Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of ECOSOC,
ASG Felipe Paullier, Head of the UN Youth Office,
Dr. Sameh Kamel,
Young leaders and partners,
As we bring the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum to a close, I extend my deepest gratitude to the President of ECOSOC for his steadfast leadership, and to every partner who made this Forum a success.
I extend special recognition to the United Nations Youth Office and the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development for their close collaboration with UN DESA.
To the Major Group for Children and Youth, the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations, and all the youth constituencies who shaped our discussions these past three days: a big thank you to all for your vision and dedication.
True to its theme, this Forum has been a powerful platform for meaningful engagement and action.
Young people from every region have proven, once again, that they are not waiting for change —they are driving change.
By addressing water scarcity, advancing clean energy, strengthening infrastructure, re‑imagining cities, or building partnerships that connect local action to global commitments, youth have shown leadership and innovation. Throughout the Forum, youth made it clear that SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17 cannot be pursued in silos. They must be tackled together.
Today’s young people are navigating a storm of compounding crises: conflict, climate change, forced displacement, economic insecurity, pervasive misinformation and disinformation, and deepening inequality.
These challenges threaten to constrain young people’s ability to realize their full potential – especially for youth in Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.
Yet, what defined your discussions this week was not vulnerability. It was youth agency.
A clear message from this Forum is that participation must translate into real, systemic influence.
The United Nations has long facilitated this pathway. Mechanisms such as the UN Youth Delegate Programme, supported by UN DESA, are vital for enabling youth participation in intergovernmental processes. Furthermore, increased contributions of Member States and other partners to the UN Youth Trust Fund could further catalyse innovative action with and for youth.
The UN system, Member States and global institutions share a collective responsibility: to ensure youth engagement is systematic, sustained and tied directly to global policy outcomes.
This Forum also underscored that youth well-being is not an individual pursuit. It must be underpinned by robust systems, accessible services and opportunities, and inclusive environments.
You also reminded us that empowering youth does not mean working in isolation. Sustainable development demands intergenerational cooperation—partnerships that bridge generations, combining institutional knowledge with fresh perspectives, and merging long‑term vision with the urgency of now.
This message could not be more timely. As we look ahead to the 65th session of the Commission for Social Development, I strongly encourage Member States to include young representative in their official delegations. We must ensure that the priorities, insights and solutions articulated here are translated into concrete policy guidance.
The true value of this Forum will not be measured by what was said here, but by the action that follows. The outcomes and recommendations generated will feed into the High‑level Political Forum and other intergovernmental processes, including the SDG Summit in 2027.
As we approach International Youth Day 2026 under the theme “Different contexts, common aspirations,” we are reminded of a universal truth: young people everywhere share a call for dignity, opportunity, inclusion and a meaningful role in shaping their future.
Let us carry the energy of this Forum forward, Let us turn dialogue into tangible action—through policies, partnerships and investments.
With young people recognized as equal, intergenerational partners, a sustainable future is not just a hope; it is within our reach.
Thank you.