The 2023 ECOSOC (UN Economic and Social Council) Youth Forum is held at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie E)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the need for young people "to lend their energies, ideas, innovations, and talents in the preparations for September's SDG Summit."
UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- In his video message to the 2023 ECOSOC (UN Economic and Social Council) Youth Forum, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted the urgent need for young people to engage in finding solutions to the challenges facing the world today.
Guterres emphasized that the world needs young people "more than ever," from climate change to conflicts, poverty, and inequalities. He acknowledged that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are "slipping out of reach," and that developing solutions to these challenges is the "driving force" behind the forum's discussions.
The top UN official also spoke about the new UN Youth Office that will be fully operational this year and the UN policy brief launched last week on "Meaningful Youth Participation."
The policy brief calls on governments "to expand and strengthen youth participation at all levels of decision-making," establish a dedicated youth consultation mechanism in every country in the world, and a global standard "on meaningful youth participation."
Furthermore, Guterres urged member states to ensure that youth engagement "is at the heart of UN decision-making processes" and strengthen critical avenues for youth participation, including the ECOSOC Youth Forum.
He also called for the establishment of a standing UN Youth Townhall process and other measures "to ensure diverse, effective, and representative youth participation across all that we do."
The secretary-general stressed the need for young people "to lend their energies, ideas, innovations, and talents in the preparations for September's SDG Summit."
The world is counting on leaders "to arrive with concrete commitments," including clear ambition on tackling poverty and inequality, as well as support for a massive stimulus package to ensure that all countries can invest in SDG progress.
In conclusion, Guterres urged young people to stand up for the SDGs and activate their peers, families, and communities. "Let's shape a better future. Let's do it together," he said.
The 2023 ECOSOC Youth Forum is currently taking place in a hybrid format from April 25-26 at the UN headquarters in New York, and has brought together more than 1,000 young leaders, activists, and youth organizations from around the world to engage in discussions on how young people can play a pivotal role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The forum is convened by the president of ECOSOC and co-organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, and co-convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations. ■
