COPENHAGEN, 12 August 2023 – On the occasion of UN International Youth Day, this year held under the theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World,” OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders celebrated the vital contributions that young people are making towards building a sustainable and equitable world for present and future generations.
“The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly remains committed to promoting youth engagement and participation, recognizing that the voices and insights of young people enrich our collective decision-making processes,” said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma (Finland). “As parliamentarians, we are dedicated to providing platforms for young individuals to express their ideas, concerns, and solutions, ensuring that their perspectives are integrated into legislative and policy discussions at all levels.”
“Our Assembly is committed to fostering an environment where youth are active partners in the quest for a sustainable world,” said Chair of the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians David Stögmüller (Austria). “Through the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians, we are dedicated to amplifying the role of youth in our parliamentary work, advocating for policies that reflect their aspirations, and nurturing their potential to be agents of positive change.”
Farah Karimi (Netherlands), who presented a resolution on youth engagement to the OSCE PA’s Annual Session last month, said: “Young people play an indispensable role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future and we need to recognize the urgency of equipping young individuals with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to address the pressing environmental challenges that our planet faces. The resolution on Future Generations in our recently adopted Vancouver Declaration emphasizes that youth should not be left to take full responsibility and bear the burden of advocating for future generations by themselves, but should rather be given a role in making decisions about the future.”
The OSCE PA has devoted increasing attention to youth issues in recent years, adopting resolutions at the 2019, 2018 and 2022 Annual Sessions on the role of youth in fighting climate change, fostering peace and security through youth engagement, and the importance of integrating youth for inclusive and democratic societies.
