Under-18 zone

Young people speak their mind in advance of the Special Session on Children

Voices of Youth, the UNICEF web based youth rights project, has been hosting a discussion on issues that matter to young people to provide space in which young people, themselves, can shape discussions and thinking on issues they deem to be the most important.

While the messages are rich, the following themes emerged:

• The importance of education
• The need for protection against war, abuse and exploitative labour practices
• The desire for meaningful participation and involvement in decision-making processes
• The need for adults to show more respect for young people

The paragraphs that follow summarize some of their key ideas as well as contributions in their own words. For more information or to follow the discussion more closely, go to the Voices of Youth web site.

Education is necessary for success

“Educate every child on earth. Through education, we can improve the life of every child and offer to all the children with a democratic way, opportunities of self-awareness and real sensitivity of the world around them. Educate the children means that we create social conditions where every child’s gift can make a difference. Children are fond of knowledge because through knowledge they can offer innovations and they are able to undertake initiatives for changing the world.”
Nicolis, 22, Greece

Many young people listed education as not only key to breaking the cycle of poverty but necessary for success. They called for giving equal, free, and fair access to education for all children in every country. Young people said that to deny any one person an education is detrimental to their development and an “inhuman act.”

Young people see education as a way to instil a sense of self respect, confidence, courage and responsibility. Some mentioned that discrimination based on gender and ethnic origin is a problem in the classroom and that it needs to be addressed.

One participant summed up the importance of education by saying that “a lack [of] knowledge is deadly.”

Children don’t start wars but suffer the consequences

“Our children should not be fighting our wars. They did not start the conflicts, why should they be a part of it? Hasn't anyone learned that fighting doesn’t get you anywhere? Looking at history, there have been numerous wars. Okay, so you win a war, you get what you wanted. But, you now have more people against you and you're back at square one.”
Jaymie, 16, USA

The protection issues on young people’s minds range from conflict and drugs, to abuse and HIV/AIDS. The issues mentioned most frequently were protection from war, abuse and exploitative labour practices.

Young people highlighted the increasing use of religion to justify military action and violence as a danger.

“I feel today's young generation are being forced into a world filled with regionalism and religionism,” said B. Chinmayi, 16, India. “The myth that only terror can make them noticed has blindfolded them. I would like to spread the message that only love and humanity can triumph thus I hope to make this world a better place for all the young generation who think they have no future.”

Many saw the irony that children were not the ones starting wars, but they have to suffer through them, try to survive and live with the devastation for the rest of their lives. One young person said that children should be worrying about getting their homework done, not whether they are going to survive through the night.

Young people also saw the irony of abuse cases in which much more is done to protect the identity of the abuser than of the child who has been abused. They linked exploitative labour practices to abuse and slavery, suggesting more be done to prevent big corporations and others from stealing their childhood. Another suggested using the media more effectively to investigate and expose big companies that use child labour. These comments suggest that with respect to child labour, young people focus mainly on large companies and not on other forms such as domestic work, small businesses, or agricultural labour.

Children have a voice, we must hear what they say

“Everyone of us should reach out to all children. They need people who will love and listen to them, in order for them to go on to learn things that they will use in the future.”
Russel,19, the Philippines

Young people agreed that they should be involved in making decisions on issues that are likely to affect them now and in the future. They also saw themselves as best placed to communicate information to their peers and key to developing and implementing youth-friendly programmes.

Some also mentioned that many children are unaware of their responsibilities as citizens and do not see themselves as future leaders. This is due to the lack of exposure to global issues and to low expectations on the part of adults. It was suggested that to make progress, future generations must understand what they have “lying in their hands.”

One participant simply stated that children have a voice so we must hear what they say. Another mentioned that young people’s participation has so far meant participation of “good” kids and that youth with “bad habits” are not involved in projects when it is, in fact, these young people who are most in need of support.

Don’t throw away our words…

“A country without young people is a country without life.”
Gustave, 22, Burundi

Young people mentioned that there is too much talk and even when they are consulted on issues, their words are just thrown away and actions are taken irrespective of what they say and feel. There was also a feeling that the children and youth of the world are taken for granted without proper representation. They cited the fact that many times people representing youth are not even youths themselves. As a solution, young people suggest that adults and young people sit together and systematically plan solutions to social problems.