IF I DISAPPEAR GLOBAL REPORT ON PROTECTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN CIVIC SPACE This is a research report, commissioned by the United Nations Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, with the financial support of the Government of Norway. The paper is a joint civil society, youth-led and United Nations initiative, with the support of the Protection Working Group of the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security. If I Disappear Global Report on Protecting Young People in Civic Space Author: Rita Izsák-Ndiaye Visuals and Graphics: Cesar Duarte Design and Layout: Ronald Baumann Editing: Intertranslations The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the United Nations, any of its affiliated organizations or their Member States. © 2021 Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth All rights reserved Suggested citation: United Nations If I Disappear Global Report on Protecting Young People in Civic Space TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS ..............................................................................................................................3 ABOUT THE AUTHOR ................................................................................................................................4 ABOUT THE PROTECTION WORKING GROUP .....................................................................................4 ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................6 1. INTRODUCTION PROTECTING YOUTH IN CIVIC SPACE ...........................................10 1.1. Background Information .................................................................................................11 1.2. Frameworks on Youth and Protection ...........................................................................11 1.3. Problem Statement .........................................................................................................12 1.4. Research Methodology and Process .............................................................................13 1.5. Terminology.....................................................................................................................14 1.6. Limitations of the Study .................................................................................................15 2. BARRIERS AND THREATS AGAINST YOUTH IN THE CIVIC SPACE ........................17 2.1. Sociocultural Barriers and Threats ................................................................................21 2.2. Financial Barriers and Threats .......................................................................................23 2.3. Political Barriers and Threats .........................................................................................26 2.4. Legal Barriers and Threats .............................................................................................31 2.5. Digital Barriers and Threats ............................................................................................33 2.6. Physical Barriers and Threats ........................................................................................36 2.7. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic ................................................................................39 3. VULNERABLE GROUPS WITHIN YOUTH GROUPS ........................................................42 3.1. Young Women .................................................................................................................43 3.2. Youth Minorities ..............................................................................................................45 3.3. Youth Migrants, Young Refugees, Internally Displaced Youth, Non-citizens, and Stateless Youth ........................................................................................................48 3.4. Youth with Disabilities ....................................................................................................50 3.5. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex Youth .........................................52 3.6. Youth in Rural Communities...........................................................................................54 4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................56 4.1 Conclusions ..............................................................................................................................57 4.2 The Joint Youth Appeal ............................................................................................................58 4.3 Recommendations Towards Ensuring Safe Civic Space For Young People .................67 ENDNOTES ...............................................................................................................................................74 ANNEX .......................................................................................................................................................79 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................................................84 FOREWORD BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Throughout history, young people have always been at the forefront of change. They challenge injustice and inequalities and push for participation and accountability. They are often extremely creative and inventive when it comes to pointing democratic deficits and discrimination. They organize peaceful protests to restrictions on access to education and employment, election results, advocate for peace and climate action, and fight for non-discrimination and equality. Countless times, youth have been successful in influencing debates of national and international importance and prompting social change. At the same time, in many instances, youth remain underrepresented in, or totally excluded from, formal decision-making processes. This is despite overwhelming evidence that when youth are engaged, when their voices are genuinely heard and taken into account, when they are empowered and can influence decisions, there are multiple benefits for societies at large. When young people are successful in carrying the human rights message, through youth-led and youth-serving organizations, but also in their individual capacity or as part of informal movements and networks, they increasingly face threats and attacks, offline and online. Governments and institutions, including the UN, are sometimes unprepared to deal with and adequately respond to the specific risks and age-based, as well as multiple discrimination patterns, young people are confronting. In his Call to Action for Human Rights Secretary-General Antonio Guterres committed the UN system to pay more attention to the rights of future generations. He emphasized the criticality of space for young people to participate in shaping the decisions that will affect their future. He also pledged UN support for Member States developing protection mechanisms for human rights defenders and environmental activists, particularly young people, women and girls. Indeed, participation will only be meaningful and inclusive when those who participate can speak their minds freely and safely and feel that they can provide candid and critical inputs and feedback. All relevant actors must therefore proactively consider and address the specific risks, threats and challenges that young human rights activists face in carrying out their efforts to protect and promote human rights. At the international level too, to honour everyone’s human right to participate, we must do more to combat intimidation or reprisals that aim at preventing these crucial voices from speaking out and raising alarm. Against this backdrop, I am confident that this report, by showcasing the personal experiences of young human rights activists, peacebuilders and community mobilizers, the dangers they face and the price they pay for their human rights work, will help all of us, in the UN, and beyond, formulate policies better suited to the needs of young activists. To overcome the many challenges we are collectively facing, we need all the energy and creativity out there – together, let’s make sure we can work towards a fairer, more equal and human rights respecting and participatory world. 1 FOREWORD BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL’S ENVOY ON YOUTH In every corner of the world, young people drive positive impact and change towards a more sustainable, just, equal and peaceful world. It is due to their unwavering persistence and activism that we have seen significant progress in the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making, policy development and all aspects of programme implementation. As a result, young people are increasingly recognized as active global citizens and advocates for human rights, peace and security, humanitarian action and sustainable development. It is therefore critical that, despite continuous setbacks and challenges, we acknowledge the tireless advocacy led by youth, civil society and other stakeholders for more inclusive decision-making spaces where young people participate and