Committee : United Nation Development Program (UNDP)

Country : The Netherlands

Today’s world is global, increasingly both risks and threats are interconnected and millions of people across the
world face the interrelated threats of extreme human poverty and human insecurity. The events of recent years
have shown how our economic, social and political security are in a state of fragile balance, and cannot be taken
for granted. In the face of such tightly wound interdependence, traditional solutions to social and cultural
challenges need to be re-examined.

It is no longer credible to look narrowly at the causes and solutions to the problems that face all countries, whether
north or south, rich or poor. Human security is a classic example of the shift in thinking that is happening with its
origins in humanitarian responses and responding to crises, there is increasing recognition of the need to take a
broader perspective on drivers of insecurity and potential solutions. Human security approaches must emphasise
dignity and resilience, with communities at the heart of effective responses.

The human security approach priorities just these concepts. It identifies freedom from want, freedom from fear,
and freedom to live and die in dignity as the building blocks of a more secure and sustainable world. It emphasises
pillars of protection and empowerment, and responsive accountability at the heart of comprehensive, multisectoral
programmes to protect lives and improve well-being.

Human security, in its broadest sense, embraces far more than the absence of violent conflict. It encompasses
human rights, good governance, access to education and health care and ensuring that each individual has
opportunities and choices to fulfill his or her potential. Every step in this direction is also a steep towards reducing
poverty, achieving economic growth and preventing conflict.

Human Security emphasizes the importance of the prevention of violence and the transformation of conflicts by
addressing their root causes. It is an interdisciplinary concept, at the convergence of norms/activities on human
rights, people-centred development and security. It extends to many areas of daily life such as people’s
livelihoods, their access to and control of natural resources and economic opportunities, physical and social
security, the security to be able to associate and peacefully assemble as citizens, to express oneself spiritually and
politically, and speak fearlessly on issues of concern. When conflicts related to these areas remain unsolved and
are not properly addressed by governments, they can lead to violent conflicts which terrorists and violent extremist
groups can take advantage of, leading to a further deterioration of human rights and the dignity of communities.

Together with communities, we work to protect and sustain the daily security of people. Human Security means
that people in their communities and neighbourhoods are enabled to decide which policies, interventions and
initiatives are helpful for their security. We make connections between communities and policymakers and law
enforcers to facilitate engagement on ways human security can be implemented. From experience on working
with women, youth and faith-based leaders we have learnt that the understanding of policymakers, authorities and
law enforcers on what makes people secure or insecure in their own context has to be the starting point for security-
and development-related initiatives to succeed. Policymakers need to be made aware and understand that lack of
safety and security in communities is not simply a security issue but has deep social, economic and political roots
and consequences. Communities and local leaders benefit from an understanding of policies and programs that
aim to address security threats and directly affect them. A dialogue between communities and policymakers and
law enforcers, such as community police, requires a facilitated process given the critical need to build or rebuild
trust between people and authorities. Only by bridging this gap can we work towards a more effective approach
to enhance safety and security in communities and societies.

In the Netherlands, the term youth is applied to children and young people from 0 up to the age of 24.
Approximately one-third of the Dutch population falls into this category, and one in five young people have an
ethnic background. As in most other industrialized countries, the proportion of youth in the total population is
decreasing.
The vast majority of young people (85%) present no cause for concern: their average level of education is rising,
they are healthy and happy, and they get on well with their parents.

However, the remaining 15% do need some additional support. A small number of young people (5%) may be
said to have serious social and/or psychological problems for which they may use child and youth care services.
These services include ambulant care, day care, residential care and foster care, both in youth protection and youth
mental health care.

Youth policy is high on the political agenda in the Netherlands. There are a number of distinguishing
characteristics. Firstly, since the late eighties, a large number of tasks formerly managed by central government
have been transferred to local and provincial administrative levels. This decentralisation is meant to facilitate a
broader spectrum of policy instruments for local and provincial authorities, so that they can manage and find
solutions to local issues, needs and demands. Secondly, a distinction is made between general and preventive
youth policy – for which the local authorities are responsible – and the youth care system, the responsibility of
which lies with the provinces. Local preventive youth policy includes education, leisure time, health care, but also
specific preventive tasks, such as access to help and care coordination at the local level (with special focus on
parenting support). The youth care system covers all forms of care available to parents and children in order to
support with serious development and parenting problems.

The Netherlands believe every youth has the right to develop into a balanced and healthy adult. Sometimes, youth
and parents need extra professional help. Schools are often the first place where youth with problems are
identified. When an educator suspects a child need professional help, he or she can contact a Care and Advice
team which is a Goverments Programme. Care and Advice teams, consisting of teachers, youth care professionals,
social workers, police and (depending on the situation) other professionals, try to address these problems at an
early stage. Every school is obliged to have a Care and Advice team.
We believe, identifying problems with children and teenagers at an early stage helps prevent the need for intensive
and long-term care at a later age. The government has taken measures to make youth care more efficient and it
aims to reduce the number of school dropouts.

Young people in the Netherlands are obliged to attend school until they are 18 years old, or have achieved a basic
qualification. It may be in secondary vocational education (MBO level 2), senior general secondary education
(HAVO) or pre-university education (VWO). The government is actively combating school dropout. There are
regulations for under-18s who are working. Unemployed young people receive assistance from central
government to find a job.

At a time of economic crisis, like now, young people are especially vulnerable. Bringing down youth
unemployment is therefore an important goal of the Dutch government. Central government is investing €50
million in 2013 and 2014 to get more young people into work. In addition, an ambassador for tackling youth
unemployment has been appointed for a two-year period up to 2015. The government wants to join employers in
improving job market opportunities for young people by bringing in the following measures: Creating an extra
10,094 jobs combining work and study. The youth unemployment ambassador agreed this on the government’s
behalf with employers and employees in October 2013. Employers can qualify for financial support by making
agreements in their sector about more training placements including those combining work and study. The
government helps by relaxing the regulations and/or contributing financially. The government contributes 50%
of the funding for agreements that help to create more jobs for young people. These include joint schemes by
employers’ organisations and trade unions. €600 million is available for a two-year period.

Youth unemployment is therefore tackled comprehensively by departments of the Ministries of Education, Culture
and Science and Social Affairs and Employment, together with the municipalities, employers, unions and
educational institutes. Cooperation between organizations is not always optimal. And there is room for
improvement of the services. These insights motivated the Dutch government to create Youth and Family Centres
in all municipalities in the Netherlands.

It is also important that young people equally receive good education in all areas, with a focus on the actual
practice. The Ministry of Education Culture and Science focuses on improving the quality of education. Quality
arrangements are made with individual senior secondary vocational education institutes. These arrangements are
an additional instrument through which institutes are supported to raise quality to an even higher level. Sufficient
work placements and apprenticeships must be available and the educational sector must offer courses that are in
line with the demand of the greatly changing labour market.