10 April 2025 - ¡°We have witnessed how youth can mobilize global action,¡± said Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA¡¯s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, stressing the importance of young people¡¯s involvement in shaping a future that is more inclusive, peaceful, sustainable and fair. ¡°Young people [are] showing up, contributing their skills, expertise, ideas and energy to solve the pressing challenges we are facing today so that future generations are better off,¡± Mr. Li said.
Mr. Li¡¯s message was delivered to a room filled with youth leaders who had gathered for the 2024 edition of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. Now it¡¯s that time of the year again, when Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters will open its doors to young people from across the world, inviting them to be part of negotiations and actions that will help the world deliver a more sustainable future, that benefits us all.
Stressing how ECOSOC aims to put inclusivity front and center, its President, Ambassador Bob Rae (Canada), is emphasizing: ¡°We bring together actors across different sectors to identify and commit to action that is going to be transformative and can have a tangible impact in countries and communities. [¡] I am committed to ensuring that we are leveraging these opportunities in an inclusive manner to promote action, ambition, innovation and engagement.¡±
As the world faces multiple crises, the demand for global solidarity and action is urgent. Described as the largest Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ annual gathering of young people, the annual ECOSOC Youth Forum invites youth leaders to participate in discussions that will impact the future of their generation, and generations to come.
¡°Young people ¨C young experts - need to be engaged in all the challenges that humanity faces today,¡± said Mr. Li Junhua. And the need has never been greater.
Taking place on 15-17 April 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, young people will work side-by-side with high-level Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ officials and government representatives, delving into a range of pressing issues. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review at the will also be in focus at this year¡¯s event.
Youth will be able to share their perspectives on good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), life below water (SDG 14), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). By emphasizing science- and evidence-based solutions, the Forum will also encourage innovative and data-driven approaches to addressing today¡¯s most urgent challenges.
Young people will also be part of deliberations related to major conferences taking place this year, including the , the and the . Youth voices will thus be heard in many ways and on diverse topics critical to sustainable development.
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