Today, the Regional Youth Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean opened in Quito, Ecuador. Gathering youth from over 20 countries in the region, as well as representatives from governments and civil society, including the Organización Iberoamericana de Juventud (OIJ), the Foro Regional de Juventudes LAC 2014 builds on an initiative from Montevideo.

“Last August, I called from Montevideo for a regional forum for youth in Latin America and the Caribbean to feed into the ECOSOC Youth Forum. Today, together with the UN regional development group in LAC, we are happy to be in Quito, Ecuador, to join forces with youth, governments, and civil society,” said Ahmad Alhendawi, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.

Ahmad Alhendawi addressing the Regional Forum.

Ahmad Alhendawi addressing the Regional Forum.

The well attended forum in Quito.

The well attended forum in Quito.

 

The objective of the Regional Forum is to facilitate a space for dialog between adolescents and youth and various sectors in the region in order to generate consensus that leads to the formulation of  recommendations for the post-2015 development agenda, and its links with the ICPD+20 and Beijing+20 processes. Another expected outcome of the gathering is creating or reinforcing alliances between the participating governments, civil society organisations, and agencies to promote the inclusion of youth in the regional and global agendas.

Performance during the opening ceremony.

Performance during the opening ceremony.

Youth participating in the forum.

Youth participating in the forum.

The UN Envoy on Youth with Ms. Cecilia Vaca Jones, H.E. the Coordinating Minister for Social Development of Ecuador.

The UN Envoy on Youth with Ms. Cecilia Vaca Jones, H.E. the Coordinating Minister for Social Development of Ecuador.

Juventudes LAC 2014.

Juventudes LAC 2014.