Opening Remarks at the “Leaving No Youth Behind session in the” 2021 ECOSOC Youth Forum

Welcome to all of you! I am delighted to be here with you, to discuss a crucial element of our work with and for young people. 

The principle of Leaving no one behind is the cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is also commitment to eliminate the inequalities that prevent individuals from accessing resources and seizing opportunities to reach their full potential. This applies to one’s own development, but also to one’s agency to positively impact one’s community and country. 

Clearly, the principle and framework of leaving no one behind also applies to young people. When I think of transformative agency, I think of young people, but also of the many barriers they face in accessing services, resources and opportunities. The United Nations family is painfully aware that a large proportion of youth experience multiple vulnerabilities, such as the combination of poverty, low level of education, gender inequalities, disabilities, and this complex reality too often goes unseen, undocumented, and unaddressed. These vulnerabilities are being compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic--preliminary data show that the pandemic’s social and economic effects have increased pre-existing inequalities, pushing vulnerable youth further away from opportunities and well-rounded youth development. 

We also understand that young people’s experiences of the pandemic – and life in general – are extremely diverse, given that “youth” is far from being a homogenous group. We need to do a better job of addressing not only the different vulnerabilities,but also how they intersect with each other. For instance, low incomes, lower education levels, inadequate access to social services and a lack of social protection have exacerbated the risks and consequences faced by young individuals during, and in the aftermath of the pandemic. Our policies and programmes need to take into account young people’s lived experiences and address the root causes of these vulnerabilities and the challenges they raise. 

Out of this pandemic, we want to – we need to – “build back better”. The inclusion of a diverse array of young people is a cornerstone of these efforts to achieve a truly inclusive recovery.

We are here today to listen to, and learn from, an outstanding group of young persons living multiple vulnerabilities and yet, actively – and passionately – engaged in supporting their communities and advocating for them. These young speakers embody dedication to inclusion and show all of those working on the 2030 Agenda how to make the Leaving no one behind principle a reality for all.

Through these stories shared today, we want to foster an intergenerational dialogue with UN practitioners and identify concrete commitments for now, and for the near future, to help ensure that no youth is left behind in the global efforts to rebuild after the pandemic and strengthen our shared resilience. 

To start this dialogue, we are joined by 2 UN colleagues working on the ground with young people. They will share concrete examples of how working with and for vulnerable youth can make a world of difference, both for individual youth and their communities. 

I will stop here so that we can start listening to these amazing young speakers. I will come back at the end to share a few quick thoughts.
Thank you.