Secretary-General's message to the Ninth International Young Leaders Assembly

I am pleased to welcome all participants to the 9th International Young Leaders Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters. I thank the Permanent Mission of Paraguay for bringing more than 1000 young leaders to the United Nations over these years. 

Last September, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – our global plan for people, the planet and prosperity.

As part of the largest generation of young people the world has ever known, you can help realize this transformative vision. I count on your drive, idealism, and fresh ideas to forge solutions to global challenges.

The United Nations is giving priority to working for and with young people. I am proud to have appointed the first-ever Youth Envoy, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, who is serving as a link between young people and the United Nations.

The United Nations is also rising to address the jobs challenge. There are more than 70 million unemployed youth, and more than twice as many young workers living in a state of poverty. In response, the UN system launched the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth earlier this year. Last week, I announced the appointment of a new Special Envoy for Youth Employment, former Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, who will work with my Youth Envoy, the International Labour Organization, and the rest of the UN system to respond to the youth unemployment challenge.

As visionaries, you have created some of the world’s most disruptive and innovative technologies. As budding philanthropists, you have founded socially driven companies and organizations.

As entrepreneurs, you are not simply seeking jobs, you are creating them. You have already changed the world as we know it and I am sure we can count on you to do even more in the future.

The United Nations stands with you. Together, let us build a world that is more peaceful, prosperous, and just for generations to come.