UN General Assembly special event: Youth play a strong role in global change making

The special event towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the 25th September. The meeting, which the Youth Forum attended, concluded with several outcomes and was open to representatives of civil society organizations, academic institutions, youth groups and the private sector. Preceding the special event on the 24th September was an inaugural meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development under General Assembly auspices, where the Forum was also present.

At the event, leaders identified remaining actions to take in order to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and provide guidance on priorities requiring focus. Plenary meetings and four high-level, multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions focused on addressing gaps and weaknesses in the MDGs, accelerating their implementation and preparing for the post-2015 development agenda.

On behalf of the Major Group for Children and Youth, Phillipa Gardner from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts delivered a statement during the forum. She stressed that world leaders are responsible for guaranteeing that young people receive opportunities for meaningful engagement during the decision-making process.

Youth are responsible for actively contributing to these discussions and partnering in the post-2015 development agenda’s implementation and evaluation. Young people must be treated as equal partners in building a future fit for all. Their active inclusion will ensure that together they are building a strong new generation that’s aware of its challenges and ready to make a difference.