The ECOSOC Youth Forum 2024 Side Event titled "Towards a Global Standard for Meaningful Youth Engagement in the Pact for the Future," took place on April 18 at the European Union Mission to the UN. Organized by the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace in conjunction with UN Youth Delegates and Youth Representatives from Austria, Czech Republic, the European Union, Ireland, Kenya, Malta, Switzerland, and the USA, this event was part of the broader theme of the ECOSOC Youth Forum, the theme being: “Youth shaping sustainable and innovative solutions: Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of crises.”
The upcoming Summit of the Future later in September is set to address the topic of youth engagement at the highest level. The ECOSOC Youth Forum serves as a pivotal platform for young people worldwide to engage in dialogue on sustainable development. The summit aims to produce a Pact for the Future, which seeks to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The zero-draft of this pact has requested the Secretary-General to lead the development of a global standard for meaningful youth engagement.
The primary objectives of this side event were twofold. First, to define standards and develop actionable recommendations for meaningful youth engagement by establishing clear guidelines in policy and decision-making processes. These guidelines align with the Secretary-General's Policy Brief, ongoing negotiations on the Pact of the Future, and specifically SDG 16.7, which aims to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels. Second, to foster substantive dialogue by facilitating intergenerational and interactive discussions exploring youth involvement in policy-making processes in line with SDG 17.
Have a look at the event reports below, as well as the recording of the event and the keynote video!