The YWCA of Palestine International Youth Day Statement 2023
On the 12th of August every year, youth around the world have been
commemorating their International Day, which was endorsed by the United Nations
General Assembly. The resolution, adopted in 1998, has brought youth issues to
the attention of the international community. It also champions the potential
of youth as partners in today’s global society.
This day provides the opportunity for the youth to celebrate their
voices, actions, and initiatives, and to publicize their meaningful
participation.
Different events are taking place worldwide on this day for raising
awareness on the importance of youth participation in political, economic, and
social processes.
The theme of International Youth Day 2023
is “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”. Today, the
world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally
sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to
the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on
the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge,
abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a
sustainable and resource-efficient society”.
Recently, YWCA Palestine held its second national conference for
the youth under the framework of UNSCR 2250, and was entitled “Palestinian
Youth Deserve Freedom and Just Peace”. The conference aimed at reaching a
number of applicable recommendations that would promote and protect the rights
of the youth, and call on the government to adopt policies inclusive of youth
in accordance with the resolution and other relevant resolutions.
And while we strive as an organization that works to empower young
men and women economically, socially and politically, support their initiatives
and projects, and provide them with various skills and develop them, including
green skills to achieve sustainability, the Palestinian youth is still facing
difficult and complex conditions with the continuation of the long-term
colonial Occupation. This requires serious international efforts to resolve it
radically and to comply with the International Humanitarian Law that calls to
end the Occupation and allow people to live in peace, justice, and dignity
everywhere.
Several reputed and influential, Palestinian and international
human rights organizations, even Israeli organizations, and the UN special
rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian
territory, have described the current situation as an “apartheid”. Apartheid is
considered a crime against humanity under international law and is in its
nature in direct conflict with universal human rights and the premise of
equality. The Israeli military aggression poses a massive obstacle to
developing human potential and prevents the basic right for Palestinians to
live in freedom, dignity, and peace
Moreover, military occupation, colonization and the discriminatory
policies therein have detrimental effects on Palestinian youth, whose safety,
security, and mental health, and overall well-being are constantly under direct
threat.
Despite all these challenges, the young Palestinian people are full
of potential; they are able to withstand the obstacles and achieve success.
On the occasion of the “International Youth Day”, the YWCA calls
the international and human rights organizations and global community to
provide protection for the Palestinian people, including youth and children,
and to end Occupation as a first step.
On the national level, we demand the State of Palestine to take the
necessary measures to: preserve freedom of opinion and expression, adhere to
the rules of the Palestinian Basic Law, build state institutions that are based
on human rights principles, and respect the international covenants to which
the state of Palestine has consented to. In addition, we demand increasing the
active participation of youth in official political positions to ensure more
balanced political representations. We affirm the importance of implementing
international resolutions, particularly UNSCR 2250, which relates to the Youth,
Peace and Security Agenda.
We will continue to move forward towards achieving the goals and
ambitions of Palestinian youth. We also affirm our commitment to support and
empower young men and women, and raise their awareness on political, economic,
and social rights through our various programs and in cooperation with all
organizations, commissions, and coalitions that advocate for the protection of
youth rights at the international, regional, and national levels.
From Palestine, Happy International Youth day