Statement by the Swedish Youth Delegate to the 74th Session of the Third Committee

Mr. President,  distinguished delegates, fellow youth delegates,

Today I speak on behalf of over 700 000 youth, engaged in over 80 youth organisations in Sweden.

As a global community, we can’t solve any of the challenges we are facing without the active engagement of civil society. There can be no development without civil society, and there can be no civil society without the active engagement of young people. But the democratic space for civil society is under attack. Shrinking civic space in no longer an abnormality, it has become a global trend. Legislation to restrict rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression have multiplied, and access to funding for civil society organisations has diminished. Actors in development co-operation, human rights defenders and staff working within civil society are subject to acts of violence, threat and murder. Many states in this very room are responsible. We, the youths, can no longer tolerate this development.

Political rights and civil liberties are declining on a global scale. The shrinking civic space makes the work of youth civil society organisations, social movements, young human rights defenders, and activists more difficult, dangerous and in some cases even life-threatening. As a result of increasingly hostile conditions for civil, political and social engagement across the globe, youths  are prevented from being agents of social change. Civil society organisations, including youth organisations, perform a number of functions that are necessary in promoting and safeguarding basic human rights and democracy. In fact, an open civil society is one of the most important safeguards against tyranny, oppression, and other anti-democratic tendencies. 

As proven during the recent climate strikes, and by the growing mobilization of the youth civil society, the global youth movement is  strongly committed to some of the most vital questions of our time. We are sending a clear message that enough is enough, and that we won’t be silent bystanders when it comes to our futures.

A society that doesn’t place young people’s participation at its core, will design faulty policies and visions that don’t bear in mind the perspectives of a crucial part of the population. Youths should be included in all levels of decision-making. Young people should be subjects, not objects of development. In the present, not the future.

The fact that youths are prevented from being active members of society puts our greatest chance at working together to protect people and planet– in jeopardy. It is therefore concerning that governments and large organisations must be constantly reminded that civic action and participation is not an enemy to progress, rather, it is necessary. If the global community is to survive and prosper, then governments must acknowledge that many of the challenges they and their nations face respect no borders, and that youth civil society is not the enemy.

Now is the time for governments to ensure that global youth movement has  the security and resources that allows it to do its work unimpeded. It is time to treat youths as partners and initiators, not just beneficiaries of development. Importantly, groups most at risk of marginalisation need targeted measures to ensure that they are consulted and heard. National governments must develop and implement policies that provide an enabling legal environment for civic action and guarantee the rights to freedom of association, expression, assembly and information. Governments must also ensure space in political processes for inclusive citizen participation. It is crucial that regional and global actors and institutions from the global South and North actively uphold norms regarding  civic space and strengthen accountability for government commitments to civic space.

There can be no development without civil society, and there can be no civil society without the active engagement of young people.

Thank you for listening.