ECOSOC YOUTH FORUM 2021 – commemorating its 10th Anniversary

Image: Angelina Bambina/Shutterstock.com
Image: Angelina Bambina/Shutterstock.com

WHAT?

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum took place on 7 and 8 April 2021. The Forum provided a global platform for a candid dialogue among Member States and young leaders from around the world on solutions to challenges affecting youth wellbeing. It also served as a unique space for young people to share their vision and actions as well as to provide youth perspectives on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

The 2021 Forum’s discussions were guided by the overall theme of the 2021 ECOSOC and HLPF: “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”. The discussions took place around the SDGs under review at the 2021 HLPF, namely, SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 and 17.

WHO?

The 2021 ECOSOC Youth Forum was convened by the President of ECOSOC and was co- organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), in collaboration with the United Nations Inter- Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD), and co-convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO), with technical input from youth organizations relevant to the theme of the forum.

Youth leaders from around the world had the opportunity to engage with government representatives, youth delegates, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders in civil society and the private sector.

HOW?

The two-day event featured plenary sessions, interactive thematic and regionally-based discussions, and provided an opportunity for a rich exchange of views and ideas on innovative solutions to issues of relevance to young people on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and also on the sustainable development goals under review in the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum in 2021.

Information

Concept Notes, Statements and Archived Videos

7 April 2021

10X10: TEN YEARS OF #ECOSOCYF - BUILDING UP FOR A DECADE OF ACTION

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM 

#YouthLead: Young People in the Driver’s Seat to Build Back Better (Concept Note; Video)

(9:30 AM – 10:00 AM)  

Moderator: Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary-General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (Video)

  • H.E. Mr. Carlos A. Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica (Video)
  • Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) (Video)
  • Ms. Nadine Khaouli, Co-Founder, Kafe be Kafak and Member of Generation 17 (Video)
  • Ms. Chandra Tripura, Founder & Director, Hill Resource Centre (Video)

ACHIEVING THE SDGs WITH AND FOR YOUTH (Concept Note; Video)

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Moderator: Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary- General's Envoy on Youth (Video)

  • Statements delivered by Member States, Youth Representatives and International Organizations (9-11 am; and 11 am-1 pm)

Parallel Thematic Breakout sessions

1:30 PM – 5:15 PM

Thursday, 8 April 2021

Parallel Regional Breakout sessions

Plenary Sessions

Achieving the SDGs WITH AND FOR YOUTH  (Concept Note) 

1:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Moderator: Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary- General's Envoy on Youth

  • Statements delivered by Member States, Youth Representatives and International Organizations (1:30-3:30 pm)  

     
  • Leaving No Youth Behind: Addressing the Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19 for Vulnerable Youth Groups (Concept Note) (2:30 PM – 4:00 PM)   

Moderator: Mr. Derrick León Washington, OHCHR Minority Fellow at OHCHR

  • Reflecting Back and Looking Forward – Celebrating A Decade of the Youth Forum and the Start of Decade of Action (Concept Note) (4:00 PM – 4:30 PM)  
  • Closing Session of the ECOSOC Youth Forum (4:30 PM – 5:00 PM)