NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 18 April 2024
Your Excellencies, esteemed delegates, young people,
I want to start by congratulating you all for contributing to the important discussions over these past three days.
I trust you share my immense pride and excitement as we reflect on the historic achievements you have brought to the table.
With thousands of young people joining online and in person, the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2024 stands not only as the largest but also one of the most inclusive and diverse gatherings of youth ever convened by the UN. This monumental accomplishment is a testament to your active engagement, each of you playing a pivotal role in this extraordinary endeavor.
We extend our gratitude to the President of ECOSOC for hosting this forum and to the President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General and the countless Ministers and other government officials who contributed to various sessions throughout the Forum.
Equally as important, we express our appreciation to the multitude of youth-led and youth-focused organizations, civil society partners, international bodies, UN entities, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders who lent their voices to these critical conversations.
Special recognition is deserved by the organizers and participants of the breakout sessions and side events whose dedication significantly contributed to the forum's success. Thank you.
Your active involvement remains pivotal in ensuring effective collaboration towards fulfilling the 2030 Agenda.
However, our journey doesn't conclude here!
In the years we have left until 2030, it is imperative that our solutions align with the aspirations and ideals of young people worldwide.
It’s clear that young people want a world characterized by sustainability, equity, and justice, where no one is left behind.
Dear friends,
Unlike any generation preceding us, today's youth confront a future fraught with interlinked and complex crises, from the climate emergency to mental health challenges and discrimination.
It is key, now more than ever, to foster intergenerational partnerships, not solely to address present challenges but to rectify past shortcomings and collectively build a better future.
With this in mind, allow me to present several concrete recommendations stemming from our discussions:
Firstly, fostering robust relationships with young people is paramount to rebuilding trust in institutions. Young people must be recognized as equal partners in SDG implementation and review processes. We urge stakeholders to value youth expertise and perspectives when formulating policies, crucial for the realization of the SDGs.
Furthermore, meaningful youth engagement should extend beyond youth-specific matters to encompass broader issues affecting young lives, including human rights, peace, security, and sustainable development.
This necessitates ongoing consultations with youth, coupled with systematic follow-up and implementation of youth recommendations, including within Voluntary National Reviews and Universal Periodic Reviews.
Secondly, safeguarding young people's rights and ensuring their safety in civic spaces and political processes are imperative.
The escalating repression faced by youth advocating for human rights and democracy underscores the urgency of this matter.
Lastly, investing in and strengthening youth networks and implementing age and gender-sensitive responses are essential to securely amplifying youth voices.
Evidence-based investments are indispensable. And prioritizing education for sustainable development, green job creation, renewable energy initiatives, and youth-led climate action solutions is paramount. The abundance of youth-led innovations underscores the necessity of adequately resourcing and supporting such endeavors.
At the UN, we are trying to lead by example:
The UN Youth Office has been established, with a bold mandate given by all UN Member States, to take this work to the next level.
We have the UN system-wide Youth Strategy, Youth2030, in place to lead the system in the right direction in working with and for youth. We are set for accelerating over the next years to reach the Sustainable Development Goals
And last year, the Secretary-General launched a policy brief on Meaningful Youth Engagement, with concrete recommendations on how to strengthen young people’s role in deliberative and decision-making processes at all levels.
We need others to join forces and continue this work, including in the lead up to the Summit of the Future.
Today’s discussions in particular have been an important reminder that young people are already actively contributing in the lead up to the Summit, sharing their perspectives and expertise when it comes to shaping multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow.
It will be essential that we continue to bring young people’s voices to the forefront over the coming months, as Governments ramp up negotiations on the Pace for the Future.
The open letter to world leaders, launched by my office ahead of this Forum, is one important advocacy tool at your disposal to help make this happen.
By rallying young people and allies, the letter provides an opportunity for us to collectively mobilize in our calls for leaders to make global policymaking and decision-making spaces more representative of the communities they serve.
To the young people, I encourage you to sign on and seize this momentum, letting your voices and expectations be heard loud and clear.
And to the many governments and other partners who have joined us over these past three days, I encourage you to join in solidarity, showing young people that you are serious about working with them as equal partners in addressing the challenges facing our world.
Dear colleagues,
These past three days have undoubtedly been enriching, thanks to the guidance and support of the ECOSOC President.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Major Group for Children and Youth, the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations, and my dedicated team, for their tireless efforts.
Our heartfelt appreciation extends to our UN colleagues from the Department of Global Communications, the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management, and the Office of Information and Communication Technology, whose invaluable support ensured the forum's success.
Special acknowledgment is due to our interpreters and closed captioning services for fostering inclusivity throughout the event.
Lastly, I extend sincere gratitude to all participants, the thousands of young individuals who led our discussions, and those who joined in from around the world. Your contributions, feedback, and aspirations will inform and shape the UN's ongoing endeavors.
You have collectively propelled the ECOSOC Youth Forum into a historic and momentous occasion for young people worldwide.
Now, more than ever before, it’s clear that it’s time to let youth lead.
Thank you.