3 February 2015: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) hosted a group of youth representatives to discuss youth activism and engagement with the UN in the year ahead. The Forum allowed young people from around the world to learn about UN processes on development, climate, and other issues, and share their views and proposals with UN and government leaders.

The ECOSOC Youth Forum took place on 2-3 February 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, and had the theme ‘Youth Engagement in the Transition from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): What Will it Take?’ The Forum has been meeting annually since 2012, and ECOSOC was mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution A/68/L.2 in 2013 to “further promote the integration of youth into its deliberations.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the group of young people that their generation has an historic opportunity to combat climate change, end poverty, fight injustice and create jobs. He said that with 1.8 billion young people around the world, this generation should be seen as a “force of change” with creativity and ingenuity to tackle the world’s problems.

ECOSOC President Martin Sajdik emphasized the need for strengthened participation of young people in the activities of the UN, and welcomed their opinions on climate change, development, education and policy. He said he will release an ECOSOC Presidential Statement capturing the key messages and proposals of the young people participating in the Forum.

During the two-day Forum, the group of global youth representatives heard from a variety of speakers and leaders from the UN system, Member States, and civil society organizations on the subjects of the post-2015 development agenda, youth participation in Africa, gender equality, the World Programme for Action on Youth and other youth processes, climate change and development financing. Participants also engaged in breakout sessions on the topics of the post-2015 process, accountability, measurement, and partnerships.

In a keynote presentation, Thandiwe Chama, children’s rights activist and 2007 International Children’s Peace Prize Winner, called for the rights of children and youth to be central in the next development agenda. Highlighting the need for gender equality, she added, “We cannot achieve the SDGs without ensuring that my rights are the same as those of my brothers…. Strengthen, fund and empower us.”

UN Envoy on Youth Ahmed Alhendawi stressed that youth ownership of the post-2015 development agenda and UN agreements in 2015 will be crucial to their implementation. He encouraged all national delegations to the UN summit on sustainable development in September 2015 to include at least one young person, and called for building more mechanisms for youth participation at the international level.

Alhendawi praised the young people that are doing more than simulating engagement with the UN, but actually participating in its meetings and deliberations. “Today we are not simulating,” he said, “This is the United Nations in action.” [UN Press Release, 3 February] [UN Press Release, 2 February] [DESA Press Release] [Youth Forum Programme] [IISD RS Story on ECOSOC Reforms] [UNGA Resolution A/68/L.2]