GAP-JOURNAL 2012/13 - AFA

MartinC.Wittmann
Innovations torespect therights offuturegenerations
The OmbudsmanorGuardianfor future generations
“We borrow environmental capital from future generations with no intention orprospect
of repaying (...) Weact as we do because we can get away with it: future generations
do not vote; they have nopolitical or financial power; they cannot challenge our
decisions.” (Brundtland Report “Our Common Future”, United Nations 1987)
The future generations that the Brundtland Commission was concerned about are now
more than 25 years ofage. The International Labor Organization (ILO) refers tothem as
a“lost generation” becauseofthe continuing alarming youth unemployment rates which
remained virtually unvaried from the peak of the economic crisis in 2009 (12.7% globally,
ILO 2012). The ILO states that the youth unemployment crisis continues and that
the youth unemployment rate isnot expected to decrease until at least 2016. Youth
unemployment isabout twicethe average unemployment rate(Eurochild 2012).
Even inrich countries, child poverty has assumed alarming proportions. Across the EU,
19% of children are atrisk ofpoverty compared to an average of 16% for the total population.
Many young people, frustrated by high unemployment rates, have abandoned
their job search altogether, or decided tocontinue their stay inthe education system.
The economic crisis inthe EU has resulted inaround two million youth dropping out
from the labor market (European Commission 2013).
Many young people are forced into low-productivity, temporary orother types ofprecarious
employment. Indeveloped economies, youth are increasingly employed intemporary
and part-time jobs, while in the developing world many perform unpaid work
supportinginformal familybusinesses or farms.
In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development inRio de Janeiro
recognized that “the younger generations are the custodians ofthe future and the need
for better quality and access toeducation beyond the primary level.“ (United Nations
2012)
The integrated and interdependent nature of the new challenges and issues contrasts
sharply with the nature ofthe institutions that exist today. These institutions tend to be
independent, fragmented, and working to relatively narrow mandates with closed decision
processes (United Nations 1987). Itmust be stated that currently there is alack of