RC Trebucq's Video Message for 2023 ECOSOC Youth Forum

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva, President of ECOSOC,
• Excellencies
• Jaya, Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth
• Young people everywhere,

Hello everyone!

If I were there, I’d say it’s so good to see you all, but in the same spirit, I’m excited that we’re all here together, united to create a world where every young person is empowered.

You gather today to debate on how we can speed up the Youth2030 Strategy and turbocharge the SDGs with youth and for youth. In my experience as a young person in spirit myself, I know that young people bring oceans of energy, and experience in their own ways.

This is why as UN Resident Coordinator; I envisioned that having a sounding board of young people from the many countries we cover in this region was necessary to guide the UN Subregional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in achieving impactful development results.

Because working towards a world that’s more equitable, just and inclusive can only happen if we integrate youth into decision-making. 

This is what we do, hand in hand.

Recently we brought together our amazing Youth Advisory Group in Barbados to interact with the UN Subregional Team. 

And we heard from our amazing 12 young leaders living at the frontlines of the climate crisis, all diverse in their focus, but equally committed to achieving the SDGs. 5 of them, Tyiesha, Taahir, Ronelle, K’Mari and Randall are with you today in New York.

For example, our YAG proposed to speak up to propose solutions to youth unemployment; promote the role of Youth for Disaster Risk Management; to regularly generate social media campaigns on inclusion and create podcast on sexual reproductive health services, and also disseminate better the mission of the UN and Agenda 2030 in their communities.

With only 65 YAGs across all 130 UNCTs, I encourage every UN country Team to have one.

We’re better for having all their voices, and yours too.

So, the same way I encouraged the YAG to step up and make their voices heard, I encourage all the Youths today to raise your voices and be strong advocates against the climate crisis and for the SDGs.

And please continue to imagine what a better world for all of us looks like, because you have what it takes to get there.

And remember always to do one thing - put people at the centre of all you do.

Bonne chance, everyone.