Youth delegates of the Czech Republic at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly
11.10.2016 / 00:51 | Aktualizováno: 12.10.2016 / 00:58
During the 71st UN General Assembly (2016-2017), the Czech Republic is participating for the first time in the Youth Delegate Programme. Two Czech Youth Delegates are a part of the official delegation of the Czech Republic to the 71st UN General Assembly. They participate in both, formal and informal, meetings and negotiations of the UN General Assembly and have also presented a statement on behalf of the Czech youth at a meeting of the 3rd Committee of the 71st UN General Assembly, which deals with issues of social development and human rights.
Around 70 youth delegates from over 30 countries participate in the Youth Delegate Programme this year. On behalf of the Czech Republic, the programme is organized in cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and the Czech Council for Children and Youth.
The Czech youth is at the 71st UN General assembly represented by Ms. Petra Bezděková and Ms. Zuzana Vuová.
Ms. Petra Bezděková is a Master’s student of International Relations at the Charles University in Prague. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and European Studies from the Palacký University in Olomouc and studied abroad at the University of Limerick in Ireland. She organized regional National Model United Nations in Olomouc in November 2015 and attended the National Model UN in New York in 2016.
Ms. Zuzana Vuova studied at Pomona College and the London School of Economics. After her studies she worked at the European Union institutions in Brussels. She has been in long term actively engaged with youth issues and worked with youth in different capacities. During her university studies she participated in the Model UN in New York in 2014 as well as the Model EU and she was awarded several honours in debating competitions.
During the general discussion of the agenda item on Social Development at the 3rd Committee, the Czech Youth Delegates delivered their own speech on behalf of the Czech youth. They addressed the most crucial youth issues of today. They called for improved quality of educational systems, for paid internships, more influence in the decision-making processes for the youth and children, and more tolerance and respect to diversity among individuals.
After their return to the Czech Republic, they will continue in their awareness raising work on UN, the Youth Delegates Programme and issues of human rights and youth through seminars at secondary schools and universities. They will also participate in interviews regarding their experience as Youth Delegates and of the work at the General Assembly. They are also planning to organize other talks and workshops for the wider audience all over the Czech Republic.
