Feature

Youth Voices

My Hope for the UN in the 21st Century--By Socheth Sok

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations. It also marks the 30th anniversary of the Cambodian people's suffering under the Khmer Rouge regime when approximately two million people were killed in the "killing fields." Such genocide should not be allowed to happen on this precious mother Earth again. 

The next 30 years and beyond must be years of happiness. I hope, therefore, that the United Nations will become a truly humane organization whose members will work selflessly for the benefit of all humanity. I hope that it will make effective efforts to refocus on and fulfill the mission of its Charter. 

My hope is that the United Nations will strengthen the balance of power among all its Member States, regardless of their contributions, and that communication and cooperation within the organization and with NGOs will be strengthened toward the actual fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals; that peace and human security for all people will become a reality. I hope the UN will become a truly effective force for conflict prevention, that the threat of nuclear weapons will finally be removed and that particular support will be given to assist the democratization of Southeast Asian countries.

My Vision as a Youth for the Future of the UN--By Sylvanus S. Murray

Youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and it is the young people of the world who will have to ensure the prolonged existence of the United Nations and give accurate meaning to its aims and objectives. As such, having their voice heard in policy formulation and decision making is vital. I would hope, therefore, that the UN would see youth empowerment and employment as a point of reference in assessing the development of member countries and the granting of financial assistance to countries where often youths continue to be marginalized. 

Tensions will arise if the UN seems to be moving at a slow pace in fulfilling its objectives and ensuring the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, while at the same time raising hopes of young people for empowerment. Sustainable development, which is inextricably linked with the promotion of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and youth development, cannot be realized without comprehending the goals and aspirations of youth and persuading governments to put the interests of young people at the center of policy formulation.

Our Shared Humanity--By Moni Shrestha

Even though the United Nations is sometimes described as too bureaucratic and slow to be effective, I have great hopes for the UN for the future, as its very concept represents an ideal of global cooperation and democracy. I believe the challenge of the current times is for people to think beyond themselves and their immediate interests, to make an effort to respect others and to find a way to transcend the differences between them through dialogue. The same is true for nations and their governments. If we can manage to think "globally" not only in terms of economic advantage but in terms of our shared humanity and with a long-term vision for our shared resource which is the planet we all inhabit, then there can be hope for peace. It is not the existence of the UN in itself that can make a difference, but the vision and courage of each of its Member States, and, ultimately, each of their citizens. It is my hope that in the future we will use the full potential of the UN network and its agencies much further than its existing activities and develop it into a real forum for dialogue.

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