On Wednesday, October 17th, I had the opportunity to attend (and participate in) the presentation of the Youth Report companion of the Machel Study 10-Year Strategic Review to the UN. The Youth Report is a culmination of work by GYAN in partnership with UNICEF, UNFPA, and other NGO partners that presents the voices of youth from conflict-affected areas. Their thoughts and ideas were collected as a key contribution to the Machel Review through a series of focus group discussions and an online questionnaire. Capturing the voices of some 1700 young people, the group discussions included children and young people who have experienced conflict themselves, with many of the participants speaking about how their own lives have been affected. The report itself is written in first person, much different from any other UN report, and highlights significant elements of a child's life in conflict.

The Machel 10-Year Strategic Review is an assessment of the work done since the initial study of the effect of armed conflict on children by Graca Machel. This study brought about the position of the Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG-CAAC), and several intiatives by UN agencies, NGOs, governments and regional organizations for concrete action. The 10-Year Strategic Review provides the findings of the current SRSG-CAAC, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, during several visits to conflict areas, and including recommendations for future action as well. One important suggestion is the participation of youth in decision-making. The presentation of the Youth Report is an important element in the Strategic Review, and reinforces the need for youth voices in the ongoing discussion on armed conflict.

The Youth Report was presented by four young people from conflict-affected areas, and included presentations from the sponsoring member state, Norway, the SRSG-CAAC, Radhika Coomaraswamy, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Hilde Johnson, and the Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, Ms. Mari Simonen. Well-attended despite the conflicting Stand-Up Against Poverty! program that same morning, the moving presentation featured readings from the report by the youth participants, and a corresponding slideshow. Copies of the Youth Report were available and the young people had the chance to meet and take photos with the high-level representatives from the UN organizations.

However, the difficulties and problems facing the presentation of the Youth Report may be more evocative than what was actually said and presented. The team working on the presentation faced several obstacles; first and foremost, they were barred from presenting to the General Assembly alongside of the Strategic Review. In addition, the difficulties in bringing youth from conflict countries was indicative of the refusal by many states to acknowledge the significance of youth voices at the UN. It was quite disheartening to learn of young people refused visas to travel to New York and present their report. In addition, the work to censor the words of the young people demonstrated the inability of UN organizations and delegates to truly listen to these voices. The demands presented at the end of the reading, a crucial element of the Youth Report, unfortunately, will go unheeded as long as their voices remain suppressed.


Read the Youth Report, and endorse the demands of the young people by signing the online petition.