As Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi brings to a close his tenure as the first-ever Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, a position he held since January 2013, see below some of the highlights of his last week at the United Nations.
Mr. Alhendawi’s last week at the United Nations was kicked off with the official opening of the 2017 ECOSOC Youth Forum at which he provided remarks reflecting on the progress he witnessed of advancing the global youth agenda at the UN over the past four years.and sharing lessons learned. He shared that, “
Watch Alhendawi’s remarks at the Opening Session of the 2017 ECOSOC Youth Forum here:
During the two-day Forum, which was co-organized by the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Mr. Alhendawi undertook numerous speaking engagements as well as also the moderation of one of the Forum’s interactive Ministerial Roundtables.
Participating in the first ever SDG Media Zone held in parallel to the 2017 ECOSOC Youth Forum, Mr. Alhendawi was interviewed by Ms. Carolina Medina, the Co-Founder of Agruppa and a member of the first class of Young Leaders for the SDGs. Speaking with Ms. Medina, Mr. Alhendawi reflected on the progress of the ECOSOC Youth Forum over the past years, saying, “We’re seeing an amazing momentum happening around youth issues,” and “An increased recognition of the centrality of youth to international peace and development.” The SDG Media Zone interview allowed for the interactive online engagement of viewers from all over the world, who had a final opportunity to pose questions to the Envoy and engage with him remotely.
Watch their discussion here:
While in his opening remarks the Envoy had been looking back on his 4-year term, in his closing remarks at the ECOSOC Youth Forum, Mr. Alhendawi as the outgoing Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth looked forward at what in his view the UN can do better to continue to advance the youth agenda. Amongst other efforts he called for a reconsideration of the now more than twenty-year old World Programme Action on Youth (WPAY), saying, “It just doesn’t speak to the realities and the needs of young people today.” Alhendawi also spoke about the “invisible goal” of youth development within the Sustainable Development Goals and the need for support of reporting on youth development related indicators. Talking about the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Alhendawi underscored the need for continued investment in supporting and strengthening existing infrastructures and the organization of youth work at the UN. Regarding the ECOSOC Youth Forum, Alhendawi called for the consideration of formalizing the meeting as a way to advance the much-needed dialogue between Member States and other stakeholders in the youth sector, to which the large and ever-growing number of participants, including Member States attending at the highest level of authority for youth and other participants attest to. Finally, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth recommended further financial investment in youth in a possible global fund for youth development and peace.
Watch his speech in full here:
http://webtv.un.org/search/closing-session-ecosoc-youth-forum-2017/5305819365001?term=youth%20forum
Later in the week, joining the High-level Panel at the 55th Session of the Commission for Social Development on the theme of “Promoting Integrated Policies for Poverty Eradication: Youth Development in the 2030 Agenda”, Alhendawi highlighted how the 2030 Agenda and other frameworks for development can contribute to and enhance development efforts and outcomes for youth and echoed his calls for further youth investment and consideration of youth engagement moving forward. http://webtv.un.org/search/4th-meeting-of-the-commission-for-social-development-fifty-fifth-session-1-10-february-2017/5308224295001?term=Csocd55
The outgoing Envoy on Youth undertook several media engagements during his last week at the UN Headquarters. Reflecting on his four years of service with and for the world’s youth, Alhendawi sat down with the UN News Centre team in New York to look back at all the progress regarding youth development and also look ahead to the needed investment in youth leadership. Take a listen to a part of that conversation here:
UN Radio: Putting youth in leadership positions always “pays off”, says UN envoy: http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2017/01/putting-youth-in-leadership-positions-always-pays-off-says-un-envoy/index.html#.WJo39G8rLRY
Read the full transcript of the interview here: http://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2017/02/un-news-centre-exit-interview-with-outgoing-secretary-generals-envoy-on-youth/
In delivering his final public remarks as the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Mr. Alhendawi joined the closing session of the Winter Youth Assembly 2017, a youth-led and youth-focused conference held at UN Headquarters. Addressing youth participants who filled the iconic UN General Assembly hall, he spoke to the importance of youth engagement and empowerment and his ever-stronger belief in the United Nations. Speaking about the value and power of public service, Mr. Alhendawi said, “To work for the United Nations you don’t have to have a contract, or a badge, or to show up at this building every morning, but to work for the United nations all you have to do is subscribe to its values and the principles.” In ending his remarks, he called on the youth participants to “Believe in a cause and work hard for it” and to not “Think about changing the entire world” but simply, “changing something in this world to make it a better place No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
Watch Mr. Alhendawi’s remarks here: http://webtv.un.org/search/ahmad-alhendawi-un-envoy-on-youth-closing-session-winter-youth-assembly-2017/5309393361001?term=ahmad%20alhendawi
Mr. Alhendawi has completed four years as the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and will soon be joining the World Organization of the Scout Movement as its Secretary-General, taking up this position on 1 March 2017. Through his service, leadership and commitment, he has brought young people closer to the UN, and the UN closer to young people. He has demonstrated that young people have what it takes to be leaders in any field, including in the world of the United Nations. In his new position heading one of the largest youth organizations with over 40 Million members around the globe, Mr. Alhendawi will continue to work closely with the UN for the creation of a better future for youth. He expresses his sincere thanks for the outpouring of congratulatory wishes that followed the announcement of his departure and is wishing all success to his successor to continue supporting youth development around the world.