Major Group: Children & Youth
Thank
you,
distinguished
co-‐chairs.
Delegates,
colleagues,
friends,
First
and
foremost,
we
want
to
thank
the
great
co-‐chairs
for
their
patience
and
enthusiasm
to
engage.
You
know
we
mean
it.
We
know
your
intentions
are
truly
ambitious,
and
you
would
concede
that
we
are
truly
committed,
even
during
nights
like
these,
where
the
only
sleep
we
can
catch
is
on
the
floor
of
the
Delegates
Lounge.
We
have
the
highest
degree
of
respect
for
you.
In
this
early
hour,
the
Major
Group
of
Children
and
Youth
will
not
t
o
take
up
any
more
of
your
time
with
pleasantries
and
platitudes.
We
know
we
will
have
to
continue
to
work
hard
to
ensure
young
people
and
children,
in
all
their
diversity,
are
represented
within
the
process
going
forward
until
and
beyond
2015,
and
trust
that
we
have
your
commitment
to
ensuring
our
full
and
inclusive
participation.
We
have
embarked
on
a
journey
to
create
a
transformative
agenda
that
is
meant
to
usher
us
into
a
new
era
of
sustainable
development
and
in
harmony
with
nature,
that
is
rights
based
and
ensures
no-‐one
is
left
behind.
We
have
made
some
progress.
We
witnessed
the
successes
-‐
when
free
education
was
recognized,
youth
unemployment
was
brought
back
as
target
8.6,
Universal
Health
Coverage
became
an
agreed
target,
SCP
remained
a
goal.
But
this
progress
is
certainly
far
from
what
the
Major
Group
of
Children
and
Youth
expected
and
have
fought
for
since
1992.
Young
people’s
rights
are
not
just
about
education
and
employment.
And
neither
are
the
planet’s
resources
infinite.
We
saw
it
through
even
when
Major
Groups
had
no
formal
roles.
We
witnessed
when
this
group
decided
that
humanity
is
just
not
ready
to
outgrow
growth,
a
false
paradigm
that
prevents
our
development
in
a
truly
holistic
way.
We
witnessed
our
sexual
and
reproductive
rights,
and
our
right
to
comprehensive
sexuality
education,
overlooked.
Many
member
states
shared
these
concerns.
We
witnessed
when
the
carrying
capacity
of
the
earth
was
not
respected
and
removed
from
12.2.
We
witnessed
when
the
means
to
implement
this
agenda
were
weakened
to
serve
the
hands
of
powerful
business.
And
we
witnessed
when
the
definitions
of
peace,
justice,
human
rights
and
social
security
became
controversial.
We
understand
and
recognize
that
these
are
complex
issues,
burdened
with
red
lines
and
instructions
from
capital.
But
we
need
to
do
better,
much
better,
in
order
to
deliver
on
the
greatest
challenges
of
our
time
and
to
secure
a
safe
world
for
future
generations.
In
today’s
world,
we
are
crossing
planetary
boundaries,
something
this
room
does
not
acknowledge;
we
are
compromising
needs
of
future
generations
due
to
shortsighted
decision-‐making;
and
we
are
risking
dangerous
climate
change,
already
witnessing
the
first
victims.
If
we
don’t
take
the
appropriate
action
here,
in
these
comfortable
seats,
the
fight
for
achieving
a
sustainable
world
is
useless.
In
addition,
it
is
simply
unacceptable
that
our
human
rights,
including
our
sexual
and
reproductive
rights,
our
autonomy,
our
health
and
our
sexuality
are
questioned,
traded
and
violated.
The
current
development
model
has
inflicted
a
global
system
of
extraction,
exploitation,
oppression
of
people
and
their
rights,
and
mass
consumption.
This
needs
to
change,
if
we
are
to
create
the
future
people
need.
The
time
has
come
for
us
to
work
together
strongly,
between
countries,
and
between
generations.
We
will
work
with
you,
encourage
you,
support
you,
and
also
critique
you.
But
above
all,
hold
you
accountable.
We
are
here,
and
here
to
stay.
Good
luck
and
thank
you
for
this
beginning.
You
deserve
a
wonderful
weekend,
a
long
rest,
and
we
will
see
you
again,
very
soon.
you,
distinguished
co-‐chairs.
Delegates,
colleagues,
friends,
First
and
foremost,
we
want
to
thank
the
great
co-‐chairs
for
their
patience
and
enthusiasm
to
engage.
You
know
we
mean
it.
We
know
your
intentions
are
truly
ambitious,
and
you
would
concede
that
we
are
truly
committed,
even
during
nights
like
these,
where
the
only
sleep
we
can
catch
is
on
the
floor
of
the
Delegates
Lounge.
We
have
the
highest
degree
of
respect
for
you.
In
this
early
hour,
the
Major
Group
of
Children
and
Youth
will
not
t
o
take
up
any
more
of
your
time
with
pleasantries
and
platitudes.
We
know
we
will
have
to
continue
to
work
hard
to
ensure
young
people
and
children,
in
all
their
diversity,
are
represented
within
the
process
going
forward
until
and
beyond
2015,
and
trust
that
we
have
your
commitment
to
ensuring
our
full
and
inclusive
participation.
We
have
embarked
on
a
journey
to
create
a
transformative
agenda
that
is
meant
to
usher
us
into
a
new
era
of
sustainable
development
and
in
harmony
with
nature,
that
is
rights
based
and
ensures
no-‐one
is
left
behind.
We
have
made
some
progress.
We
witnessed
the
successes
-‐
when
free
education
was
recognized,
youth
unemployment
was
brought
back
as
target
8.6,
Universal
Health
Coverage
became
an
agreed
target,
SCP
remained
a
goal.
But
this
progress
is
certainly
far
from
what
the
Major
Group
of
Children
and
Youth
expected
and
have
fought
for
since
1992.
Young
people’s
rights
are
not
just
about
education
and
employment.
And
neither
are
the
planet’s
resources
infinite.
We
saw
it
through
even
when
Major
Groups
had
no
formal
roles.
We
witnessed
when
this
group
decided
that
humanity
is
just
not
ready
to
outgrow
growth,
a
false
paradigm
that
prevents
our
development
in
a
truly
holistic
way.
We
witnessed
our
sexual
and
reproductive
rights,
and
our
right
to
comprehensive
sexuality
education,
overlooked.
Many
member
states
shared
these
concerns.
We
witnessed
when
the
carrying
capacity
of
the
earth
was
not
respected
and
removed
from
12.2.
We
witnessed
when
the
means
to
implement
this
agenda
were
weakened
to
serve
the
hands
of
powerful
business.
And
we
witnessed
when
the
definitions
of
peace,
justice,
human
rights
and
social
security
became
controversial.
We
understand
and
recognize
that
these
are
complex
issues,
burdened
with
red
lines
and
instructions
from
capital.
But
we
need
to
do
better,
much
better,
in
order
to
deliver
on
the
greatest
challenges
of
our
time
and
to
secure
a
safe
world
for
future
generations.
In
today’s
world,
we
are
crossing
planetary
boundaries,
something
this
room
does
not
acknowledge;
we
are
compromising
needs
of
future
generations
due
to
shortsighted
decision-‐making;
and
we
are
risking
dangerous
climate
change,
already
witnessing
the
first
victims.
If
we
don’t
take
the
appropriate
action
here,
in
these
comfortable
seats,
the
fight
for
achieving
a
sustainable
world
is
useless.
In
addition,
it
is
simply
unacceptable
that
our
human
rights,
including
our
sexual
and
reproductive
rights,
our
autonomy,
our
health
and
our
sexuality
are
questioned,
traded
and
violated.
The
current
development
model
has
inflicted
a
global
system
of
extraction,
exploitation,
oppression
of
people
and
their
rights,
and
mass
consumption.
This
needs
to
change,
if
we
are
to
create
the
future
people
need.
The
time
has
come
for
us
to
work
together
strongly,
between
countries,
and
between
generations.
We
will
work
with
you,
encourage
you,
support
you,
and
also
critique
you.
But
above
all,
hold
you
accountable.
We
are
here,
and
here
to
stay.
Good
luck
and
thank
you
for
this
beginning.
You
deserve
a
wonderful
weekend,
a
long
rest,
and
we
will
see
you
again,
very
soon.