Girls, boys, adolescents and youth of the region advocated today for higher levels of participation in the sustainable development process of Latin America and the Caribbean, during a meeting held within the framework of the seventh meeting of the Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Countries on Sustainable Developmentwhich will be held from April 15 to 18, 2024 at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile.
During the 2024 edition of the Forum of girls, boys, adolescents and youth of Latin America and the Caribbeanthe youth presented their different realities and experiences, as well as their specific proposals and recommendations for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.
“Latin America and the Caribbean faces the urgency of accelerating compliance with the 2030 Agenda. Youth, being the largest population in history, must assume a leading role on this path towards a more equitable, just and peaceful future. With more than 165 million people between 10 and 24 years of age in the region, our voices are fundamental to chart the route towards sustainable development,” said Valentina Paz Carrasco Soto, representative of the Group of Girls, Boys, Adolescents and Youth of the region and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
“Poverty, malnutrition, climate change, violence and corruption are realities that affect us directly and indirectly, challenge us and demand action from us,” said Carrasco at the opening of the event, which also included welcoming words from Felipe Paullier, Undersecretary for Youth Affairs of the United Nations (UN), via video message; and Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of the Social Development Division of ECLAC.
During the meeting, the youth held a high-level intergenerational dialogue with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, and senior officials from agencies, funds and UN programs, including Najat Maalla M'jid, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children (online); Susana Sottoli, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Georgiana Braga-Orillard, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Chile, who highlighted some of the challenges facing the children and youth in the region, such as violence, food insecurity and limited meaningful participation in decision-making.
“This space is very valuable for us, girls, boys, adolescents and youth of the region. We believe that having a constructive conversation is key to building alliances and achieving the SDGs and social inclusion that we so need as a population group,” said Maria Sujkowska, Global Focal Point of the Children and Youth Group of Latin America and the Caribbean and representative of the Norte Grande Studies and Development Corporation of Chile, at the opening of the dialogue in which young people from Brazil, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, among other countries, also participated.
As explained, the Forum is the result of three months of virtual dialogue in which girls, boys, adolescents and young people from the entire region participated, Hispanic, Portuguese and English speakers and speakers of indigenous languages, migrants, from rural sectors, from the community LGBT, HIV-positive, people with disabilities, social leaders and people from different realities and contexts.
“As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, your commitment is not optional, but essential. Your ideas and hard work are key to unlocking transformative changes,” United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the youth, highlighting the great leadership that the young population has shown on crucial issues such as climate action. She also valued the inclusion of youth voices in all United Nations decision-making processes, inviting them to actively engage in each of them, especially during this year's Future Summit.
“In our quest for more productive, inclusive and sustainable development, it is undeniable that we face enormous challenges: poverty, the climate emergency, the double burden of malnutrition and unprecedented levels of violence, to name a few. These are not isolated problems, but interconnected obstacles that disproportionately affect young populations in all countries in the region. We need to count on youth for a truly transformative, sustainable change that guarantees the prosperity of future generations,” said José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs.
“As Executive Secretary of ECLAC, I am deeply committed to empowering our youth, providing them not only a platform to express their concerns, but also a meaningful opportunity to influence the policies that shape their futures and an opportunity to discuss ideas to transform the world,” added the senior official.
The Forum of girls, boys, adolescents and youth of Latin America and the Caribbean 2024 included discussions on regional youth processes, SDG 17 (Partnerships to achieve the Goals) and the role of youth in the Future Summit (which will take place place in September of this year convened by the UN).
This Forum is an integral component of the activities organized by the ALC Regional Children and Youth Caucus MEsLAC – MGCY, together with its affiliated organizations and members, in collaboration with key partners such as ECLAC, the United Nations Agricultural Organization and Food (FAO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Youth Working Group of the Regional Collaboration Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean.
