17 March 2012: In a speech to the Global Youth Leadership Forum on Inclusive Democratic Governance, Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the important role of young people in creating a better, more sustainable and inclusive future.

Grynspan stressed that the UN has made youth concerns and participation a priority, noting that the report of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability calls on Member States “to include young people in society, in politics, in the labour market and in business development.” She also mentioned that the Secretary-General will soon appoint a Special Advisor on Youth.

Grynspan described progress made on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but identified the empowerment of young people as one among various issues that still require improvement, noting the lack of livelihood opportunities for youth. She said the collective voice of young people was critical to putting the world on a more sustainable path. She therefore urged them to tell their global leaders, particularly as the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) approaches, that they don’t want a future where economic growth, poverty reduction, equity, opportunity, and sustainability “are increasingly in competition, with one objective being traded off to pursue the other.” Grynspan concluded by calling for dialogue between youth and the rest of society, noting that “young people are the solution, not the problem.” [Under Secretary-General’s Remarks]