A/40/PV.78 General Assembly

The General Assembly will nw consider the fourth report of the General Committee, which has been circulated in documnt A/40/25O/Add. 3. In paragraph 2 (a) of the report, the General Committee reccmmends the inclusion in the agenda of the cuxrent session Of an additional item entitled ‘%ternational relief to Colo&ian. May I take it that the General Assembly decides to include that item in it& agenda? It was so decided. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish)% Consequently, thib afternoon the Assembly will take up as its first item this question, the urgent nature of which is a matter of whiah all representatives are aware as a result of the eruption of the volcano Nevada de1 Ruiz. I hope the discussion will not take very long and that we will be able to adopt the relevant draft resolution. I should Iike to thank the Assembly for permitting this brief interruption of our debate on International Youth Year. UNITED NATIONS WWU3 CDNFERENCR FOR TUB SNTlXRN&TIOML YOUTH YEN3 (PLSIARY NRETINOS m3mm M POLSCIES AND PzUmwms RELATING ‘IX3 YOUTR IN ACUXDANC8 WITB BB;SOI&lTXON 39122 OF 23 NOVEMEB 1984) AGENDA IT= 89 AW 95 (continued) INTEfWATKWAL YtlUTN YEAR: PARTLCIPATION, DEVEUXJHENT, pEAC%; RE1py)RT OF TRR THIRD iiztBml(TT8E (A/40/855) poL1cIE8 AND PRm RELATING TO YOUTU; IUSWT OF THE ‘MiIRD aotrFlITTEE (A/46/856) MP. KARANDA (Rwanda) (interpretation ftcm French) : On behalf of the delegation of Rwanda and of my Goveenmmt, alloa me to express our deep condolences to the delegation and people of Colombia on the disaster which has just stricken Colorpbia - a second disaster, barely a fortnight after the attack on the Coloarbian Court of .Tustice, In which many people died. Yesterday the volcano Nevado de1 Ruiz eruped and many people have been killed. International Youth Year, with its slogan YParticipation, DeveloPm3r, Peace,” is coming to an end. Its record has been a positive one. The prcblems of young people have been dealt with in discusssions among Governments and among young people themselves. There can be no doubt that international Youth Year has mde it possible for both groups to be awe aware of the pOlitiCal, ~CWIO~~C, social and cultut;pl contributions which young pe&@ can atake to the development of our societies. This greater awareness is itself a subetantial result. We have thus gone beyond the conservative attitude of certain adults who previously considered young people to be merely making demands or challenging institutions, and to be irresponsible reformists or simply trouble-makers. This conservative attitude led to unthinking judgements on the “natUKa1” tandenCie6 of young people throughout hfctoKy and at all levels of society; sonetimc6 this wa8 based on isolatd facts, but it resulted in a defensive KcaCtiQn (MC. Kabnnda, Kwanda) among young pmple, and w&m thigh defensiveceactfon beoome.s collectAver confrontition between young people and adult;s, or between young people and Governlnants, becomes in-vi table. Thae responsible for this refuse to pay the proper attention to young people; it is the society of th-e who wish to protect the hallowed order, the political,, economic, social or cultural mestablisbnaent”, as the case my be, OP all of these at the same time. Hhen they are not understood or feel snubbed, young people attempt to make themselves heard by other.opeans and the results are often to be deplored. Each generation can count its martyrs, it is true, and conflicts between genecations have pro&ced a sizable number of martyrs in good causes throughout his tony. If conflicts between gsnerations ace ineviable in view of the nature of society and the differenae between the scales of values involved, nevertheless everything should be done to reduce these oonfliats to the minimum. when considered pcopocly, the claims and criticisms uttered by young people often refleat deep aspirations which are not being satisfied by societies or Governments; they often have a basis of truth , crtiich can be a soucae of inspiration for adults, particularly for those in positions of authority. The policies of adults and our economic orientation, indeed OUT institutiona, sometimes require new light and fresh blood. (Mr. Kabanda, Rwanda) When they enjoy the confidence of the adults and have the wherewithal, Young people can often show that they can ba useful to themselves and to society. fnternational Youth Year,‘with its theme ‘Participation, Development, Peace”, will have made it possible for UIO to recognize thie fact. it ie not my intention to defend young people in the face of conservatism and the outdated attitudes of certain adults but to emphasize the complementarity of relations that should exist between generations. While one can say that adults are now more aware of the role young people can play in national life, it can also be said that young people for their part - thanks especially to the theme of the Year, mParticipation, Development, Peace” - have come to understand that they cannot build upon the ashes of the past or t.he present but, rather, that they must draw maximum benefit from the wise counsels and advice of adults according to the old saying: experience is the mother of science, Thus bath will be working to build solid natians the structures of which will be renewed as its component segments are regenerated. AQ a member of the advisory Committee for the International Youth Year, Rwanda ha6 stepped up its activities to intensify ard diversify its actions for young people. fn spite of the inherent difficulties in the limited resources at our disposal, we can affirm that the record is positive and that follow-up action is assured. Young people have been involved at all levels, Those who are still in secondary, higher or university level training institutfons, those who live in urban centres or in rural areas - all have in one way or another been involved in the activities scheduled for International Youth Yeas in the design, planning and execution cf project5 or programmes, Young people’s workshops have been set up around the country to supplement already existing facilities. Char itable inetitutions and non-governmental organizations have provided support for youth activities in rural areuse. ainch it is the young peoplg f@ themareas who aye_ the mcmt numerous and whore problem8 are the moat complex. St is fitting to notehere that young pecqle under 25 in Rwmda make up lpore than half the total population of 6 million. kpproximtedy 40 per cent of thgae young pewle are at sdool, other8 are eplployed in the public or~private sector, in eduaation or in busine88. But the bulk of the young people, who have not been to s&m01 of: have left schoof, are living in rural areae. The school population doe5 not in reality=pose a problem, since they have the facilities that enable them to prepare to meet the responsibility they will have to bear in the slociety of the future. The contributions of students in secondary, higher and univereity learning institutions on the occasion of International Youth Year have shown thsrt young people have a wealth of imagination and can produce commendab1e initiatives. Over and above their 5chool and aaademio activities, many of them have concerned themeelveo with problem of the environment: the protection of nature and hygienic conditions. Others have been involved in literacy campaigns to help young people vho have not been to school while other5 still are helping in activities for young people in the rural areas. During the holidays the majority of young p@ojde remain with their parente; they work in the field5 or they observe their parents who are in businetrs in orde: to learn and familiarire themselve5. To direct the activities of the rural youth population, the Government has set up in each regional and local administration offiaiale eotperienced in question5 concerning young people, particularly agricultural co-operatives or arts and craft, not to mention leieore activitiee. Young people in the rural area5 are active in the fiqht again& deforestation. This is a phenmenon that has become widespread in Rwanda, as in several other Afn ican countries, ft should be noted here that in 1976 the Government set up a Wr. Kabanda, Rwanda) ‘Wational Day of the Tree”. Thus the last day of October each year is devoted to involving all the citizens of Rwanda, mm and ~4~en, in planting at least c “..J tree in their field or in areaa set aside for convaunity participation. This reforestation canylaign is gradually spreading, and we are happy to mention that the diplomatic corps accredited to Rwanda has voluntarily associated itself with this nation& effort to aombat deforeetation. We very much appreciate this significant gesture of international mlidarity. During International Youth Year - aPartiaipation, Develwent, Peace* - the Ministry of Youth and the co-operative movement orqanized, inter alfa, competitions for out young people. The results have been outstanding. The competitions were in the fields of agriculture, handParafts, culture and sports. The best results were rewarded by prizes that xre aa varied as they were interesting. In the agricultural sphere - for Rwanda’s economy is primarily agricultural - the objective of the competition wae to inspire young people to produce more and thus contribute to an increase in national production, above all during International Youth Year. All young people both individually and in groups have been involved. An exhibit-sale of non-perishable products was organized with a triple objective in mind: to show other young people, parents and the public at large the fruits of the efforts of youth in the agriculturaf and handicraft areas1 to allow the competitors to sell their products ; and to award prizes to the best producers.* The Ministry of Youth and the co-operative movement organized with young wople during International Youth Year folklore activities designed to stress the &auty and variety of the culture of Rwanda. Selective groups on the local level went to the major cities of the regions to receive prizes rewarding the best groups, * hr. Agius Malta), Vice-President, took the Chair. Tbera-.erist An t&wan& a national balaat wndl private ballet groups brfngi&j WWthWywngmgQOPla and adultu ofTboth OBYWJ who rmrruttimme go on tours abroad : (18 pact of exchange programw with ymug people of cMie& countrielu. Itired, partiufpatim should not be 1inrLteBl to locals regional or even national levels but uhould aUbo ewirt in a bro&c& framework. ThutY, by making Lt poeaible for our pmg people to Oraterise with young people of other countrfee, we are cont<r,i&utin9 to the erastion of LI ware open arsdl mote united world where fraternity-arrong pwplea rind the idccml cf peace ourpt prevail. A great spirit of umWvity wlpfp olaown in a 1itsr:etute competition which ~8 besun among the young people aa early ao April 1984. (Hr. Kabanda, Rwanda) This competition to& place in the national language or in French, ;urd was designed to eXtO1 the tripartite theme of the International Youth Year: 'Pax ticipa tion, Developmnt , PeaceY. TQ enmare spontaneity and creativity each young competitor had to choose the Literary genre which mst suited him. The results mure than met our hopes; they were simply outstanding. A nusic mupetition was also organised in &ril 1984, and the prize-winning songs on the theme of the yeaa, "Participation, Development, Peace", were not only appropriately rewarded but also broadcat on the national radio stations, and that was done throughout International Youth Year. Sport, that favourite activity of young people, was given high priority, and the Department of Youth took pains to act as a trail-blaeer by introducing CoUIpletely new Spcrt!3 disciplines, in particular those in which adults could participate as well. Mass sports were given priority. Finally, Youth Day this year coincided with the harvest holiday, which, in Rwanda is celebrated on 1 August each year and has been for three years now. On that day, 1 August, parents aAd children share at home the traditional offerings and, as a gesture of gratitude, the children offer to their parents the first fruits of their harvest or of their work. While ensuring promtion and encouragement of the activities of young people, the Government of Wanda is aware of the danger of turning young people into an isolated group as regards development. The Government, duly taking into account the nature aAd structure of our society, is asking regional and national planners to integrate the activities of young people in development into overall progtaRmles * That will allow us to avoid or reduce to a minimum any discrepancies betreen various sectors of the population thus resulting in a single people, a single faith, a single programe, This program, as regards Rwanda, can be (Mr. Kabanda, Ruanda) suwmd up as follows: better food; better clothirqt better housing2 and better ppportunitfea HOP phySical, intellectual and rroral development. Wether we axe dealing vi. th yo~m people enrolled in schools,- ~young people working in public agenaies, young people in the fob market or engaged in professional activities, whether we are speaking of rural wockers or the unemployed in urban centreel everyone nw has beoome aware or is becoming aware of the problem of hi6) own group. But. noue of these problens can be resolved without the involvearent of tbe young people themselves. For this -reason, the dialogue set up durihg International Youth Year, ubioh is now coming to a cl-e, must be pusued, for any slackening would clearly be extremly hamful. in GQW B:SS the CWS= 5.~e bean olea~ly piiipiated. YQuth has bewme awaLe of its opprtunities and of the importance of its role in econonic, social and cultural development, but often it does not have the mems to act, Its projects also often remain mm? cherished hopes. It is for public agencies, but also for all who can do soI to make such means available, for the challenge of reducing the unemployment of young people to a rPinimum mst be mat; for such uneroployment results in those social ills of our time that we so deplore, euch as drug addiction, banditry, arim, vagrancy0 eocial unrest and so fortb. young people have become aware of their dutieo, but al6o of their tights. No effort should be spared to eneuce that young people have the opportunity for education, Here I must note, however, that 6to1pe countries have limited means. One such is IbJanda, which, in addition to being aamg the least developed countries, has an extremely eerious demographic problem. De&pi te our will to do BO, we are not able to enrol in 6chool all children of school age or to train all those young mple who dsop out of sohool. Assiotance by the international community in the area of education and training, as of course in other areas, remains essential. WK. ttabanda, Rwanda) While, delapite that, ue can say that in Rwanda XntornatkonaP Youth Year WOLS a suaam~ and that we achieved the objective which we set for that Year, we are aware that we need to preserve the gains of the Year so that ite close will not mark the end of an ideal but rather the beginning of a new em0 an era of collective and integrated development. On botb the national and the intemstional level, it ie iviportant to provide for or to maintain follou-up machinery and periodic meetings to take stock of the situation regarding the application of the guiding prirpciplm - those principles to which our Government, in reepome to the appeal of the Ceheral Asmmbly , which no doubt will adopt them, is committed to give effect. WK. fX!Hz {‘mAted State0 of Ameriaal l . eefore f begin =y prepsred statement, I should like to state, on behalf of the United States Governumt and people, that our hearts today go out to the people of CololPbia at this time of inuaE?nse calamity. The United States, along with others we are very sure, is sending help today - helicopters, tent@, disaster relief experts. We know that all wish to assist the Government and people of ColomLpia in overcoming this enormous tragedy at this time. What my delegation has to say today will perhaps be a little different from mme of the statements we have heard over the past several daya in the plenary lneetinge. My statement will not be filled with reams of statistics &out the numbers of soccer fields or libraries or hew many young p~ple are in graduate school in the United Sta tee. The opportunities offered ti young people in the United states are universally known and attested to by the hundreds of thousands of people who come each year to build a future for thenselves and their families. Instead, my delegation wants to talk about the aspirations of America’s young people and our thoughts about the themes of International Youth Year: peace, participation, development. In making these remarks, f 6m not only 6peaking for myself and my colleagues On this dk?&e!giPtion~ I 6m a&so speaking a6 the Pre6idmt of the United St936 Youth Council and the Chairman of the ton&ted States Conmission fox IntG?rMtim61 Youth Year, which csllectively represent over 200 American youth organizations and nearly 50 sillbn yomg people. UnrLike mny other countries, youth organizations in the Un largely pr iva te , not Government-sponsored. This means they are privately organized and pr ivintely controlled. Their leadership view of their individual members. They are not dictated to from above. OUr delegation, therefore, feels that a conference about youth at the United Nations should be a confereM@ lrji youth. (Mr. Cohen, united States) itea States are privately funded, reprebtents the (Mr. Cohen, United Statea) We begin by rec!allirtg that International Youth Year was lam initiative brought to the United Nations by the Government of Romania, and we OWB it a debt of qratituae. We do thank it. In thinking about this Conference , whet strikes us as most itqmrtant i~ the cwuial link between the three baaio theme8 and individual husnan freedoms. In fact, this link is 80 stronq as to be indivisible. The freedom of the individual h:uman person is 80 crucial to econcmic development and international understahding that it becomea the basis for peace. Younq people have as qreat, if not greater, a stake in these goals more than anyone else, because it is for the young people that the future will be built. Younq peopie in the United State6 hlieve tbt the ba?e fz: peats in ths world ie international understanding and freedom, and we would like to continue to do our part to achieve those ideale. Understanding among young people is best fostered by the freest kind of information end exchanqe. This kind of freedom means the freedom ta associate with whomever one chooses. It m?ans the ability voluntarily to join student m3oc%atlons, trade unions and reliqious orqanizations. It includes the Opportunity to expresa vlows freely - not only political viewpoints but to express freely artistically pd raligiously a8 well. Xt means education without indoctrination, to prepare younq people to make free OhOiC@S. P,nd, finally, it means freedom of Rlavement in and out sf one’s country, 80 that young wople can meet other8 and learn to apprecia% for themselves the diverse cultures and heritage that the world has to offer. In the United States those freedome are not the prerogatives of juet a chosen few, but are the universal right of each individual peroon - nurtured and ptOtwted for over 200 years of our history. Those concepts are certainly not unique to the united State@# they are eafiily recoqnfzed and understood by every person, regardless of his or her place in life or eountry of origin. People naturally seek liberty and free expreesions it can never be forced upon them. Indeed, my delegation La heartened to see those concepts referred to in paragraph 7 of the *Guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth", which point8 out that the basis of peace is educating young people * . . . in the opirit of respect for the dignity and worth of the human person, for tolerance, demoCracyI human rights and fundamental freedom, without distinction a& to raceI Bexo language or religion...* (A/40/256, p. 181 There are some people who find such a system which permite each person to go hier own way an invitation to chaos. We believe, however, that this diversity is far fram being a problem; it is an opportunity. Ht is au opportunity for each pereon to develop and grow to his fulleet potential. Nowhere are the benefits of this approach more evident than in ?e area of eco~waic development. Ao President Reagan said to a delegation of American youth in a ceremny for International Youth Year at the White Housa: Wistory show6 that progress take8 its greatest etrfdes when people are free to worehip, create, build and invest - when they can decide their own destiny and benefit from their own risks. The dream of human progress through freedom is still the moat revolutionary idea in the world today, And it is al60 the most BUCC@SSfUl." Young people everywhere naturally are concerned with the future. St does no good to talk ahout lofty prinoiplerr for the future if those same principles do not promote a better life. There are many places in the world today where the standard of living never chanqes from one generation to another. Yet we in the United State6 double the standard of living Eor our people every 25 years. That is the reeulg of a free market eoonomy which seeks to allow and indeed encourages individual human enterprise to the greatest possible extent. (Mr. Cohen, United States) ~~ To so!!uNmit may seem contradictory, but it is nevertheless true that by rely?ng GO zaca cf ?nG?r?*gL tiifiativo W? actual&y oreate the greatest benefit for society as a whofe. Reliance on individual initiative and achievecrent is not the basis for economic development only but for political participation in society as well. This means that to participate fully in society each person must be free to uake his own choioes - not merely to participate in decisions made fog him by others. Participation by comraand or ogder, partiatpation which is scripted and cont~.&led is for puppets) it is not for people. AS the youth guidelines before us state8 ‘Participation means the recognition throughout society that each person has the potential of judging and deciding matters that concern his or her life and has every opportunity of doing so.* (Ibid., p. 17, para. 4) Young people everywhere are particularly comerned about that. They are extremely sensitive to manipulation and exploitation. They want to participate in society through organisations which they themeelves create and run - not thm@ created or amaged for them by the State. As we reach the conclusion of International Youth Year with its theme “Participation, development, peace I, we are indeed inspired by the meetings that we have attended, the ideas we have exchanged and the expeeiences we have shared. In April of this year r@any attended a very unique event. Young people from demcratic countrios all over the world gathered in Kingston, Jamaica, to affirm their be1 ief in denncratic principles. If there is one message that: sumnanizee the hundreds of statements made at this Conference it is: What distinguishes a Stat@ baaed on freedom is the ability of its citizens, old and young, to choose. In euch a State there is a special social contract between people and Governraent, a (Hr. Cohen, united States) congrscg that enable@ the paolgle to enjoy the right to rrelf-detezsfnation - d r Sght eusbrfued in tha United #atione ~barter - through a r;w>l.iticalz legal and saciaP system which gtotecte the fnherrsnt dignity of all. Tbat kind of Govetment need never fear what: ftet ptsple will do with it8 freedam. Under that kind of Govwmene prisons will be for those who cownit criwe and asylum for those who are Mentally ill - they would not btwx?w ghe how af rpg(c_*rg, nnoca argiggg and w-e e-g teachers. A8 we reach the end of fnternational Youth Hearc we are indeed inspired by the meetings that we have l tteuded, the ideas we have exchanged and the experiences we have shared. At the s&w time, we are deeply saddened by the knowledge that in many parts of the world there am young people w&o cannot freely take part in the celebrations of International Youth Year. They cannot share their hopes and dreams with ua became their spiritual and even physical survival is threatened. 1 am thinking about millions of Afghans in refugee carpps in Pakistan, driven froaa their haws and country by military invasion and occupation, driven from their plams of worship in fear. Thew Afghans now create the single largest concentration of refugees anywhere in the world today. I have thoughts about the young Khmer, who live perilously from day to day in refuqee camps along the Thai-Cambodian border, shelled by the artil.lery of a foreign Power colonizing their country. f au deeply concerned and thinking about the brutal treatment of Jews in the Soviet wnion who have been arrested, harassed and imprisoned for trying to practise and teach their reliqfon and lanqusge to their children. My concern extends to the Pentecostals, Baptists and others, harassed, arrested and imprisoned - action which fs coq&ztely in violation of the United Nations Deciaratkm against All forms of Religious Intolerance, adopted here by the General Anner;lbiy, fn this very hall, but a short three years ago, (Mr. Cohen, United States) The Young pet%?Pe of the United States - the first anti-colonialist Power in history - have had pas&& dawn to them through generation&! a belief in the right Of the peq3le to define their own destiny.. Because of that heritage our hearts 90 out esp&ally to the young people of South Africa, the victim of apartheid. They have not inherited one of the most basic rights that we know - the right to citizenship in their own country. While I cannot speak as a member of any one of those groups, surely I can speak on behalf of what 1 know are their mpirations, because they are the same as our aspirations: freedom, justice, participation, development, ati peace. (Mr. Cohen, United States) I c&mot think of a better way to end my reararks than by quoting the words of Andrei Sskharcw, a Wale 1aurclcn.a held in the highest eeteem by the young people of Anrerica, who velcy matly mumed up OUT asgiration for peace so well when he said: “International trustv Wtual understanding, disarnrrnent and international security are inconceivable without an open society with freedom of ~formation, comcience, &he right to publish, travel, and choose the country in which one wishes ta liveem Hr. WRACHI (Japan): The twenty-first century is agproachingo and P think it timely and profoundly areaningful that the united Nations decided to designate this yeart 1985, as International Youth Year in order to draw world-wide attentior. to the various probl 8 sii 6 relating to youthp on whose ahouiders rest the future of mukind. The situation of pouth vipries from cx~untey to country, but I am confident that exchanging experiences and views relating to youth at this conference will be of value to us when we Consider policiee and programs in our own countries, and that it will therefore contribute greatly to the promticin of activities relating to youth problems. I should like to refer briefly to Yapan’s policies and progeames for youth. Surrounded by the sea and with few natural resources, Yapan desires world peace and freedom, and desires also that it8 human te6ouYces might be endowed with a spi.rit of independence, with cxaativity, aspirations, and diligence, in order that it nray rake progress in many fielde. With this in mind, the Goverment of Yapan, in close co-operation with local governments and non-governmental organizations, has developed its youth-related poEicies and programares in various fields such as edsxa tion, labour, employment, health, sanitation, moral education, prevention of juvenile delinquency, and international exchange. (Mr, Kurachi, a7apan) AS a reetit, opPortunitie6 for youth to recef~e an appropriate education and to b6 e4?loyed have greatly increamd, and working and educational conditions have also been glreatly improved. The situatim of youth in Japan, together with -6amic growth, has undergone major changes , and the living 6tZUIdard6 for young People, including their level of inoome and conmmption, has therefore risen in many fields. For example, in the field of education, it has becorm poesible to iucEea6e the number of years of education most young people receive. Educational institutions and the very content of education have been iwoved. As a result, opportunities for youth to develop their abilities have increased remarkably. For example, the Proport%on of lowerr secondary 6ahool graddates entering UP~P oecxmdary school3 rose to 94 per cent in 1983 from 70.7 per cent in 1965. 16 the field of health and sanitation, various inqxoveraents have been mde. For example, the low death rate, the number of deaths per 1,000 Population, of 15 t0 19-year-olds, decreased from .gf.l in 1965 to .501 in 1983. In the field of labout and employment, in addition to it6 previous programes and policies, the Government of Japan adoPted the WOEking Youth Welfare Law in 1970. On the basis of that law p we have been taking administrative measures to PrOmte the welfare of working youth, eucb a8 the proamtion of vocational training and tie establishment and enlargeruent of welfare institution@. We have been %roving institutions relating to youth other than schools end workshop6 in the fields of sport, public education, and recreation, in order to make it possible for Young People to educate themselves and to be nmre conscious of their role as citizens of Japan. Furtheerrrs, in the field of international exchange activitieep we have been carrying aut an increasing number sf programmes, in addition to supporting activities conducted by youth otganizations tiemelves. Those programmes are (Mr. Kurachi, JaPzm) designed to promte fnternationel understanding and co-operatAg_+d a deepening ofmkual understanding amng the youth af the world. < For ewaraple, we have been inviting foreign students and teohnioal trainees to Japan, and dlspatchfng Japan overseas a-operation volunteers. As I mentioned before, youth policy covers a wide range 00. activities and has -nY dimnsione, but those activities must be planhed and conducted An a unified and well-organized way. To acoouplish this, we have established a Youth Affairs Administration headed by a Cabinet Minister. International Youth Year should be regarded as part of the continuing concern every country feels for its youth. I have already mentioned youth policies and programmes that have been promoted in Japan. I think International Youth Year presents an opportunity to continue and develop those activities. My Government established a National Coordinating Committee in Pebruary 1984 in accordance with the guidelines for the specific programmes of International Youth Year, established by the Advisory Committee, in which Japan has taken part as a member. The Co-ordinating Committee, headed by the Prime Minister, is made up of some 30 private members, including representativee of youth and yout& organkations and government members. (Mr, Kurachi, Yapan) Local quvernaentn have alma actively participated in the actfvitbes of Internetfowl Youth Year this year, Pn every pxfeeture an wganbzatim for the promotion of Pntetnational Youth Year was establibed with ita own particular chssacterietics and prior ities, and various programes have bec#l held for the revitalioation of the prefecture and the proaotim of the participation of yWti iu the develomen t of the.ir Ann swiety . Youth oEganization5, considering International Youth Year au opportunity to strengthen their activities, have mrticipated in the grepawations for ad ~SerVauce of International Youth Year. In particular, a nou-goverumental organization coneioting of 54 mjor ~04th organi2ations warn satabliehed for: the promotion of In~ternatioc& Pcx2th Wsr. The co-ordinatinq committee drew up a set of bmfc guidelines for the activities for International Youth Year. Since the theme of Interuaticmal Youth Year is Iparticipationr develqnaent and peace*, the major objectives of that set of guidelines are: proration of the participation of youth in social activitieB3 promtion of ruedical, physical and education program&s for youths promtion of coucern and understanding asKHlg youth for the development of science, technology and culture; promtion of mutual understinding among youth through international exchange activities am3 co-operation. In accordance vith that set of guidelinee, a nulaber of pmgrawee have been planned and carried out with creativity and ingenuity by young people theraselvea. All Over Sapan forums and camigns have been held relating to youth, focusing especially on ite role as we apprcba& the twmty-f iret C@ntUry. l International Youth Villagem, a lo-day aem&ly of $00 young people from 40 countries, held in Tokyo In July of this year , WBB hailed as the met 8ignificaut event held in Japan in connection with Internatiansl south Year. (MP. Rurachi, Japan) bter thb mmtb a central youth fo!xmwill be held with the aim of reviwbng and appraising the activities of Xnternatif3na.l Youtia Year, I can already aayI irarever, tiat International Youth Year has been a gredt IUQC~OB because it haa WnWibuted tc8 tb awareness of young people of haw vital their activities are to their society and because it hnr 6 bengthened co-upera tion amng youth oE9anizatione. The United Bastions Trust Fund for Intmnational, Youth Year V~EI established to @m&k financial amicrtance to pgojectEs velsrting to youth in developi countries. My Governmmt, which is, actively involved in international cu-oper ation activitieer regard6 the goals of the Fund as RWB~: important, and it is therefore -kbS E CG+i2tXibUtlCX~ SL ~iGO,OOO. To repeat, the twenty-firat century is drawing near, and we alie already experiencing rapid and unprecedented &anges such as the aging of society, the advamment of science and keehnotcqy , with the resultant changes in induet: fal and employment structure, and a process of international.ization that hae occurred along With the expansion of international trade. we must meet the challenge of those changes and establish a vigorous and prosperous societYm Japan has been actively engaged in the activities of International youth year, both national and international. With the objectives of International Youth Year fully in mind, we should like to promote the participation of youth in the development of human society and the realization of wcrld peace, and thUG contrkbute to the establishment of a more prosperous international society through international co-operation. In conclusion, Japan has high expectations of this united Nations World Conference, and X hop+? and truot that the outcome of the Conference will lead every country to take appropriate and constructive masure in this very important field. wifhs to join other delegatims in expressing condolence8 to the Govemaent and peqple of Cal~&fa on the txemendous lam that has befallen tbela as a result of the - volcanic ec.upti~. .~ Thb year we are all celebrating tbe foztfeth anniversary of the victory over ~_ fascism as well as the establitWmt of the United Nation6 - two events that were SiIW&aneousi arid intertwined. The ooncPequencea oE l&g war, tbe ma$qr fal $rd humn dvastatiorr, provided a strong motivation for the intematione2 cornrunity at the tiffi to push fcxvard fcr tie ssubffshzcm0, of this cardFr.al international ogganizatfon, by whose principles arpd purptxees we f frmly abide. our Organization was founded to waJd off tbe threat of war, to find a language of cc@m understanding that would help spare humanity another war. The celebrations of INS year have now been crowned by the World Conference for the International Youth Year, an event that reaff irnrtr the heightened importance of youth in the Iworld. (Hr. Abed, DerPacratic Yemen) The Year ha6 bs0n marked by many varcfed events, activities and festivals. The numerous COUntrfeS that have participated in those activities include my own, which host to a r~&qional caeeting of Arab youth and studenta ILast March. We also acted as participated actively and effectively in the twelfth world Festival of Youth and students held in Moscow in August this year. The preparations for, and comiaemration of, the Year have created a useful and im(portant opportunity to direct attention to the situation of youth, their needs and aspirations. International Youth Year has made possible efforts at the iaational, regicnal and internatfonaP levels, and we tnust follov up the practical implementation of its results. Brother Ali Nasser M @armed, Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Yemen Socialist Party and Chairman of ‘the Presidium of the People’s Supreme Council, said in his statement on the cccasion of International Youth Year: @My country reaffirms the faat that the rights of youth are closely linked to the right of peOpleo -to self-determinaticn, national independence and see ial progress. This is a close link that cannot be separated from the struggle for peace and ensuring a peaceful and happy future for youth.” IE we accept the increas!ng importance of youth’s direct participation in the task of shaping the future of mankind, in such a way as to allow youth to participate in all aspects of life and all sectors, the world of tcday imposes urgent tasks. We cannot foresee the future when the present is affected by unei@cjjment, iqrmance, disea%b, dispiacement, oppression, discrimination and despair, a present which reaffirms that the future cannot be bright if it is based on foundations of that kind. Therefore, we have a series of tasks and principles which must be taken seriously so that youth may participate with all their potential creativity and energy in forging the future and achieving progress, self-determination and .national independence, respect for the sovereignty of all countries, non-interference or intervention in the internal affairs of other coyntries, the consolidation of international -understanding and co-5pecatim and the establishment of the basis of the new international economic order, so a5 to create fair international economic relations that can bridge the gap between countries and bring about the economic develoment of the developing world. That : : would ensure economic, social and cultural progress Bar all the peoples and allow youth to play their role in society in a peaceful manner, today and in the future. We must not ignore the suffering of peoples, especially youth, in South Africa, Namibia and Palestine, under foreign occupation, which has resulted in the denial of freedoms, violence, arbitrariness, wanton killing, displacement and repression. The Conference cannot disregard the struggle waged by the Arab and African peoples of those regions to regain their fight to self-determination. Pt must condem such acts, stand up against inhuman practices and support the struggle Of the Arab and African peoples of those regions. Nor can we ignore the shows of force by the united States - in the form of aggression and political, economic and military blockades - and its interference with thz people’s choices and with the people’s insistence on their independence ard th o right to chart their future course of development. Events in Central America bear witness to that, It represents not only interference in the internal affairs of otl~er countries, hut also a violation of the right of those peoples to life. Since one of the objectives of fntetnational Youth Year is peace, we wish to reaffirm the importance of that objective, Without prejudice to, or sacrifice of, the two other objectivea, because th n realization of international peace and security is of paramount importance for the development and progress of peoples and (Hr. Ahmed, Democratic Yemen) %cr c,hcdr !eability, r*hc cmtsae c?duf!!lnn -* &ar= irrr&jt atf$?a ?&en hy -c--m ---- imperialist countries to press ahead persistently with the maa race and open up new area8 for it, including outer space, The arm&a race ie a tremendoue drain on the re&ourceta of P@@es, and prejudices their development. ft is also a danger to mankind as a whole, threatening a horrifying catastrophe in which youth would conf3tftute the Cmlulon fcMdar. The youth of the uorld, especially in Europe, are demonstrating a growfng awareness, as shown by their understanding that the arms race threatens fnternatfonal peace and secul;ity. Their response has been to estabPish wide-scale movements to opponze such threats. The peace movements which are sweeping Western Europe are a conscious and mature reeponse by youth to the arms race and its consequences. Therefore, our Conference must denounce and condemn the arm6 race and call for averting its consequences. The international community muot redouble its efforts to avoid such a danger to our wrld, especially when we are on the threshhold of the International Year of Peace. Youth in my country are an inexhaustible remurce and the backbone of our transformation, The creative potential of the youth of our country, their perseverance# their struggle and their firm belief in our cause have helped us to take our future in hand. FurtherIX3re, the youth r#ovement of Deairatic Yemen has been able to mobilize tene of thousands of our young people. we have organized them and directed their energies towards social, economic and cultural development. The Youth Union of Democratic Yemen participates in the Presidium of the People’s Supreme Council and local organizatfons, aide by side with the trade uniona and popular organizations. Thus youth have accumulated a wealth of exp+?rience, especially in youth activities, their implementation and diversification, a6 well tl6 in voluntary patticipation in all walks of life. 4Mr. Aimed, Cemoeratic Yemen) Ymemeni youth have conrributed aiynificantiy to Q aarg8-8c018 rzarptligil tu rii;uiG& out illiteracy, which warn recently crowned with ouecm@. Althoqjh reawrcee are acatce in my country, we still guarantee the eight to free education at alY. levels, a8 well as vocational and techniml training, aa -11 a@ the right to work and participate in organizations, without discrimination or any form of exploitation. The Youth Union of 0emacratic Yemen ~~cceded in snhancing its role in various developlrent field@ within the country alongside trade uniono and popular organizationc, and externalPy it nuintains wide-ranging thea with many regional and international organl%at%one as wall as fraternal and friendly youth organisations. That enables our union to engage in broad ewchmgers of experience with such organizations in the field of youth, and opens up uew possibilities of co-operation. Finally, I wish to refer to the fugmrtant document adopted by the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Yea~ at its fourth session in Vienna, which provided a series of important guidelines and consttructive proposals for future action to irnpreove the situation of youth and ensure their right8 and interests and effective participation in social devekpment. (Hr. Ahwed, Democratic Yemen) xt is of paramunt mrtance that Pnternational Youth Year siqnal the genuine start of an examination of the problems, ccmcefns and hardships of youth. That will cm about only if there is a true understanding of the purposes and goals of Xnternatianal Youth Year and if efforts are made to translate them into action. MP. PYWMQUD (Itaq)(interpfetation from Arabic): Z wish at the outset to convey to the Colombian deleqntion ary delegation’s sincere co&olences upon the hardships caused by yesterday’s volcanic eruption, which caused the death of displacement of ttmusacds of people. This Wof3.d Ccmfersence for the Xntemational Youth Yean coincides with the fortieth annivefsaxy of the 2oundation oE the United Nations, arr Ofganization cxmtaitted eo saving succeeding genefstions frma the scourge of war and to uniting the strength af its Members to lraintain internatianal peace and security. But when we review the painful world situation over these 40 years, especially as regards young wale, we can see that young people are the most vulnerable to that scourge. Youw peuple as a group are ezcposed @ore than others to a world situation beset by pain and pessimism, characzterized by happiness; or hardship, prosperity or destitution, freedorrr or oppression. Since they are better qualified than others to bear the burden of maintaining world stability, it is they who must shoulder the responsibility of nation-building to emure a creative contribution to the transformation and construction of their societies and to unleash their own pMx?ntialities to that end. f& was in that vein t&a% the Preofdent of Iraq, Sad&m Sussein, addr~sed the youth af the world when he inaugurated our national prcrgram on International Youth Year. My deleqntion Eirraly believes that in no oociety can the process of development be divorced ftoa the process of peace. It ia on that that I shall the war thruet upon them more than five years ago. That wat has entered its &xth year, and our young people have no choice but to defend the sanctity and ~Verefgnty of their cauntry in the face of Xfan’B ins;fsteme on continuing the war and on disregarding all appeals fat peace krom the peace-loving circles of the world. Iraq believes that all countries have the right to live in peace based on justice and Ereed0k No people can live in peace when it toils under the yoke of repressim and occupation. Thie 4Zonfereuce should call upm Xran to respnd to appeals for peace, and to put a rapid end to t&e war , the main victims of which are the youth of both countries. Our Arab region ha6 long been an arena for blomly conflicts exacerbated by bloudthiroty racist intereets. Israel persiste in its expansionist policies, its displacement of the Arab pegle of Palestine, and its liquidation of that people through ma68 murder and inhuman persecution. These have lately reached a6 far as Tunisia. Such suffering is the lot also of the black majority in Soutb Africa and Namibia. Young people in those places suffer the oppression of abominable white racism; they are baniehed from their own land, which is occupied; they are harassed, such actions have spread as fao 88 Angola, Mozambique and Botswana. In our view, the ycuth of those area8 cannot participate in Ifiternationai Youth Year: Participation, Develqment, Peace, when they are denied their most fundoraentah rights, including their right to live in peace in their own homeland, How can we speak of participation when they undergo the worst forms of exploitation? Just, Pasting and comprehensive peace is a prerequisite for (wt. Kahmwd, Iraq) progLes8, and a basic condition far Ptasuring the rights and intereste of ywng ample in all cwntrfee. Xt is the responsibility of the United Nationa to find aolutione to all these problem. We call for eol$dgrity amug the young people of the world. All of u& e8~~~~ially in the third wxld, must join ranks to forter oonditiorre propitiourP for justice, fr&cu and peaa Hy delegation is among the sponeors of draft resolution A./C.3/40/~.3, for it reflects our 6;trong conviction that youth is iapPrtent to all moieties. That draEt WWlution, which the Third Ct3saittec ~dsyt~ by ~onaeflsus ZA few &.a agsr rrtreaaes the importance 0E active paricipation by youth in aatioities organized on the l-al and national levels. We in Iraq believe that young people are the buildere of the Eutuge. AB Prersident Saddaa Hussein has said, we must win youth over in order to Blecure the future. fn recent years, the situntion of yourrg people in Sraq has mdergone a Rtajor tranefsrmation, thrrnke. to the great ei2orta of the General Unioh af Ieaqi St-tiehts and Youth and the Anistry of Youth, both of which have provided the necessary cadres, facilities and mean8 for carrying out mbilieation ati educational activities for youth. This haa led to active participation by Iraqi youth in all the aotlvities orqanized in observance of International Youth Year by fracf’s MtiofKil comaittze on the subject. Moreover, my country has participated in various International activities and festivais. Iraq believe~c that channels of cmunicatfon should & kept active he etrengthen the bond amonq the youth of the mrld, 80 that they tray gain a better underetandinq of one another ‘8 problem an8 thuo work to reach the lofty goals of thie international Brganization. We must make every effort to protect the Organization, so that we may build a batter world, in which friendship, harlaony and peace prevail. Mr. NYiQmmllowDo (2fPlbahP: Xt be an honour and a great pleaourt ~for me tea aUdres6 the Arratmbly on the very ftaportmt embjs@t before ~6. This is-indeed 8 hietoric o@cmPon, in that we am gat&sred here tcsday bn-ornr a11 over the woxld to pay a epecfal tribute ~CD all wr young people,. to ehgre th+r probltmar and atppiratiom and to develop further the spirit OE co-operation and unity which our YOUW people are trying tfrelerrsly to fo8ter mongst all our peopllee. For my country, Zfmbabwt, the 1980e differ qualitatively from the 19608 and the 19706. Those uere the dsaades of our amed struggle for national independence, a struggle in which 80 many of our young people took part so prodnently and heroically. we are glad that tht goal has now been achieved. Our youth is now faced with the great challenge of consolidating our independence and effecting the process of toansforrnation that is necessary for our country’s EKbEial and econoIBic development. The role of youth in the swial and economic transformation of my country is a8 vital now ae it wa8 during our national liberation struggle. . (Mr. Nyamudahondo, Zimbabwe) chief atsag whici,are the following: one 0 to twuld cIur young people into anore responshle and productive merabers of our young nation; two, to bring young people into Youth Brigades and effeotively to set sound tasks for them, with their full Wrticipa$iop; three, to give realistic and practical instxuctions geared to achieving. the quick transformtion of our rural population3 four, to teach the Youth Brigades the policies of Government to equip them for: their roles armxg the rural people; five, to broaden , improve and develop the skills of youth people for all aspects of development: six, to train young people tu improve, assist and increase our agricultural ability to feed our people; and, seven, to engage young people in finding-modalities to enhance the political will of our people always to defend their hard-won independence. The Youth Brigades are also engaged in building houses, bridges and dams, in brick moulding, pig raising, dressmaking, well-digging, carpentry and plurabing. It is arough such projects that we can hope to impart the necesary skills and provide employment for the large number of our unemployed young people in order that they can walk in dignity throughout their lives, As the ~b~wv3e proverb says@ mIf you - .- -- give 6Qwale a fieh, he will eat for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, he will eat: for ever .* With that in mind, we do not rntend to give hand-outs to our young people, but we strongly believe in equipping them with all the necessary skills SO that they can sustain themselves and their families for ever. Our revolution has been - and, indeed, continues to be - a challenge to our young people. Our Youth League has a vital role to play in the develownt of our system of Government. The importance of the role youth must and does play in any given society requires no emmasis, I should like to tske this opportunity to recall that a society that neglects its youth does so at its own peril. In Zimbabwe 4th. Nyaaudahondo, 2 imbabwe) young people have almadly secured fee tireraseives a preetigioua piace irr o*i LbtctY through the decisive ro2o they played in the national liberation struggle. They uere the vanguard of our amed struggle and they also cmprised the iRain IscldY of our cadres. Without them, there would never have been freedom fighters, without freedam fighters there muld nevem have been a struggle and uithout their struggle, freedand independence isould never have cow as early as 18 April 1980. The establisbent of our Govenment through a dexocratic e2ection was a very important step towards the laying of a firm foundation for thf! s~iO-~on~ic transformation to follow. But a firto foundation by itself, however strong, does not Constitute a ccmp2ete whole. Thus, in the S6m way that young pecple were yesterday the Vanguard of our national liberation struggle, so aust they remain today and tomorrow the vanguard of our socio-economic transfomation. X honestly cannot visualize any social, economic or political change - and I mean meaningful change - taking place without the full participation of young people. We must involve our young people in all issues that concern them and the eocfety in which they live. The International Youth Year, whose theme is *Participation, Development, Peacemc should be seen clearly as representing the wishes, deSfreS and aspiratisnc of ysutb. Let us aAar~s all issues ard probleasi inolu4ing their -I-- causes, affecting the youth of today and Seek Sme modalities for solving then;. The existing political climate that has been generated by youth should be exploited to the advantage of youth. That approach is particularly necessary since the Year has managed to focus attention of decision-making bodies and public opinion at all levels on the specific needs of youth and to undertake solutionc to its problems. We hope that Lhis tJorld Conference for international Youth Year will offer all Member States the opportunity to consider in depth, for the first time, specific youth problems. We should address ourselves LO issues such as drug addiction, immorality, violence, alcoholism, ignorance, unemployment and many other (Me (I Igamtdahondo, 2 imbabwe) and build on the foundation of th premantr youth must b a full participant in laying that foundation. Education and training are thcoefore a necessity, The youth of ZUbabwe will strengthen its solidaP:Lty with all other youth groups the world ovar. It will, au it has done in the paat, work closely with all liberation amvemants still engaged in the forefront of the fight against racism, colouialiaps and i~rislisn. We have the experience of what it means to be a colony of another country. On its muthern border Ziababwe be a ho&ile neighbour, the racist rdgime of South Africa, which has arrogantly dernied our brothers in Namibia and South Africa many fundamental human rights, ineLuding the right to eelf-detsrnination. The recent oenueless mass=res of numerous civilians, wom!n anal children alike, in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town are clear testimony to Pretoria’s ruthleesnees, brutality ml barbariesu, designed to suppreea tha majority of the citizens of South Africa and finally liquidate the liberation movemente in Namibia and South Rfrica. Such a strategy, laoreoverr will stop at nothing short of total entreuchnmnt of the policies aud practices of apartheid. Zimbabwe cannot but be outraged by those barbaric nuxwacres and the mutilation Of womn and children whose only crime, if it bo a crime at all, is the desire to enjoy the basic freedorewhich, furthermom, are tbe backbone of our Organizatfon. With this in mind, it is not enough for our young people to espouse pious intentions aud engage in daydream. They must therefore be bound together by a unity of purpose. They mast be full participants in all issues that concern the world, including the eradication of apartheid, and they should at all coots he discouraged fro% being hyotmders. Governments should encourage and facilitate the training, education and participation of youth in both the Government and the private sectors. The axprience of young peopPe in aPP areas of development is of great importance to (Hr. Nganudahmdo, 2 itababue) i;;W davsiogment of our world. * - - rurkmnmr u4 rl *a jr 5noula ei5o mentiim bc;??fQ tbtt rrr.m..pr . --- -- bhmfm young people are very vital, beceusle it A8 only through muh exohmges that rutwl suspicion cm be doue away with. zi&&we deeply believes that if we ~001 OUc resources and our enosmous scientific a&3 technical know-how, we shall uudoubtedOy achieve out: goal of maintsinfng peace , ae was clearly stated by the founding fathrs of the United Nations in the Charter of our Organizstion. We will do whatever we can to make the Organization a 5uecee5. We will play OUK part by extending our 5upport to liberation mvesuent5 throughout the world. MY Goverment will continue to support the African National Congreas of South Africa (AK) and tb Pan Afrioanfst Congress of Aaanfa (PAC], and we will continue to support our brothers in Nambia through their authentic liberation movement, the south West Afriua Peoplea Organisation (SwApo). We will continue to support the Sebataoui Demc%ratic Republic and Eaet Timor. Zimrbabwe will also continue to support the Palestine Liberation Organization, whoste effort6 to establish a Palestinian homeland have been frustrated by I[erael and its allies, The young paople of zimbabwa strongly urge the two super-Powers to stop the arms case. The present oapaaity for tot51 deottuction of boicbe in the possession of the two f3uper-POwerE alon3# the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, is more than enough to wipe out every living organism, not only once but many timers over. Yet the stockpilings the perfecting and developing of such weapons of maas destruction is contfnuing, with 5ome plan5 to ba5e some of them in outer space. We hope this exerciee will be stopped and that those vital reawces will be channsPle8 to more meaningful areas , euch as the development of Youth ana other projects, in aI1 our countries, (Mr . . Nyamudahondo, Zimbabwe) My delegation is vary much di~tm~@- hy !& ~w-v* hr4-n d%z tc pc~:*,k. 13;’ -‘-a’ -- -..= drugs. We urge all youth organfzations, Govermnt agencies and all enforcement agencies in all our countries and all related agencies to assict in disseminating inEormation, including school te%tbcMs, with a vfeu to prorroting underetmding among the general @UC of the harqful effects of dmgs and of the risks asscciated with drug abuse, particularly among young people, ao well ao discouragement of publications uhidr stimulate druy abuse. There is a great need to collect and analyse all the information pertaining to this subject at the national, regional and international levels. our joint effort to combat drug abuse in all its aspects will go a long way in serving our youth. Physicians, nurses and pharmacists also should encourage and use their influence with patients to support efforts to cope with psychic and social. stress without recourse to drugs. Allow me to place on record my delegation’s appreciation to the Government of Romania for tbe vigour with which it has pursued its initiative for this International Youth Year, 1985. Hy delegation hopes that this firm foundation we have successfully established will be further enhanced in order to facilitate fully the youth programures and projects under way throughout the world. My statement would be incomplete if 1 failed to thank sincerely all youth organisations, agencies and Governments which have generously extended aid and expertise to our Youth League to enable it to build not only the infrastructure desparately needed but also education for youth. 5 want ta appeal to all., big and small, rich and poor, old and young, to pool their resources to make our world a bettor place for all. I would like to urge us all in marking the end of International Youth Year not to allow our ideological differences to retard progress. It is my delegation’s hope that this meeting wfll not be the laet of such meetings on important subjects like this. The young are the leaders of tumorrow. Their participation in all areas of development (Hr. Nyamdahondo, Zimbabwe) will undoubtedly enable ua to develop our respective eountrieer. xta youth is everything a country needs, provided its wtentials and&ills in all amas are put to practical, positive use to serve aaankind. The PFtESPDENT: In accordance with General Aosembly resolution 3237 (X%IV) of 22 Uovember 1974, I now call on the Observer of the Palestine Liberation Orqanization. Mm. BARGHOU’~ (Raleertine Liberation Organization (PLO)): First allow me to convey my delegation’s condolemes to the Government and people of Colombia in thh wamt tragedy. It is a great pleasure fo f the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to participate in tha United Nations forum in connection with International Youth Year : Participation, Developinent, Peace. The subject of youth, theiz activities aud their future, is considered by the Palestinian people and their representative,, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), to be of immense importance and strategic value. -our main national resourcf2 is the human element, thus one of OUT investments has been and continues to be the advancemnt and welfam of our Palestinian youth. of the Palestinian people in the areas under Israeli oocupation, cur youth canstitutes Q high percentage in comparison with that in other countries sf the wo9:O.d: 70 pf2r cent of our population is below the age of 34 and 58 per cent &low 19 years of age, as indicated by the Etatiatical Abstract of Israel in occupied territories in 1984. Due to the continuous displacement of the Pahetinian people as a result of unceasing Israeli aggression, it is the younger generation, together with the elderly, which suffers most. The suffering of our Palestini&n youth has deepened during the years of Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip, where about half of the Palestinian population lives. Although the PaleStinian community place6 great importance on education and the welfare of our (Mrs. Barqhout, PLO) youth ” which, I would like to add, hrol often baaa reptxted by the United Nation@ Belief and Wxkti agency for Palaatine IlrfugeQr in the Near East (-A) and other intematrcnal institutions - faracl*r taaiet policies work increasingly against OuI: Palestinian ycuth. Israeli ptactices and policies against our paopke in the occupied Palestihian tertitoriee, ~rticulerly against our ycuth, have been reported by the United Uaticns Special Cmauittee to fnvestigate Israeli Practices, and by other bodies au& as UNRWA, Armesty fntemational and the International md Cross. Dealing with the educational oondiCion6 in the occupied Palestinian teszritoriea, the report of the Grcup of Experts noted: “It would appear that the occupying authocities through their action have created and sustained a feeling of insecurity araong teachers and students in all educational innstitutions. The Brpmts were bid of constant harasserent of students and staff. These harasments too& the form of frequent arrests, beatings, administrative detention and cfwure of schools.w The fssaeli occupation authorities wage a aysteraatic campaign of aggression and harassmnt sga inet Palestinian youth. Their policy is geared towards the destmction of the political, economic and social infrastructure of Palestinian society. The closure of schc~ls and universities is a comum practice of the Israeli authorities. During last year alone, Al-Najah Univer~ I. ty was closed for four mmths On 30 JtiY 1984; Bethlehem University was closed for four days on 31 October 1984; Ibn Sina Nursing College in Rmuallab was closed for a week cn 3 November 1904. On 21 t?ovedwr 1984, a Bir Zeit University student was shot and killed by the Israeli Amy. On 1 and 2 March 1965 a large force of the Israeli firmy attacked Bir Zeit University. Many studente were injured. Fifty students (und mefubero of the faculty were arrested and taken to Baza’a prison. The ar@a was declared a closed nril.itary zone. A few days later the new campus was ordered closed for tsJo mmths. Cm 18 March 1985 the UNRWA training school in Qalandiya was (Mrs. Batghout, Pw) or0ere0 oloRe0 for a month. On 5 April 1985, 100 Uordep: police otornwd Ibrahfirfyeb College fn Jerusalem ahd arrccrted 132 rPtuden#ss. Qn 18 April 1985, Bethlehem University wao again clored for four day& More than 3,OOr * dc@ are banned from publhcrtion and circulation from the Palestinian aurrket. Aa another emcple of Xsraelga oppremfve pm&ices againet our Palestinim youth, I would like to @eatQon that mince 1982, the Ioraeli occupation forces have maintained Fara’a grioon - LKIE the PaPeetinian city of Nablw - as a centre for the torture and interrogation of Pakmtinian studente of all age8. X wtxalU sefex hare to the Paleetine ftiberatfon Organiaation@s letter to the Secreta~y-Gsneral, circulated as an offida bocurpent oE the Unite0 Nation@ (A/39/548) on 4 t&tar 1984. Un0er cover of our letter was an appc?al, a cry from the heart, froa our PaPcrMnian youth imrisoned in Faea’E to the international comunfty to pay heed to the inhumn conditions in which they are kept and the physical abuee to whioh they are rrubjeoted. ~~cordfng to the Xsraeli newspaper Ha”eretcr of 26 March 1981, the ~eraeli League for Human and Civil Rights accuacd the Israeli occupation suthorrities of torture and bsutaiity againrrt Palestinian etudsntr in Fara’a Prison. They called th& prison WA faotory for extractinq confcasions*. Youuef Al-GazP, thc_Secretary of the League, told the press confemnce that during that week 23 Palestinian youth6 betW@Cm 13 to 18 yeam of age from the Dheiaheh refugee camp had been azrested and tortured during intartogation following a demonstration in the camp. The prison, more appropriately called a izsrt~.ee oentze, was established by the former Chief of Staff, Rsfael Eitan, as a punitive detention centre and placed under the supervision of the Israeli occupation forces. xn spite of all the diffioult condition@ and nmecous problems confronting the Palestinian people, they have attained a high level of education. The total nuwr of students enrolled in univeaities during 1984 was 13,108. On@ of the reasons for this high demand for education stems from the fact that the acts of oppression of 1948 and 1967 showed the Paleetinian people that their education wa8 about the only *capital* investmmt available for their future and for the welfare of their children. This has been well expressed by the Comiuiseioner-General of the united Nations Relfef and Works Agency for Palestine Refugeesl in the Rear Raet (UWRWA) in his report, which states: ‘Palestine refuge@ ahildren’e motivation to learn ia remarkable; 80 are the support they receive fmm their parents and the dedictltion of the teachers. * With the co-opemtion of the World A:lliance of Young Men98 Christian Association, youth activities have been aarried out in 38 refugee camps. During the past year, 13,654 young Palestinian refugees participated in these activitiest 1,334 were boys under 16 y@ars of age, who took part in self-improvement projects (Mrs, Barghout, PLQ) and recreation pqgrm+. In the Xrraeli-occupied Paleetiniau weot Bank fivei ouch centrer were cloeed by.tbe Xsraelf occupation authorities, end in the Geee Strip one centre hae been closed. These praotfces and policies directed against our youth ace eccoeipanied by au equally raciet ecoummic policy airred at increasing t&burden and oufferfng of Palestinian8 livi_ng iri the Ieraeli-occupied territorieo. The subject of the exploitation and abuses by the Israeli Goverment aud enterprise8 of the Palestinian labour force and, in particular, of minsrs, tws ken dPmum?d and reported by oeveral International bodice. Recently, the Internatbonel Eahn Conference at its rseventieth session reported on some of the Inrraeli practices against minor worker& Pagagrepk 58 of the report’8 tappendicee states: *The phmenommon of irregular employment inevitably raiaee the problepl of the eaployiaent of young people, to which previous reprte of the Director-General have conaiotently given special attention. The authorities retlinded the mission of the regulation stipulating that work permit6 a\aY ilot be granted in 1srao1 te y;oun3 pzrsma upAar )?? yssre of age. Boc;!?ve-r 5 it ie cosmonly held that the irregular employmnt of young persona far below this age is wideeptead, especially in agriculture and small utiertakinge. Arab sources refer to the employment of children aged 12 years an8 upwards from the occupied territories an8 estimate that 20 mt cent of irregular worker6 are nislsrs who entered the labour amket without having received a secondary education, * (International Labour Conference, 70th &e$i8i,on, 1984: Report of the DirWtor-GQnetal - Appendices, Appendix 3). Moreover, paragraph 60 of the 8me report indicate8 that there Pa a wage differential of at least 50 per cent between Palestinian workers and Israeli wrkere doing the mm-e jcb. dW6. Barghout, PLO) The situation of Palestinian wooicers frow the Isoaeli wcupied territoriW employed in Ierael ie rapidly dsteriomtinq. An @am&nation of the drvelfJ#Miente since the last report of the Diref&oc-GcnoraO of the XnternationaP Z&our Organization ruggesks thrrt: “The extent of the phenomenon of irregular l qploymnt in SmrreP, of! Arab workrrs frcre the occupied territorico rsaeinrc dieturbing, carting doubt on the aptnees of the m2asure6 8llready adloptti to co&at it. Were &uuld be a oiearrwrrment of the efticacy of the preventive and oepPesieive action talken 88 far and the necessary additional resources should be set aside for this purpose, cepecially with regard to the illegal mployment of young Arab workers Eros the occupied territorits.* The Secretaty-Geneoal@e report (A/40/256, pars. 33) inForms us Heaberu oE the Advisory Comittee for tsle Enternational Youth Year believed that the difficult 8ituation of young people who lived under circumtanceo and institution.sliscd barriers beyond their control should b recognizsd. They e!qW3ssed eoncsrn for youth suffering frocP war, colonialism, mm-colonialism, racisn, apartheid, foreign aggression and occupation. Consistent with this spirit, the Paltstine Liberation Organization true&o that the Secretary-General will conduct a thorough study on Palestinian youth in the Israeli occupied territories with the purpose of +mlleviating their suffering snd fmpeoving their economic, PUttcal and tmcial conditions. In spite of Xsrael’e racist p01icIm and practices, the Palestinian people will not be deterred from investing in a better future for its Paleetinian youth. The Palestine Liberation Organization will persevere in its efforts to help its youth attain their aspirations ) and will continue its struggle to eliminate one OF the obstacles, naiaely, XrPeaeli occupation of Its homeland, The meeting rose at 1.30 p.m.