The 2nd of June 2023 marked the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA Pledging Conference). I had the privilege of attending the conference and witness the inspiring statements of two young Palestinian student leaders, Leen Sharqawi and Ahmad Abu Daqqa, who shared their life experiences, and positive hope for the future. Despite being surrounded and subjected to cascading crisis, they remain focused and committed to making a difference on their communities. The PGA commendably afforded them the chance and platform to address Member States, something I believe is an important step in the decision-making process.
As a former student leader from a developing country, their message resonated much with me, and I believe it will inspire youth across the globe to be custodians of the interests of their communities. The notion of meaningful youth participation as envisioned in the UN calls for meaningfully engaging youth in decision making, and certainly the pivotal interventions at the Pledging Conference are a perfect example. The first week in the Political Affairs, Peace and Security team has been insightful and I am looking forward to leaning more and augment the skills and knowledge I already have on this field.
