Last week, April 7 and 8, the United Nations launched the first virtual ECOSOC Youth Forum. The Forum created a platform for candid dialogue between Member States and young leaders from around the world. Topics during the Forum include potential solutions to address challenges that affect the well-being of young people around the world. This year’s theme was on sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
ECOSOC Pre-Event
Before the Forum, a side event on Uniting Adolescents during COVID-19 and beyond was held.
The session highlighted the importance of taking immediate to improve adolescent health through a virtual dialogue between young people and global ministers where both groups discussed long-term priority solutions outlined in the worldwide Call to Action on Adolescent Wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 recovery.
The session was hosted by Mercy Juma, broadcast journalist at BBC Africa. She was joined by leaders like Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Alejandra Acuña, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and more.
Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety Youth Advisory Board member, Omnia el Omrani, talked about the Coalition and how it supports young people and amplifies their voices and efforts to make great and positive impacts in their communities, particularly when it comes to addressing the biggest killer of youth worldwide; road crashes.
“Being part of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety who mobilized over 400 young leaders from over 80 countries, I see how youth play a critical part in addressing the number one cause of death in children and adolescents – road crashes. Now, we need policymakers to engage us and shape a safe post-pandemic world that protects our health and well-being” – Omnia el Omrani, Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety.
ECOSOC Youth Forum
This year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum was guided by the theme “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery of sustainable development.”
Opening remarks were given by His Excellency, Mr. Munir Akram, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency, Mr. Volcan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the General Assembly, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and Ms. Anika Jenne Dorothy, Executive Director of the Green Congress of Kenya.
During the opening session, Global ministers acknowledged the fact that young people hold the key to achieving the targets in the 2030 Agenda.
“Your insights are essential to the work of the United Nation. We need to hear from you. Never doubt your power. Together, you are 1.8 billion strong” – Volkan Bozkır, President of General Assembly.
The Coalition had a total of sixteen delegates from its members all over the world. They include Alison Collard de Beaufort from the USA, Alex Ayub from Kenya Maolin Macatangay from the Philippines, Kenny Mulinde from Uganda, Olivia Nalwadda from Uganda, Matías Ivan Shulz from Argentina, Ritu Jain from India, Shashank Misra from India, Nkumbuye Amie from Rwanda, Omnia el Omrani from Egypt, Tendekayi Marapara from Zimbabwe, Sana’a Khasawneh from Jordan, Thiago Gruner from Brazil, Soumita Chakraborty from India, Mohamed Eissa from Egypt, and Estiara Ellizar from Indonesia.
During the Forum, the Coalition’s delegates helped raise awareness on road safety and sustainable mobility by pushing for more commitment to put it into the 2030 Agenda.