Human Rights Council 60th session
Item 3 - Biennial Panel on Youth and Human Rights.
Statement delivered by Iceland on behalf of youth delegates from Nordic-Baltic States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden
16 September 2025
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of youth delegates from the Nordic-Baltic States.
I thank the panellists for their highly relevant remarks and insights.
Today, I represent the youth of our region, united in commitment to human rights and peace. Young people are not merely beneficiaries of human rights; we are active agents of change and defenders of dignity. Yet many face barriers: limited access to decision-making, safety threats, and tokenistic involvement. In conflict zones, these challenges intensify. Around the world, from Ukraine to Gaza, violations of children’s and youth rights highlight the urgent need to strengthen protections and ensure their safety and well-being. Youth are the first to be sent to wars, but the last to be invited to the tables discussing peace. This must change. [When we look at the intergenerational conflicts going on in the world, young people are the brightest hope in solving them.]
We call on States to fulfil their obligations by ensuring youth access to information, participation, and justice. Adequate investment in youth-led initiatives – education, mental health, climate activism, and inclusive civic spaces – is essential.
We cannot place the expectation of youth being the "future" and solving ongoing global challenges, while disregarding them from discussions going on today. [Young people often overcome barriers diplomacy cannot, especially in promoting equality and human rights.] Leaders should therefore not only welcome youth voices and listen sincerely, but move beyond consultation to genuine co-creation. Without their equal partnership a peaceful, just, and sustainable future cannot exist.
In this spirit, we ask: How can States ensure that youth are not just heard but also given real power to shape policies and decisions?
I thank you.