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Youth Mobilization in Support of a Strong and Democratic United Nations Youth Mobilization in Support of a Strong and Democratic United Nations
Resolution Adopted by the NGO Plenary of the
World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, Braga, Portugal, 6 August, 1998.We representatives of youth NGOs from all continents meeting in Braga, Portugal, August 2-7, 1998, express our conviction that a strong and democratic United Nations, equipped with the necessary resources, is indispensable for the resolution of the urgent problems facing a world in deep social, economic and political crisis and for the building of a more just and equittable world.
We strongly believe in the UN Charter principles of equal rights of all nations large and small and call for the strict application of international law.
The need for democratic global institutions is greater than ever. At a time of rapid globalization of the economy, humanity faces challenges that can only be solved at the international level. This is the time for more funds, not less to be devoted to global peace and justice, to sustained development and growth for the impoverished nations, environmental sustainability, equality, human rights, and the well being of all.
Great potential resources for development exist in a world where wealth is being accumulated in a few hands to an extent greater than ever before and the gap between poor and rich is increasing. The global economy is generating more wealth, more production, more human labour than ever before in history. We must find the means to tap these gigantic resources for the common purpose of humankind.
We call on all countries to urgently fulfill the 0,7 percent target of official development assistance and on the UN to raise new and additional resources for development by promoting and implementing a system for global taxation and fees as proposed by the major studies and commissions on UN reform. (for example a tax on currency transactions or on airtickets).
To strengthen trust and confidence in the United Nations among the younger generation measures should be taken to democratize inequitable institutions such as the the Security Council, the World Bank and IMF and strengthen the guidance and role of the General Assembly, representing all member states, on all major issues.
We are alarmed over the financial crisis of the UN caused by the non-payment of 1,6 billion US dollars in current and back dues by the USA and call on the USA to immediately settle its debt to the UN withouth conditions. As young people we strongly condemn using the withholding of dues to blackmail the United Nations to reduce its role and Charter based policies and programmes.
We call on all youth NGOs to participate in and support the world wide actions during the 1998 UN week in October 1998 to protest the UN financial crisis.
We believe that now is the time to decisively strengthen the United Nations, in particular in view of the needs of the 85 percent of the world youth living in developing countries. Young people must be recognized and supported as active participants in the dialogue on the role and future of the United Nations and their contributions listened to. We call for a global mobilization of young people and youth NGOs for a strong, democratic and equitable United Nations, fully equipped to meet the great challenges and needs of the New Millenium.
(The resolution was proposed by the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations, All Africa Student Union and Pan-African Youth Movement.)
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