Torchbearers for the SDGs: Consultation on Meaningful Youth Engagement & 2030 Agenda

Youth Consultation on June 30, 2023, on the Road to the SDG Summit

Torchbearers for the SDGs: Consultation on Meaningful Youth Engagement & 2030 Agenda

It is my honor to raise the voices and our Call for ACTION at the #APFSD Youth Forum at the Youth Consultation on meaningful youth engagement on SDGs.

We call for meaningful and inclusive youth engagement at all levels of decision-making. Youth inclusion, gender equality, and human rights must be at the center of implementing policies and actions.

Prioritize gender equality, human rights, equity, meaningful and inclusive youth engagement, comprehensive sexuality education, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). These services should be included in universal health coverage policies, plans, and financing mechanisms.

Join us at the APFSD Youth Forum to come together, make an impact, take action, and CHANGE the World into a better place for all.

Our statements were replied to by Mr. Guy Bernard Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy. He said that the United Nations Secretary-General has plans to enhance the youth delegation program with meaningful youth engagement at all levels of decision-making, not limited to the UN but down to the grassroots, local, and national governments. He further stated that the process will have a monitoring framework to ensure that real action is being taken. There could be a Youth Townhall meeting at the UN to have an impact and strengthen multilateral collaboration.

Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, had very inspiring statements and replied to the need to engage more youth in policymaking and the UN. There will be more consultations in the following months to hear from more young people.

The consultation was very fruitful, with an exchange of views and perspectives from various youth delegate groups across the globe.