Eurasia Diary has conducted an exclusive interview with Noura Berrouba, who have been appointed as representatives for Swedish youth in the United Nations (UN) in 2016.

Eurasia Diary: what is the enthusiastic and progressive role that you have been elected for this position in the leadership role of the youth?

Noura Berrouba: The process for appointing the youth representative is through the national council of the youth organizations in Sweden, which is the umbrella organization for youth institutions. I have been actively involved in European Youth Parliament in Sweden and in Europe for the past five years. I was on the national boards for two years and working with the board of national committees in Europe and traveling to over 40 conferences and trainings all over Europe. So for the past five years I have talked to people from very diverse backgrounds and from many different countries in Europe. They have open call each year for the representative that youth organizations can nominate a candidate and then they have this whole interview process as they select the person present to the board of national council of the youth organizations. So I was nominated by the European youth parliament in Sweden. I was very thankful and very happy knowing that they have given me this honor to represent the Swedish youth in UN. 

Eurasia Diary: What are the current challenges of the Swedish youth that all other Europe countries you can’t see?

Noura Berrouba: The thing with youth is that youth is affected by every global issue. Of course, there are issues where youth are selectively targeted. Poverty and hunger, access to clean water, gender equality, climate change, health, right to education, the right for critical participation, displacement, refugee issues, all of these are issues young people face with. However, exclusively in Sweden there is the issue with unemployment, discrimination, stigmatization of mental illness, issue of young people getting stressed due to the lack of financial means for them. All these issue that I have mentioned all young people are facing. These all related to young people’s right being involved into the process and also the implementation of these issues.

Eurasia Diary: How you see today Swedish government initiative to expel 80.000 asylum seekers? How you see this as a youth representative, as the youth have been expelled from the Sweden as well?

Noura Berrouba: I don’t have a comment, it is the case that they have gone through the right process, do not meet the criteria. in general the case with dealt with the refugee crisis it is unacceptable to close the borders, the way we talked about issues, while we talk about issues EU member states facing while in fact issue is refugees. We think that we have the privilege to say no to people. I think it is inhumane and sad to watch.

Eurasia Diary: How you think the EU countries and Sweden as well should tackle migrant issue?

Noura Berrouba: The migrant issue in this case should be tackled on an EU level, so the way that the member states have not taking any refugees is putting the burden on some countries. We need to have Europe wide agenda for this time of crisis, for this humane crisis in the history, the biggest refugee crisis since the WWII. We need local and national levels responses. We see new people, educated people, diverse expertise that will contribute to our societies and of course, there is so much that could be gained by the member states by accepting these refugees. There are few member states that accepted a lot of refugees. We have changed our minds over and over on the presentation. I don’t like how Sweden goes out saying that we will never close our borders. Our Prime Minister said: “In my Europe there are no borders”. When the actual responsibility hits in he changes his mind. I want strong leadership from European politicians.

Eurasia Diary: What are the current social and humanitarian, cultural issues prevailing in the Swedish society?

Noura Berrouba: Of course, everything regarding migration as we have already spoke about refugee’s crisis; this is surely, a social and humanitarian issue. There is the issue of discrimination, inequality, we are getting our way solving on these things. There needs to be done more. The National Council of Youth Organizations this year has the youth movement as an anti anti-democratic force. Basically, the youth movement will serve as against the anti-democratic forces. I think the populist and right wing extremism in all forms is something that youth movement has an impact to.

There is a lot to learn in the way to handle these things among countries and societies as I am looking for.

Eurasia Diary: How much you are optimistic about your role, how will you contribute in this responsible role?

 Noura Berrouba: Having this role is honor and great responsibility and I look forward to have and do my best to represent Swedish youth. I am aware of the many of the challenges the youth face. Youth are my peers, my friends, and I will do my absolute best to speak with youth from all over Sweden throughout the year and to listen to what they have to say and utilize their expertise and experiences. The youth is a very idealistic group and one of our biggest strength. The fact is that young people are more connected than any group which means that when we see an issue, information and event we see it as peers have connection to them.

We are important players in social, economical and political arena. Without youth it is very difficult to create sustainable solution for the future and for today. So I take this role at most importance. I will make sure that there voice is being heard in the global arena.

Eurasia Diary: Being a youth representative, female do you believe in the feminism?

Noura Berrouba: Definitely I am feminist.

Eurasia Diary: What will be the male youth and how they will expect to get benefit from your position or any progressive role?

Noura Berrouba: Feminism is not about promoting one group’s rights. It is about making sure that people have equal opportunities and rights so in that way I would never even think about it. I would rather have a very whole picture of Swedish youth will al gender and sexual backgrounds.

Eurasia Diary: What are your message to the people in Syria, in war torn societies, a message to them?

Noura Berrouba: I think one of the most important things is to include young people in policy making a follow up implementation processes. And I hope for nothing else than best for young people in Syria, to regain their rights, liberties to get the things that should have as granted. I want to tell them that we are your allies and peers and we will fight for your rights.  We will never forget about the struggles of the people globally.