Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
At the Youth4Water & Climate Connect: Networking Night,
Sunday 9 June 2024,
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
[As Delivered]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Esteemed Colleagues,
Dear Youth,
I sincerely thank the organizers for inviting me to join you this evening – and it is indeed my privilege.
You – the young people – represent the voices of both the present and future generations.
As critical agents of change, you are the torchbearers of our world – and your active and sustained engagement such as this is very much needed to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all, and to strengthen and deliver sustainable development and the SDGs.
Dear Friends,
Water and sanitation are at the core of sustainable development – underpinning our efforts to address poverty and hunger, and to advance economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Access to clean water and sanitation is now universally recognized as a fundamental human right – essential for health, education, gender equality, and development.
Increasing young people’s access to clean water can enormously impact personal lives and futures – particularly in reducing inequality.
But – in many parts of the world – girls are more likely to drop out of school and lose their right to education simply because they are needed to collect water, among other challenges.
Recognizing the indispensable role water plays across all facets of society, it is imperative that we empower young people to actively engage in shaping policies and decisions related to water resources.
This involvement is crucial for advancing our global agenda,especially the SDGs, and bolstering multilateralism – the cornerstone of the United Nations, imperative for redirecting the current trajectory of tensions and conflicts.
My Dear Friends,
We cannot take water availability and sustainability for granted.
In this regard, cooperation in water-related matters requires multi-stakeholder commitment – including civil society, local communities, women, and especially, you the youth.
Embracing a holistic approach to participation and decision-making across society is paramount for devising and implementing sustainable solutions for water management.
Encouragingly, strides toward this goal are being made.
As you may recall, last September at the SDG Summit, we witnessed a significant leap forward – as Heads of State and Government recognized the pivotal role of you, the young people,in achieving a more sustainable future.
The previous year, in September 2022, the General Assembly approved the establishment of the UN Youth Office – which is critical in spearheading the advocacy and integration of youth issues across the United Nations system and agenda.
Efforts are also underway to negotiate a Declaration for Future Generations, as part of the outcome of the upcoming Summit of the Future in September – setting out a new vision for future generations and their prosperity.
These initiatives illustrate that it is possible and necessary to actively engage youth in discussions and decision-making processes that affect their future.
As my contribution to these endeavors, in April of this year, I also hosted an event titled #AskPGA: A Conversation with the Youth– aimed at involving young people in discussions about safeguarding the planet’s ecosystems and promoting sustainable production and consumption.
Moreover, I have been actively listening to the voices of youth worldwide – including in our discussion today, to better grasp their interests and concerns.
I am also proud to share that my office runs the PGA Fellowship Programme – offering a distinctive platform to amplify youth engagement and gather their insights on addressing the challenges they confront.
I urge you, the young people, especially those from developing nations to seize this invaluable opportunity to deepen your understanding of multilateralism, the work of the General Assembly– which I am privileged to lead – as well as the United Nations system at large.
I must take a moment to commend you all on the creation of the ‘Youth for Water and Climate Network’ – an initiative that is especially timely given Tajikistan’s recent signing of the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action.
It is inspiring to see the youth of Tajikistan actively bridging their voices with the global community to influence climate mitigation and adaptation strategies -and – I encourage you to persist in these efforts and continue leading the way for a sustainable future.
Dear Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My office and I are always ready to engage with all stakeholders, including youth, at all levels to listen to their perspectives, ideas, and aspirations.
Your engagement – the youth – in these processes will not only drive forward our global agenda but also ensure that we build a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world for future generations, while leaving no one behind.
You – the youth – with your energy, innovation, and commitment, are at the very heart of this mission.
Together, I trust we can fully empower you to be the change-makers of today and the confident and creative leaders of tomorrow.
I thank you.
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