RESOLUTION-REVOLUTION: YOUTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS!

 On 30^th June 2016 The Human Right Council, during the 32^nd session, agenda item 3, Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, has adopted by consensus (approved without a vote) the draft resolution A/HRC/32/L.1, entitled YOUTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

His Excellency Mr. Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of El Salvador has presented the draft proposal on behalf a core-group of States, namely Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Tunisia. This initiative underscores the need to consider youth as development partners, bringing new ideals and proactive actions.

“Today will mark the history of the Council when we adopt for the first time a resolution on youth. This is an important matter. It is key for all of us, particularly in a world that is ever-changing and faces different challenges and threats, political violence, economic instability all of this puts youth in a situation of vulnerability.” – Ambassador Martelli said.

Co-sponsored by156 States, the resolution literally decides to convene during the HRC session to be held in September a panel discussion on “Youth and Human Rights”, “the objective of which will be to identify challenges, best practices and lessons learned in the exercise of human rights by young people, as well as relevant opportunities for the empowerment of youth in the exercise of their rights”. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will also prepare a report on the panel discussion and submit it to the Human Right Council at its 35^th session (June 2017).

IIMA and VIDES always believed that young people are called to be initiators of change in society and, accordingly, have strongly advocated in the past years to achieve this outcome believing that the full implementation of youth rights is necessary to adequate prepare them to assure their role of leadership and responsibility in society. Therefore, our hope is that the Panel discussion will create a momentum to effectively address human rights issues pertaining youth to bring true and positive societal changes.

Always in first line to enable youth to fulfill their potential, IIMA and VIDES will continue to ensure youth voice to be heard.

In English:

http://webtv.un.org/search/ahrc32l.1-vote-item3-41st-meeting-32nd-regular-session-of-human-rights-council/5009164444001?term=A/HRC/32/L.1

In the original language:

http://webtv.un.org/search/ahrc32l.1-vote-item3-41st-meeting-32nd-regular-session-of-human-rights-council/5009164443001?term=A/HRC/32/L.1