United Nations Open Working Group insists on the role of youth in the post-2015 agenda

From the 3rd-7th February 2014, the Eighth Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals took place in New York at the United Nations headquarters.

Launched by the General Assembly in January 2013, these meetings are aimed at integrating sustainable development goals in the post-2015 UN development agenda. Working on issues - among others - such as promoting equality (including social equality, gender equality and women’s empowerment), the UN Major Group for Children & Youth (MGCY), which took part in the session, delivered a statement on inequalities.

In this statement, Tagaloa Morrissey (Pacific Youth Council), speaking on behalf of the Group, underlined the inequalities and discrimination faced by young people all around the world - especially the most excluded ones. According to the group, the new UN development framework should fight against this discrimination and, using youth inclusion and autonomy, fight the structural barriers that allow them. A strong commitment to enhancing young women’s rights has also been made.

In its concluding remarks, the co-chairs underlined the fact that “Promoting participatory governance can contribute to conflict prevention. It is crucial that such governance include both women and men as well as young people and all vulnerable groups including indigenous peoples.”

The European Youth Forum could not agree more on the MGCY’s statement, as autonomy and inclusion for young people is at the heart of its strategic priorities. The European Youth Forum also welcomes the fact that youth participation is taken into account in the co-chairs concluding remarks.

The Open Working Group is expected to submit a report in September 2014 and the European Youth Forum hopes that youth rights will be taken seriously in it.

Read more: Statement on inequalities - UN Major group for Children & Youth