World Humanitarian Day Panel Discussion "Youth in Humanitarian Action"

Part I: Panel discussion ‘Youth in Humanitarian Action’:

Dear Survivors of attacks on humanitarian workers,
Dear Families and Friends of the Colleagues Lost in Humanitarian
Service,
Distinguished Panellists and Moderator,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen:

A warm welcome to today’s ceremony to mark the World Humanitarian Day which this year is dedicated to the topic of One Humanity. This Day was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2008 in remembrance of the day of the brutal terrorist attack on the UN Office in Baghdad in 2003 where 22 of our colleagues were killed, including the UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

This is a very special day for us, as we honour those, who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and those, who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions. It is also an occasion to draw attention to humanitarian needs worldwide and the importance of international cooperation in meeting these needs.

In his message on World Humanitarian Day, the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, asked everyone to sign on to the United Nations “World You’d Rather” campaign. “As well as raising awareness and building empathy, the campaign has a concrete goal: to raise money for the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund and to enrol the support of individuals everywhere as Messengers of Humanity”, he explains in his message.

Ladies and gentlemen, the best way to prevent people in humanitarian situations, including humanitarian workers, from dying, is to prevent humanitarian crises from happening in the first place. Under the headline “Moving from delivering aid to ending need”, the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, at the World Humanitarian Summit in May in Istanbul launched a new Commitment to Action, aiming not only to meet humanitarian needs but also to reduce them over time. We have to address the root causes that underpin the continuous increase in demand for humanitarian action. Poverty and inequality are often the breeding ground for conflict, and the ensuing humanitarian crises perpetuate poverty. Fragile states with protracted crises were least likely to make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. An estimated 93% of the people living in extreme poverty live, not surprisingly, in fragile countries.

With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit, the linkages between humanitarian action and development have been stated as clearly as ever. When implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the other important policy frameworks adopted last year, we must break down the silos between humanitarian response and development work, between disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation, with the aim of achieving a more coherent approach.

As we set out on this new course of action, everyone needs to be on board. I want to particularly emphasize the role of youth in humanitarian action. Young people have participated actively in drafting the new development agenda. They are also especially affected by humanitarian crises. As we speak, half of the 1.4 billion people living in countries affected by crises and fragility are under the age of 20. Crises, especially those related to conflict, erode social and family ties and leave young people especially vulnerable. Missing out on education and work experiences has a lasting impact on young peoples’ chances in life on a long-term basis. How can a prosperous future be built on the shoulders of a broken generation?

It is crucial, that young generations are empowered. And indeed, young people are at the forefront of providing humanitarian aid. Their passion and idealism often make a real difference on the ground. Young humanitarians can help us understand the broader needs of youth in humanitarian crises. They can be the sources of innovation. I myself started my career as a young humanitarian at UNHCR and I can look back on unforgettable and great moments. The experience from that period of my life continues to be a strong source of inspiration in my daily work.

The importance of youth in humanitarian action was highlighted at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul. As one tangible outcome of the summit, a Youth Compact to reshape humanitarian work was adopted at the Summit’s official Special Session on the theme of “Transforming Humanitarian Action with and for Youth”. The Compact is an unprecedented collective commitment of key actors to ensure that the priorities, needs and rights of young women and men, girls and boys affected by humanitarian crises are addressed. Young people should be informed, consulted and meaningfully engaged throughout all stages of humanitarian action. The Youth Compact demands that young people’s capacities be recognized and strengthened to allow them to be effective humanitarian actors. Special support should be given to local youth-led humanitarian initiatives and organizations. Resources intended to address the needs and priorities of adolescents and youth affected by humanitarian crises have to be increased and better tracked. Over twenty-five partners committed to this Compact including Governments, donors, UN System entities, private sector organizations, INGOs, and major youth organizations and networks.

In International Geneva, considerable work is already under way in the key areas mapped out in the Youth Compact. Let me welcome our distinguished panellists who will share their experiences and thoughts on young humanitarian workers here in Geneva and elsewhere in the world.

It is my great pleasure to now hand over to Ms. Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga, Vice-President of the Association of Correspondents Accredited to the United Nations and of the Swiss Press Club, who will be our moderator today.

I wish us all a very fruitful discussion.

Thank you very much.