DISCORSO PRONUNCIATO DALL’AMBASCIATORE INIGO LAMBERTINI, VICE RAPPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DELL’ITALIA PRESSO LE NAZIONI UNITE, ALL’EVENTO DI ALTO LIVELLO DELL’ASSEMBLEA GENERALE DELLE NAZIONI IN OCCASIONE DEL 20° ANNIVERSARIO DEL ‘WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR YOUTH’ ‘TO HIGHLIGHT YOUTH PRIORITIES IN THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA’ (29 maggio 2015) 

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, Colleagues,

Italy aligns itself with the statement made/to be made by the EU representative and wishes to add a few remarks in a national capacity.

First, I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting, which reflects, once again, his sensitivity to this issue and the importance given by the United Nations system to the role of youth for the full political, cultural and economic development of societies.

Italy is very committed to fostering shared solutions for the prosperity and development of young individuals. Youth is protected by our constitution and attention towards young men and women has always shaped our policies and normative decisions. In 2011, for instance, in line with the commitment made under the World Programme of Action for Youth in 1995, Italy adopted an overall package of measures called, “Right to the Future”, aimed at granting young people access to credit so they may study, buy a house as a new family, or start a new business.

We believe that the proposals contained in the 1995 World Programme of Action for Youth still represent valid guidance for the action of Member States. After 20 years, young people are participating more and more in policymaking and enjoy more opportunities of intercultural exchange. Nevertheless, despite the international efforts to ensure that young people’s aspirations are fulfilled, it is evident that the changing world has created conditions that have made this goal more difficult to reach. The global financial crisis has reduced the resources available for youth programmes and activities and in many Countries has increased hunger and poverty among youths, leading to their marginalization and at times making them more sensitive to extremist ideology.
These phenomena contribute to the increased relegation of young people from society, which actually depends on youth for its constant renewal. The imagination, ideals and energies of young people are vital to the continuous development of the States in which they live.

It is with this approach that Italy is strongly committed to contributing to the international community’s efforts in drafting the Post-2015 Development Agenda that, in the words of the Secretary-General, “wishes to place people and the planet at the center”. We would like, in particular, for young men and women to be at the center of our discussions, while their views and needs must be reflected in the outcome document to be adopted in September.

Our goal is to allow young people full, effective and constructive participation in society – to shape a world fit for them. The next Conference on Sustainable Development serves this goal. Let us not miss this opportunity.

Thank you, Mr. President.