Building on the 1997 UNESCO Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Towards Future Generations, the new Declaration on Future Generations focuses on inclusion, resilience, and long-term thinking in policy-making, anchored in human rights and science.
The Pact for the Future recognizes the vital role of youth in shaping the future and commits UN Member States to invest in young people across the board: from amplifying youth rights to improving youth mental health and from fostering non-discrimination and social inclusion to building intergenerational solidarity. The Pact also calls for improved and meaningful participation of youth in decisions and solutions that affect our world.
UNESCO’s Youth Programme, coordinated by the Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS), welcomes the adoption of the Pact and its Declaration on Future Generations. Youth are central to our societies and key to our investments in the future. In line with the Pact’s commitments, UNESCO SHS is partnering with young people to amplify their voices, creativity and activism today and for a better future.
- The Global Youth Grant Scheme resources young leaders and youth organizations to deliver novel solutions at the grassroots.
- The strengthens institutional capacities to dialogue and engage with youth in designing national policies and programmes that integrate youth needs and solutions.
- UNESCO’s cutting-edge research on critical issues like mental health, and political participation provides new lenses through which to understand the realities of youth.
- UNESCO’s youth networks, such as the Global Youth Community (GYC) and the UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network (YoU-CAN), connect young changemakers to amplify their action and voice.
Summit of the Future
Since 2022, UNESCO’s Youth Programme has been actively contributing to the preparation of the Summit and its outcomes relevant to youth and future generations. This was also the case during different events at the Summit itself.
Youth Action Day
On 20 November, Youth Action Day, UNESCO co-led the "#YouthLead: Governance for Human Rights, Peace, and Security" session. Young leaders Anoushka Sinha and Marie-Claire Graf from UNESCO’s youth networks (the GYC and YoU-CAN respectively) highlighted the need for youth not just to have a seat at the table, but to actively participate in national and international processes with sustainable and diverse representation. Zambia also shared its success in developing a national youth policy with UNESCO's support, ensuring youth involvement at every stage.
“Advancing Youth Political Participation” Side Event
On 23 September, attending the High-level side event on “Advancing Youth Political Participation”, UNESCO’s Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences, Gabriela Ramos, stressed that increasing youth engagement in governance is essential to bridging the gap with future generations and holding decision makers into account.
It is an opportunity to improve policy outcomes and achieve sustainable solutions, by moving away from conventional approaches and vested interests that block rapid progress in addressing the climate, digital or demographic transition.
Roundtable Event on “Youth, Peace and Climate Security”
Key discussions took place at the roundtable on “Youth, Peace and Climate Security,” co-organized by UNESCO and other partners on 19 September. This event followed the announcement of a Global Framework for Youth, Peace, and Climate Security at COP 28. During the roundtable discussion, Ms. Ramos made a key intervention, emphasizing UNESCO's dedication to fostering a youth-inclusive strategy for climate action and peacebuilding through a video message.
Looking beyond the Summit of the Future, UNESCO is ready to continue its support to the Pact and the Declaration.
