Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Distinguished guests

It is an honour for me to be present and participate in this Global Youth Congress

Youth is the future. Youth is also the present. Half of the world’s population is children or youth. In several cities, they are the majority.

In most countries, however, children and youth lack formal positions within socitey’s institutions. Some countries have certain formal rights for youth participation, but generally little encouragement or guidance is given to the youth. All in all, youth as a group is outside the main power structures and have few channels through which they can gain influence.

At all times, the Establishment has regarded youth with a great deal of scepticism, even as a problem. Today, let us rather focus on the potentials of youth – their capacities, enthusiasm and new ideas as well as their tolerance and lack of prejudice. Young people themselves also has a strong wish to participate and take responsibility. We have to find ways to use this potential better than we do currently. We have to rely on the youth of today if we want to change the world of tomorrow.

The rights and needs of children and youth are highly acknowledged in many international conventions and resolutions. It is up to us all to find ways to implement their rights and to offer them opportunities of participation and partnership.

We are here to discuss how youth can contribute in the field of human settlement. This issue was fully introduced in Habitat II in Istanbul 1996. Many refererences to the youth`s contribution were included in the Habitat Agenda. Time has passed, progress has been achieved, but more needs to be done. Several resolutions have been passed, the latest one last year at the Governing Council 19. A monmentum has started. The contribution of youth is needed at international, national and local level. For instance engaging young people in community planning and development, to participate in slum upgrading projects and play important roles in securing safer cities. These activities are indispensible contributions to urban development.

However, to be able to use their potentials, we need formal structures for youth participation at all levels. We have to listen to their opinions and let their participation and influence be part of the institutional system in a way that give youth a real chance to influence. In other words, both enablement and empowerment of youth to participate must be instutitionalized, put into effect and encouraged.

Political participation is often measured by electoral turnout. However, in Norway as in many other countries, we see a tendency that first time voters do not use their right to vote to the same extent as other groups. This should not, however, be interpreted as lack of political interest. Surveys show that the youth often chooses other forms of political participation – such as special campaigns, local actions, movements, CBOs and NGOs etc. We must support and facilitate the youth to participate in ways of their own choise.

In Norway we have for many years included youth in our planning procedures. We have established mechanisms in organisations, institutions and municipalities. In 75 percent of the municipalities a children’s assembly, a youth council and similar bodies have now been established. In addition, several counties have established youth councils. Both local, regional and central government authorities arrange joint meetings, hearings, conferences etc, where children and young people are invited to share their ideas on how to create a better environment.

In the education system we have pupils and students`councils and co-ordinating committees. A network of youth organisations – Norwegian Youth Council is actively letting their voice be heard on many occasions. We have included representatives from youth organisations in our delegation to this World Urban Forum, and hope to do so also in our delegations to future Governing Councils.

Norway is presenting an exhibition here at the World Urban Forum, which is planned for, set up and managed by by Oslo Youth Information Centre and Norwegian Youth Council and financed by the City of Oslo. I hope that all of you will find time to visit this exhibition and talk to the youth representatives. I know they are eager to share their experiences on youth, empowerment and participation, and to exchange views with WUF-participants.

We are very pleased that UN Habitat has intensified its work to include and integrate the youth into their programme. We see the Global Youth Congress as an important step towards involving youth more actively in the discussions at Governing Councils, and even more importantly, to stimulate youth’s participation when our future cities are developed.

It is said that “Youth is being not only becoming”. The youth represents untapped, unused resources that we all need in order to face our present and future challenges. We need the youth to fight poverty.

I do hope that this Global Youth Congress will be a milestone in the development towards this end.

Good luck, and thank you.