The Secretary General appointed Youth Envoy Ahmed Hindawi. A much welcome and needed initiative.
I am about to appoint a colleague as “youth ambassador” of the mission; a young woman, who will liaise with the youth groups of Libya, advocate for the role of youth and help in building partnerships between international and regional initiatives which promote the development of the Libyan youth.
Young people are not only the future. They are the present of a country. The role of youth in contributing to peace and security is vital for any nation emerging from conflict. For this reason the UN urges all its member states to increase youth participation in decision making at all levels.
To this end, I have three messages:
Firstly: I will advocate for a greater role for youth in the decision-making processes in Libya. The dialogue and reconciliation groups are a step in the right direction. I would like to see more of these initiatives. We have to support them politically if requested, as well as financially.
Initiatives that allow youth:
to have a say on how government can become more effective;
to have a say on how laws can be revised;
to have a say on how national reconciliation can succeed, from the ground up.
I would like to support the mobilisation of youth committees to create discussion forums to debate openly the issues that must be addressed in the next election.
And when we come to those elections, I believe youth should have a fair opportunity to be elected. Let the youth compete alongside their elders, and leave it to the voters to decide.