Global Youth Mobilization welcomes UN Secretary General's 'Our Common Agenda' report

• Our Common Agenda report sets out the UN Secretary General’s vision on the future of global cooperation and reinvigorating inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism.
• Global Youth Mobilization welcomes commitments on strengthening youth representation in decision-making, urgent action to protect and deliver global goals on climate change, peace and public health, eradicating violence against women and girls and proposal to establish a new UN Youth Office.
• Young people from across the Big 6 youth organisations and Global Youth Mobilization influenced the outcomes of the report.

The Global Youth Mobilization and it’s Big 6 youth development partners welcome the publication of an important report on the future of our planet. Our Common Agenda looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation and reinvigorating inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism.

The report comes at a critical time for young people and the health of our planet. Covid-19 and the impact of measures to control the virus threaten the prospects and future opportunities for future generations. Education disruption, employment loss, a crisis in mental health and increased gender-based violence are just some of the challenges young people are grappling with currently, and which have the potential to leave long-term negative impact.

The actions and policies over the coming years of the UN, other inter-government organisations and governments will be fundamental to helping to reverse these threats.

This is why Our Common Agenda is so important. It represents an opportunity to change the direction of travel and to harness the power, energy and creativity of young people to help combat the biggest challenges – from climate change, peace and security to public health.

The Global Youth Mobilization is calling on the UN, governments, businesses and civil society to recognise the need to come together and to protect the rights and interests of future generations by delivering on the recommendation set out in the report. We call on member states to work with UN agencies and civil society to deliver on the commitments to strengthen youth representation in decision-making, urgent action to protect and deliver global goals on climate change, peace and public health, eradicating violence against women and girls and the proposed upgrade to UN institutions, including a new United Nations Youth Office.

Commenting on the report, Ahmad Alhendawi, Chair of the Global Youth Mobilization Board and Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement said:

“The Our Common Agenda report is an important step in rebuilding a better, greener and more inclusive world. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted a generation of young people. Millions of young people have had their education and employment prospects severely impacted; inequalities have widened, and climate change has never been more of a threat to our shared prosperity.

We therefore welcome the Secretary General’s report and recommendations. In particular, we look forward to working with UN agencies, member states and civil society partners to ensure more meaningful, diverse and effective representation of young people in our institutions, that the new UN Youth Office is representative and accountable to the needs of young people and a renewed social contract to protect human rights and sustainable future.”

For more information, please visit: www.globalyouthmobilization.org

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For inquiries and interview requests, please contact:

Media interview opportunities

Members of the Global Youth Mobilization Board (see here) are available for interview, including Youth Board members and the Chair, Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)

About the Global Youth Mobilization

Global Youth Mobilization is a movement of young people taking action to improve their lives now and in a post-COVID-19 world.

Supported by the world’s largest global youth organisations, World Health Organization, and United Nations Foundation, Global Youth Mobilization aims to address the negative impact of the pandemic on young people and support them to build back better.

There are an estimated 1.2 billion young people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic response measures. Disruptions to education, employment, services and social support have changed the future of an entire generation. It is more important than ever that governments, policy makers, academics, business leaders and civil society come together to find innovative ways of supporting communities and providing hope to younger generations.

With support from the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, Global Youth Mobilization will support and scale-up youth-led solutions and youth engagement programs across the world. Young people are an essential part of the solution to pandemic recovery. Investing in programs, policies and initiatives led by and for young people will bring about sustainable change in the livelihoods and health of young people now and in the future.

The Big 6

Formed in 1996, the Big 6 Youth Organizations are an alliance of leading international youth-serving organizations. The Big 6 comprises the five largest youth movements in the world:

World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and a leading programme for youth development, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (The Award).

Together, the Big 6 actively involve and engage more than 250 million young people, contributing to the empowerment of more than one billion young people during the last century

Further resources and information

• Website: https://globalyouthmobilization.org/
• Local Solutions platform: https://globalyouthmobilization.force.com/s/
• For further campaign messaging and a breakdown by theme (from education disruption to mental health and more), please find the full campaign toolkit here
• All campaign assets, including logos and artwork, are available here
• Young People Championing Post-Pandemic Futures: Policy Recommendations from the Big 6 Youth Organizations