UN Third World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance Second Global Preparatory

UN Third World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance Second Global Preparatory Meeting

Youth Caucus Intervention

1 June 2001

We of the Youth Caucus would first like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you for allowing us this opportunity to address you this morning. It is a joy for us to have the assurance and opportunity to have the concerns and voices of young people around the world heard and taken seriously.

Since our inception as a voice for young people, during the first Global Prepcom in May 2000, we have pushed for the inclusion of a youth representative on the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs and have been steadfast in our commitment to establish and develop a space for Youth to be full participants in the WCAR planning and implementation. Ultimately, our aim is to use the World Conference in Durban to gain momentum in establishing an effective global network of Youth organizations, groups and individuals working together to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

We have submitted formal wording to be included in both the Declaration and the Plan of Action, which outlines our positions and addresses some of our concerns as young people throughout the world. This as follows:

We support the inclusion of paragraphs OP9bis2 and OP9bis3 on page 27, under the section entitled "Youth".

Furthermore, we request that the language of multiple forms of discrimination be mainstreamed to include age, gender, HIV/AIDS, sexual orientation, sexual violence during armed conflict and state of health.

And finally, to remove the brackets from paragraphs OP23 under the section entitled "Youth" so that it reads in full:

We also recognize that international and national exchange and dialogue [among youth] / [at all levels, in particular educational institutions, religious authorities and youth associations], and the development of a global network among youth are important and fundamental elements in building intercultural understanding and respect and will contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Regional Conference, Santiago, Regional Conference, Tehran.

In closing, would also like to reiterate the High Commissioner’s request that all states provide funding for youth scholarships to participate in the Youth Summit, NGO Forum and the World Conference in Durban, South Africa this year. Thank you for your time and consideration.