HF 2964

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/15/2010 09:49am

1.1A resolution
1.2urging the United States Mission to the United Nations to create the position of
1.3youth delegate.
1.4WHEREAS, the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) serves as the United
1.5States' delegation to the United Nations; and
1.6WHEREAS, created in 1947 by an act of Congress to assist the President and the
1.7Department of State in conducting United States policy at the United Nations, the USUN is
1.8responsible for carrying out the nation's participation in the world body, and it has served a vital
1.9role as the Department of State's UN branch; and
1.10WHEREAS, today, the USUN has approximately 150 people on staff who serve to
1.11represent the United States' political, economic and social, legal, military, public diplomacy, and
1.12management interests at the United Nations; and
1.13WHEREAS, national youth delegates to the United Nations help to enhance awareness
1.14of the global situation of youth and to increase recognition of their rights and aspirations, while
1.15promoting national youth policies, programs, and coordinating mechanisms as integral parts of
1.16social and economic development, in cooperation with both governmental and nongovernmental
1.17organizations; and
1.18WHEREAS, youth delegates also help to strengthen the participation of youth in
1.19decision-making processes at all levels in order to increase their contribution to national
1.20development and international cooperation; and
1.21WHEREAS, member states of the United Nations have long recognized that the
1.22imagination, energy, and ideals of young people are vital for the continuing development of
2.1the societies in which they live, and the inclusion of youth delegates leads to better policy and
2.2programmatic responses to the problems facing young people today; and
2.3WHEREAS, the United States currently has no youth delegate to the United Nations; and
2.4WHEREAS, while the costs of creating a youth delegate position from the United States
2.5would be minimal, the potential benefits are enormous: giving young people a role and a voice in
2.6seeking to address today's challenges would enable them to become key agents for development,
2.7social change, economic growth, and technological innovation; and
2.8WHEREAS, by enabling more effective participation of young people, the nation can
2.9benefit from their energy, idealism, unique perspectives, innovation, and creativity; young people
2.10are the experts on the issues that affect them and are integral to achieving effective and enduring
2.11solutions; and
2.12WHEREAS, when young people are empowered to participate more fully in society and
2.13decision-making processes, they become engaged as partners in shaping the world they will
2.14inherit and pass on to future generations; and
2.15WHEREAS, the creation of a youth delegate position would be a tangible demonstration by
2.16the United States government of their commitment to young people, improving relations between
2.17the government and United States youth; in addition, it would promote youth representation
2.18and participation in an organization such as the United Nations General Assembly and inspire
2.19young people to take a greater interest in citizenship and become more involved in international
2.20issues; and
2.21WHEREAS, a youth delegate position will provide an opportunity for the United States to
2.22comply with United Nations resolutions on youth representatives while maintaining autonomy
2.23over the process, and will allow the United States to legitimately represent the views of United
2.24States youth and promote their voices in global decision-making; NOW, THEREFORE,
2.25BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the United
2.26States Mission to the United Nations to create the position of youth delegate.
2.27BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.28directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United
2.29States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of
2.30the United States House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over
2.31the USUN, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.