(ANS – Geneva) –  Next Monday, 4 June, in the context of the 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council (27 May – 15 June) at the Palais des Nations, the Office for Human Rights of the International Institute of Mary Help of Christians (IIMA), VIDES International and the Uruguay Permanent Mission to the United Nations, will stage a parallel event entitled “Making young people responsible: what strategies?”

This event will consist of a presentation of good practices already in place. It will be preceded by a practical-theoretical course intended for those who are working in the area.

The objective of IIMA and VIDES International is to put pressure on governments to ask themselves what they are doing to acknowledge and support from a legislative point of view the transfer of power to young people and to finds ways of making them responsible.  The young should be encouraged to become promoters of development and peace in their own countries, but governments must resist the temptation to use the young people.

A novel aspect of this approach is the collaboration with the Uruguay Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The event is also co-sponsored by the Holy See, by France and Costa Rica, by the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), and by the Platform for the Right to Education.

The round table will be chaired by Laura Dupuy, Ambassador of the Uruguay Mission. Speakers will include:

• Nelson Loustaunauil, Uruguayan Labour Secretary on “Young People and Work”;
• Christian Guillermet-Fernández, Ambassador of Costa Rica, on “Young People and Communication”;
• José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Vice-Director General for Policies of the International Labour Organization (ILO);
• Imma Guerras Delgado, of OHCHR, on “The Rights of Young People”;
• Christian Courtis, also of OHCHR, on Education;
• Maria D’Onofrio, who will present the point of view of IIMA and of VIDES;
• Mons. Silvano Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See;
• Sr Molly Kaniampady, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
• Fr Thomas Vattathara, Salesian Provincial of Guwahati, India, and National President of the Conference of Religious of India.

The last two speakers, both Indian, will speak of their experience in the education of vulnerable young people, of different religious and ethnic backgrounds, helping them to live together peacefully and teaching respect for human rights.

Sr Maria Grazia Caputo, representative of the IIMA Office for Human Rights at the United Nations, had this to say: “We are very pleased that this event has been organized. It is not easy for a Permanent Mission to collaborate with a voluntary group in organizing a parallel event. We are the first to propose this topic of young people, those between 15 and 24, almost always neglected when attention is given to children and to adults.

And yet, this is a topic often supported by the Secretary General which has entrusted it to the High Commission for Human Rights, Certainly it will eventually be taken up by some government. It is important then that the Institute of the FMA and the Salesian Congregation are the first to promote this action, and that it be known, right from the beginning, that we are there for the young. 

Published 31/05/2013