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Young people are driving solutions to today's most pressing global challenges and their meaningful participation is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future. On the sidelines of , the Â鶹APP Youth Office is launching the Youth2030 Progress Report 2026—the first system-wide overview of the Phase 2 (2025–2030) implementation under the UN Youth Strategy. at 1:15 pm EDT to explore how the UN system is advancing youth leadership, accelerating sustainable development, and strengthening collective action with and for young people.
Mental health is shaped not only by healthcare systems but also by environments, education, community, digital spaces, and opportunities for connection. This initiative by brings those elements together. Ahead of the 2026 Men's World Cup Final, the "One World, One Game, One Goal" event—hosted with UN Member States Friends of Football—unites global stakeholders, from youth leaders to athletes, to champion football as a driver of youth mental health and well-being. !
As the world of work undergoes rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, the green transition and increasing social complexity, young people need a broader range of skills than ever before. Marked annually on 15 July, World Youth Skills Day highlights the critical role of equipping young people for employment, decent work and active participation in society. Under the theme “Skills for a Shared Future,” this year’s observance emphasizes the importance of innovative learning opportunities that combine digital, technical and green skills with empathy, resilience, civic engagement and intercultural understanding.
Over 15 months, eight young people (12–19) from six countries worked to address gaps in the quality of child participation in global decision-making. Drawing on their experiences, surveys and a global consultation, they found children are often underrepresented and engagement is inconsistent. As the Children and Young People’s Task Group, they developed “ standards to ensure meaningful participation before, during and after events, grounded in Article 12 of the UN The guidance offers practical steps for inclusive, safe and impactful engagement, urging organizers worldwide to adopt them.
In southern Mauritania, visually impaired activist Zeine Moustapha is helping young people make informed migration choices through community awareness campaigns focused on the risks of irregular migration and local opportunities.
From 14 to 16 April 2026, young people will take center stage at the Â鶹APP Headquarters in New York during the ECOSOC Youth Forum, considered the UN’s largest annual gathering of young people.
Rural young people are vital to global development, with nearly half of the world’s 1.3 billion youth living in rural areas and brimming with entrepreneurial potential. Yet they often lack access to opportunities that enable them to thrive. Targeted investments, through IFAD’s youth-sensitive programmes, are unlocking that potential — creating jobs, fostering agribusiness leadership and strengthening rural economies. By nurturing skills, providing access to finance and connecting youth with markets, initiatives like Agribusiness Hubs empower young people to build sustainable futures in their communities rather than migrating elsewhere. These success stories underscore why investing in rural youth is essential for food security, economic growth and lasting stability.
“Leaving young people at the sidelines of how we find solutions is not the way. It's really bringing them [in], because on many of the things, the solutions will come from them.”
A medical doctor by training, Dr. Felipe Paullier is a passionate advocate for young people. Two years ago, aged just 32, his life took a new turn when he became the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, the youngest senior appointment in the history of the Â鶹APP.
“I've heard this from the Secretary General. You know, power, in essence, is not to be given, it's to be taken. ”
The UN Youth Office believes that positive change is rooted in empowering young people to meaningfully participate in decisions that impact their lives and futures. In this episode of Awake at Night, Felipe reflects on youth demands for peace and opportunity, on the stubborn barriers to change, and shares why he always prescribes reconnecting with nature as a cure for digital overwhelm.
Photo: ©YuWaah (GenU India)
The world is heating. Inequalities are deepening. And yet, across continents, young people are stepping into the cracks of broken systems and reimagining what’s possible. While the world works to respond to the climate crisis, youth from around the world are showing what happens when youth are not just invited to the table but trusted to lead. introduces five of these young leaders: Sundus from Pakistan (seen here with her team that brings damaged reefs back to life), Elvis from Liberia, LuĂs from Bolivia, Pablo from Colombia, Specioza from Uganda. All of them, with support of , are building new systems of food, energy, mobility and education, from the ground up. Their projects are different, but their experiences and drive are shared. What they show us is clear: when young people are trusted and supported with the right resources, they can drive meaningful and lasting change.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, young leaders are rising to confront the climate crisis, advocate for justice, and build resilient communities.
When he began practicing medicine several years ago, Dr. Jürgen Adam Sánchez believed his role was to treat diseases. However, working closely with migrant children and adolescents, he quickly realized that the deepest pain is often not physical but rooted in the stories these young migrants carry with them along their journeys. Sánchez is a Mexican physician specializing in public health based in Hermosillo, Sonora. At 29, he has served as a shelter coordinator, university professor, and activist. Sánchez advocates for compassionate healthcare and believes in the potential of migrant youth to break cycles of violence, emphasizing the importance of strong peer support networks alongside access to services. He is committed to creating a fairer world for migrants.
Kabelo Motlhophe never thought he would move from a cleaning job to a leadership role in local government. After witnessing a civic education workshop while cleaning, he became intrigued and decided to join the training sessions by Activate! Change Drivers, a youth empowerment network. This led him to run for election as a ward councillor in Mamelodi, where he won in 2021. Motlhophe credits the training, especially on public participation rights, as key to his success. Activate! partners with UN Human Rights Regional Office for Southern Africa to promote youth engagement in civic life and participation in public affairs.
Young people are at the forefront of global transformation. With more than 1.2 billion youth worldwide, their energy, creativity, and activism are vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth in 2025 offers a timely opportunity to renew our commitment to its core principles: youth agency, participation in decision-making processes, and sustainable development. A peaceful and prosperous future depends on the meaningful inclusion of youth everywhere. Explore how youth are shaping a better, more just future for all.
Observed annually on 12 August, International Youth Day raises awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing young people. This year’s theme, Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond, urges concrete action to empower youth as partners in development—turning global goals into local solutions for a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Join forces to empower young people's solutions for peace, sustainability, and justice. In line with this, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of 14 young leaders to the third cohort of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. #YouthDay