Speach in session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Angola, 2 December, on the importance of the social and cultural integration and participation of young people:
My colleague Manuel Jiménez and I have been writing a report on the importance of the social and cultural integration and participation of young people. We highlight the importance of the inclusion of young people in decision making and also the importance of education and information. Issues I believe important if we shall manage to cope successfully with the difficulties and challenges created by the financial crisis, the global heating and the global aids epidemic - issues we are discussing during this 18th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
A well functioning education system is crucial for the development of a country. My country, Sweden, is a good example on how public elementary education can create growth and wealth. The early introduction of a mandatory public school is one of the most important reasons for how Sweden managed to transform from a rural country into a modern industrial state.
In our report Mr Jiménez and I therefore call for universal access to lower secondary education and urges governments to provide grants and concessional loans to students from developing countries who would like to enrol in tertiary education.
It is also important to empower young people by giving them access to information and enable their participation in decision-making. Giving young people a chance to take part in decision-making contributes to their own development which in turn, enables them to contribute to the development of their societies, eventually creating a better environment for participation - a virtuous circle!
In the report we therefore stress the importance of ICT and the use of internet in improving access to information, and the report calls on governments to create and implement mechanisms that ensure and strengthen new forms of youth participation such as cyber-participation and e-citizenship. The internet creates possibilities for young people to communicate worldwide and to become, by far, the most well informed generation in history - a development that will be fruitful for all of us and for all our societies.
One good example of this is that according to the United Nations Population Fund young people, who are well informed of HIV risks and prevention strategies, are changing their behaviour in ways that reduces their vulnerability. For example, in several countries targeted education has led to increased use of condoms resulting in a decrease in HIV prevalence in young people. Thus AIDS education for young people plays a vital role in global efforts to end the AIDS epidemic.
In the report we highlight that it is important with a youth policy with a view to enabling young people to fulfil their potential and participate actively in the society. Thus to achieve an environment where young people can fulfil their potential, and to permit future national and global development, it is important to ensure access to resources and opportunities for health, education, employment, but also leisure, for all young people.
Olle Schmidt