YMCA @ UN ECOSOC YOUTH FORUM 2019, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW


The ECOSOC Youth Forum is a platform where young people can exchange ideas and develop recommendations on issues of importance to them, engaging in dialogue with Member States as well as regional and global actors.   

The 8th Annual Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum takes place in New York from the 8th-9th April 2019 at a critical point in time as the world is working to address the disadvantages of the current trends in globalization, which are not sufficiently sustainable or inclusive. It will address the theme, “Empowered, Included and Equal”, which is aligned with the theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) which focuses on inclusion and equality in 2019.[i]

The 2019 Youth Forum can also be the space for a broader dialogue that considers the historic Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018) on youth, peace and security.  The Youth Forum will create a space for a dialogue on youth actions and policy options in this regard that can also be used to feed into the High-Level Event on Youth, Peace and Security that the President of the General Assembly will be convening in in the near future. [ii]  

The World Alliance of YMCAs has had United Nations ECOSOC Consultative Status since 1947, representing the needs of over 60 million people in 120 countries across 1200 communities. The World YMCA has a strong local YMCA presence worldwide, with local resources and global talents readily available with many inspiring projects implemented by local YMCAs that can be presented as global best practices for advancing the Sustainable Development Goal. 

Fast becoming the global leader in making young people’s voices heard at the United Nations the YMCA is prepared to participate fully and meaningfully through the representation of its youth volunteers drawn from around the world with different expertise on local, national and international issues who have been groomed for high level policy interaction and engagement.

The YMCA shall be presenting three position papers in the area of Employment, Environment and health. These position papers are well grounded as evidence from the One Million Voices, World YMCA research conducted in 2015 where 20,000 young people across 20 countries were surveyed on the hypothesis of what concerns them in different areas of human endeavour.  

In the area of employment the YMCA believes that young people are valuable – and vulnerable - as economic participants[iii]; Every young person has a right to contribute to the world’s development and wellbeing; Young people are gifted creations of God and can lead changes when equipped and supported; No young person should be on a NEET (Not in education, employment or training) situation; We should strengthen our programmes that create opportunities and capabilities for enterprise and employability; We should continue prioritizing radical improvement in youth employment and economic empowerment.

In the area of Environment the YMCA believes that; every young person should live in a sustainable environment; we should be an example of sustainable practices and respect for the environment; young people should be given opportunities to learn and advocate on environmental issues; every young person has the ability to contribute to reducing environmental degradation and its consequences. [iv]

In the area of health the YMCA believes that health is a local and personal concept. Yet, disease and illness know no borders; that the YMCA is well position in local and national level to address health concerns through program response and advocacy efforts; we need to look in depth at our communities, our food systems, our environments and work place; Young people want more health-related information on nutrition, body image and drug/alcohol abuse; health is not just a good thing to aspire to, it is an essential part of being human and a shared responsibility to help all people develop their full potential as; young people have a responsibility to preserve and protect their own health and that of the communities in which they live; empowering people to be healthy in body, mind and spirit is only possible by building healthy communities and addressing social determinants; young people should be given opportunities to learn and advocate on issues relating to health and healthy living.[v]

The outcome of the Forum will be a Presidential Statement, capturing key outcomes of the discussions and findings of the Forum, which will be made available to the ECOSOC High Level Segment and the High-level Political Forum convened under the auspices of ECOSOC in July 2019 and the General Assembly in September 2019. An informal summary of the proceedings by the President of ECOSOC with highlights of discussions will also be produced. Specific recommendations will also be shared with decision-makers of these events, processes and frameworks linked to the various sessions included in the agenda. The outcome will also contribute to all ECOSOC formal events, to be organized in 2019.

Young people across the world who are unable to make it to this meeting are highly encourage to follow and participate through the digital space using the World YMCA social media handles and that of the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum. 

Cedric Dzelu
World YMCA Youth Empowerment Volunteer


[i] Background notes, ECOSOC 2019
[ii] Background notes, ECOSOC 2019
[iii] World YMCA Position Paper on Employment
[iv] World YMCA Position Paper on Environment
[v][v] World YMCA Position Paper on Health


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