Young People Today...

Two enlightening documents worthy of your consideration.

On the one hand, the Statement of the NGO Global Meeting World Youth Conference 2010 which demands, inter alia:

2. Guarantee the rights of young people, including the right to safety, food and water; the right to education; the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights; the right to decent work, the right to freedom of assembly, expression and movement; the right to participation; and the right to non‐discrimination.

In case the code-words sexual and reproductive health and rights are not sufficiently clear, they are unpacked later:

5. Fully recognize young people’s sexual and reproductive rights, particularly the right to choose, through achieving universal access to confidential, youth‐friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including access to evidence‐based comprehensive sexuality education, in formal and non‐formal settings. Implement key effective interventions in the continuum of care for maternal health, including access to a full range of contraceptives and safe abortion.

and

3. That Governments recognize LGBT as part of the spectrum of gender identities and ensure that young people that identify themselves as such have their Human Rights upheld; as outlined in the Yogyakarta principles in reference to gender and gender‐based violence, and uphold the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the Beijing Platform for Action; CAIRO; and Belem do Para.

Contrast this with the Statement of Youth to the UN and the World, Promulgated by the International Youth Coalition. This is premised on a different set of assumptions and beliefs, viz:

Young People are Relational Beings,

Parents are the Primary Educators of Young People

Rights of Youth are Based on Their Evolving Capacities

The Right to Life is Inviolable from Conception to Natural Death

Youth are Participants in Development and Employment

A Proper Understanding of Sexuality and Healthy Relationships Must be Respected

Man and Woman are Based in Nature

Youth Must be Protected Against all Crimes of Exploitation

If, like me, you believe the second to be better - in every way - than the first, sign the declaration at CFAM