{"id":109068,"date":"2023-04-25T13:43:53","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T17:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=109068"},"modified":"2023-04-25T13:47:52","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T17:47:52","slug":"press-release-accelerating-the-covid-19-recovery-and-full-implementation-of-the-2030-agenda-with-and-for-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2023\/04\/press-release-accelerating-the-covid-19-recovery-and-full-implementation-of-the-2030-agenda-with-and-for-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Release: Accelerating the COVID-19 recovery and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda with and for youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Accelerating the COVID-19 recovery and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda with and for youth<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n

World youth leaders gather at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ for ECOSOC Youth Forum to accelerate COVID-19 recovery and SDG Implementation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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New York, 25 April 2023 \u2013 Returning in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, over 1,000 young leaders from around the world will be in New York from 25 to 27 April to attend the 2023 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. This year\u2019s forum will galvanize the talents of young people to address the key solutions needed for a fairer, greener and more resilient future for all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Youth movements around the globe have brought to the world\u2019s attention the importance of listening and working with young people to tackle the various crises we\u2019re facing today. Despite being uniquely vulnerable to the long-term impacts of COVID-19, young people have repeatedly shown resilience and demonstrated that they are crucial players in shaping a more sustainable world.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The annual Youth Forum is a key platform where young people can voice their opinions, engage with Member States and key stakeholders, and showcase the contributions they can make to achieve the youth-specific SDG targets.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Youth Forum comes at a pivotal moment for all of us,\u201d said H.E. Ms. Lachezara Stoeva, President of ECOSOC. \u201cWe are at the midpoint of our commitment to reach the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda in seven years\u2026What we need is immediate, bold and transformative action to reverse course and redirect our energy on accelerating the SDG implementation for and with young people\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About the Forum<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ECOSOC Youth Forum is convened by the President of ECOSOC and co-organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA), and the Office of the Secretary General\u2019s Envoy on Youth, and co-convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Held in a hybrid format, the 2023 Forum will focus on the 2023 HLPF theme on \u201cAccelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at levels\u201d. It will also review progress on key SDG goals on clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and partnerships for the goals (SDG17).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Young people will also gather to share their recommendations and innovative ideas in preparation for the SDG Summit which will be held in September 2023 during the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly. Marking the midpoint review of the 2030 Agenda, the SDG Summit will be a crucial moment to identify the ambitious actions needed to ensure that we get back on track to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, the ECOSOC Youth Forum unfolds against a backdrop of complex global issues, including escalating geopolitical tensions, a relentless climate crisis, growing poverty, a push back against human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the gradual but uneven recovery from the pandemic,\u201d said Jayathma Wickramanayake, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. \u201cNow, as much as ever before, it is critical that we position young people\u2019s voices, expertise and innovative ideas front and center in our efforts to get the world back on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The three-day event will feature <\/span>youth speakers, high-level Government representatives, regional and multilateral organizations, and youth-led entities from all regions. The event will have plenary sessions, interactive and regionally based discussions, and <\/span>side events<\/span><\/a> which will take place virtually and in-person throughout the Forum.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The outcome of the Forum will be an informal summary document of the proceedings by the President of ECOSOC and a Presidential Statement. Youth networks will also bring together youth entities and organizations to prepare the \u201cVoices of Youth\u201d at the ECOSOC Youth Forum.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Young Leaders for the SDGs<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a flagship initiative of the Office of the Secretary-General\u2019s Envoy on Youth. Every two years, 17 young change-makers are recognized for their leadership and contribution to combatting the world\u2019s most pressing issues and catalyzing the achievement of the SDGs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From food to fashion, the Young Leaders for the SDGs represent every region in the world and help young people worldwide in support of the Goals. Many of these world leaders will be attending the Youth Forum to share their initiatives and inspiring actions with Members States and Governments. Learn more about the 2022 cohort members here: <\/span>https:\/\/www.un.org\/youthenvoy\/2022class\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Policy Brief on Youth Engagement<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Forum comes shortly after the launch of the Secretary-General’s policy brief on <\/span>meaningful youth engagement in policymaking and decision-making processes<\/span><\/a>, the third brief in a series in the lead up to the\u202f<\/span>Summit of the Future<\/span><\/a>\u202fin September 2024, to provide more detail on select proposals contained in the Secretary-General’s\u202f\u2018<\/span>Our Common Agenda\u2019<\/span><\/a> report.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The brief highlights key proposals with a view towards ensuring more meaningful, diverse and effective youth participation across intergovernmental decision-making processes at all levels, including through fora like the ECOSOC Youth Forum.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SDG Media Zone<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The SDG Media Zone for the ECOSOC Youth Forum will bring together young leaders from around the world to discuss the crucial themes of the Forum as well as the upcoming SDG Summit in September 2023. Two sessions will be held on 25 and 27 April to open and close the Forum. Further details and links for each session can be found <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Links<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n