“We, the Youth” European Dialogue

"We, the Youth" European Dialogue

The EU Delegation in Geneva, together with the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), hosted a reception for 50 young leaders taking part in the European Regional Dialogue of the International Forum We, the Youth.

The EU Delegation in Geneva, together with the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), hosted a reception for 50 young leaders taking part in the European Regional Dialogue of the International Forum We, the Youth.

Over two days in Geneva (18-19 September), participants aged 18-35 exchanged ideas with Team Europe representatives on how to tackle today's key challenges. Discussions focused on:

• environmental sustainability and climate action
• economic transformation and decent work social justice and equality
• peace, democratic participation and collective action
• technical and social innovation for the public good

EU Ambassador Deike Potzel welcomed the group and underlined the EU's commitment to multilateralism and the belief that collective action and global solutions are the only way forward. In Geneva alone, the EU cooperates actively with the more than 40 UN agencies and international organisations based in the 'European capital of the UN'.

The UN may sometimes appear to be a distant "talk shop" in an ivory tower. But in reality, multilateralism has a direct impact on your lives. We want you to be our partners in shaping policies and co-creating solutions. Youth participation is a cornerstone of democracy.

EU Ambassador Deike Potzel

The reception also brought together colleagues from EU Member State missions, alongside the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Conference on Disarmament, Shin Ji-Sin Song, and UNRISD Director Magdalena Sepúlveda.

The recommendations developed in Geneva will feed into the We, the Youth Global Forum in Seoul this October, where Europe's delegation will join peers from Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America to present regional priorities.

Background

We, the Youth is a global programme co-organised with UNRISD and supported by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). Through regional dialogues, young people submit proposals to drive social change. Following the regional phase, a group of delegates is selected to bring consolidated recommendations to the Global Forum and its concluding conference.