Thank you Mr President.
First let me thank the Special Rapporteur for his report. As we approach the Summit of the Future, the theme, on children and future generations, is timely.
The Right to Development places the focus on States to ensure individuals, including children, can enjoy human rights, have equal opportunity to fulfil their potential and participate in development processes. In our experience, children are willing and able to take ownership of issues that affect their rights. States must continue to encourage and foster this, ensuring that young voices are heard on issues that affect their future.
However, in response to some of the assertions in the Special Rapporteur’s report, the United Kingdom is firmly of the view that human rights are held by those individuals who are alive and these rights cannot be given to future generations or ‘organisms’.
The UK government has made efforts to involve young people as part of our international development efforts including by consulting with the Youth Council on Global Education, a youth board made up of young people aged 16-25 representing civil society organisations to ensure our programming includes a youth perspective.
Do you have any examples of best practice in ensuring active and meaningful participation of children in policymaking?
