The Forum of Children, Adolescents and Youth of Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 took place at ECLAC's headquarters in Chile in the framework of the ninth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of the region on Sustainable Development (April 13-16).

Children, adolescents and youth from Latin America and the Caribbean shared their experiences, concerns and demands regarding implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region, calling for the construction of truly participatory processes in which young people are seen as providing solutions in challenging contexts such as today's, at the Forum of Children, Adolescents and Youth of Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, which took place on Monday, April 13, 2026 in the framework of the ninth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development.

The event's inauguration featured remarks by Ester Sena, Deputy Focal Point for the Group of Children, Adolescents and Youth MeSCALC - MGCY; Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of the Social Development Division of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); and Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs (via video message).

At ECLAC's headquarters in Santiago, Chile, Ester Sena pointed up the breadth of views represented at the event and the commitment of the region's youth to sustainable development. "This is a very powerful space precisely because of its diversity," she said, urging for more intergenerational exchange of experiences since, she noted, today's struggles converge with paths that began to be forged a long time ago. "It is time to dialogue, not just among ourselves as young people," she insisted, stressing "the importance of building real participatory processes" in the region.

Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of ECLAC's Social Development Division, asserted that "this is not a symbolic or secondary space within the Forum of the Countries of the region on Sustainable Development. It is a substantive space inscribed in a conviction supported by the evidence that we have been gathering at ECLAC over the last three years: it is not possible to move towards inclusive social development without incorporating in an effective way the voice, experience and proposals of youth in public decision-making processes. You are not here today just to share opinions. You arrive with a whole process behind you: a process built through local dialogues, online consultations and exchanges with multiple actors."

Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the United Nations (UN), indicated that "a few weeks ago, we launched the core principles for meaningful youth participation at the UN. These principles, which arise from the UN Pact for the Future, offer a road map for ensuring that young people participate as true partners in each stage of their work with the UN, so I want to invite you to use them in all your initiatives. Looking ahead, our task is clear: we must create spaces where young people are not invited at the end but instead, as in this Forum, they are involved from the start as partners in forging the decisions that affect their lives."

During the Youth Forum, participants took an in-depth look at five of the 2030 Agenda's Goals: SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation; SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy; SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure; SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. In addition to posing the urgency of making progress on access to water, energy justice and the reduction of the structural inequalities that characterize the region, the speakers asked that recognition be given to the role of youth as key actors for innovation and entrepreneurship, not just as economic drivers but as solution providers in the face of complex challenges.

"Inclusive sustainable development is not something we can build individually, it is something we have to build in the broadest way possible, collectively, intergenerationally and intersectionally," stated Antonio Palma, Regional Focal Point for the Group of Children, Adolescents and Youth MeSCALC - MGCY and member of the Latin American Network of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and their Families (RIADIS).

The final statement of the Forum of Children, Adolescents and Youth will be read officially on Thursday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. local time in Chile (GMT-4), during a plenary session of the ninth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development.

Their conclusions will also be presented at the Youth Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which will take place on April 14-16 in New York.

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