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The United Nations belongs to you, deputy head tells youth advocates in Spain |



UN Under-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the head of the urban development agency, UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, were present in Spain amid the World Cities Dayobserved annually on October 31, and the event capitalized on their visit.

Young people are an integral part of the growing network of local and global voices united around Sustainable development goals (SDGs), which promise a fairer, more equal and “greener” world by 2030.

A seat at the table

As strong advocates of climate action and social justice, they have an important role to play in efforts to achieve sustainable development that benefits both people and the planet.

After delivering a few opening remarks, Ms. Mohammed highlighted why youth is needed, especially in light of the current global crises.

The UN continues to emphasize how factors such as COVID-19 pandemics, climate emergencies and conflicts, including fallout from the war in Ukraine, are affecting millions of people and putting the SDGs in jeopardy.

The Deputy Secretary-General spoke about how youth and gender must be mainstreamed in the UN system and reflected in all its work.

Ms. Mohammed also asked her audience how she and the UN could support them.

Leaders of Tomorrow

With young people making up more than 60% of the global population and around 70% of city dwellers, they are both city innovators and leaders of tomorrow, said Ms Sharif.

She recalls that in the run-up to the United Nations Habitat III conference on housing and sustainable urban development, held in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016, young people set their own standards. them to assess global progress to date.

United Nations organizations in Spain are encouraged to invite youth representatives from different backgrounds to participate in the dialogue.

Knowledge and movement

They include Lina Amir, a youth representative from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, who shared her perspective from the health and prevention field. She talks about how young people are discouraged from getting involved in politics, for example due to factors such as fear and insecurity.

Ms. Amir suggests that knowledge is needed to overcome this, and that decision-makers should create more programs to help young people become more confident. She added that more intergenerational spaces need to be established to find common solutions, while dedicated spaces must be created to bring youth opinions into political debates. .

José Martín from the nonprofit CIFAL Málaga, says promoting youth leadership requires two things: training and advocacy.

Young people should have a deep understanding of the world, about environmental, social and economic sustainability, as well as Agenda 2030 as a road map for the future, he says, and this training should be mainstreamed across all levels of education – from kindergarten to university.

Advocacy should take place through dynamic and practical workshops where young people become leaders and can share their opinions and views.

UN belongs to the youth

In her closing remarks, Ms. Mohammed said that every generation needs to be proactive.

Young people today have social media platforms at their disposal, and while these can be great communication tools, she warns that they can leave people with a limited view of what they are doing. things, instead of seeing the world bigger and with multiple perspectives.

She spoke about the importance of representation, and the need to open up space for young people, adding that young people themselves should have their say.

The Deputy Secretary-General said the UN must also let young people speak, and really listen to them.

She agrees that a conversation between generations is needed, as well as new forms of community to break down the barriers that separate us in society, such as young and old, parliamentarians and constituencies.

Finally, she reminded the participants that the UN belongs to the youth, so they themselves must make the UN their own and reshape it. Democracy also belongs to young people, she added, but lately many do not vote, meaning they are underrepresented.

She called on young people to defend democracy, fight for it and defend the rights of young people.

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