The conference on the future, set to begin on Sunday, has been described as an unprecedented opportunity to address existing and emerging challenges and reform outdated international institutions.
Prior to this meeting, a two-day ‘Action Day’ was organized at the New York headquarters, for which youth activists from all over the world gathered in New York.
Philippe Polier, UN First Assistant Secretary-General for Youth, said the future summit was an opportunity for a generation to reshape the multilateral system with a focus on youth.
He said it was a day when it was clear that whatever the agenda – climate, peace and security, sustainable development or human rights – was connected to the youth in every way.
Summit of the future
World leaders are coming to New York to attend the conference, which is expected to agree on a global digital compact and a declaration for future generations.
Apart from this, the proposals for reforming the international financial system and the United Nations Security Council are also being discussed. These institutions were established eight decades ago, when many countries were part of colonial rule.
Ariz, a Yemeni youth activist, said that the lives of children born years from now will be affected by the decisions being made now.
“Whatever we do today will shape their world. “Whether that world is defined by violent conflict, poverty or fear, or by hope, security and opportunity.”
Beyond symbolic steps
Youth activists believe that their involvement in UN affairs is often seen as a symbolic move.
Caleb Brathwaite, head of the Barbados Youth Development Council, quoted Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying that he too believes the current multilateral system was created by past generations.
He feared that the agreement would remain a mere compromise for the future and would instead take the necessary steps. For this he proposed to open branches of United Nations Youth Office around the world.
The young participants expressed their anger that their voices were included in the ceremony, but they were ignored.
The UN chief said he would make every possible effort to promote their participation in dialogue with youth workers.
Committed to improvement
The UN Secretary-General said there is a growing interest in involving young people and in this context some mechanisms are being developed to make their voices heard. But, much remains to be done.
He said a number of reforms would be needed to include young people in the decision-making process, which is not easy in an intergovernmental organization like the United Nations.
According to him, the inclusion of youth, civil society and other stakeholders in the decision-making process is at the heart of future summits and proposed reforms.