Attending the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum as members of the Â鶹APP Youth Office Reference Group was both a collective milestone and a deeply personal experience. For many of us, the journey began long before arriving in New York. Navigating visa processes, travel barriers and the uncertainty that often comes with representing communities from the Global South reminded us that access to global spaces is still uneven. The support from the UN Youth Office made our participation possible, but it also made us more aware that many are still unable to be in these rooms. As we took our seats, we carried not only our own stories, but also those of colleagues who could not join due to conflict, inequality and limited access. That absence stayed with us and shaped how we showed up throughout the week.
We arrived with a mix of excitement and responsibility. In conversations on youth health, mental well-being and sustainable development, we spoke from lived experience, not as representatives of ideas, but as people directly shaped by the realities being discussed. These conversations made clear that the challenges faced by young people are deeply interconnected, and often shaped by systems of exclusion, climate pressure and inequality. Whether speaking about gender equality, disability inclusion, or climate justice, it is evident that these are not separate issues; they are overlapping realities in the lives of young people everywhere, influencing how we experience the world and how we work to change it.
In the Forum plenaries, interventions from the floor showed that young people are not waiting for permission to lead. They are organizing, adapting and building solutions, even in places where civic spaces are shrinking. These diverse voices reinforced that youth leadership is not something for the future. Young people are leading now, often under pressure and with limited support.
In parallel, the SDG Media Zone brought together young advocates who are already pushing for change through community organizing, grassroots action, digital activism and local leadership, often in environments where speaking up comes with risk and resistance. It created a bridge between what young people live every day and what is spotlighted at the global level.
Some moments carried a particular weight. For example, taking the floor to reflect on youth movements in challenging contexts and to deliver a statement from a fellow Youth Reference Group member who was unable to travel from Palestine, were not just opportunities to contribute ¡ª?they were moments where we pushed for accountability. Standing in front of a global audience, we were conscious that our words were not ours alone; they carried the spirit and voices of many who could not be present in the room. The power of these moments was to make those realities visible in global spaces.
At the same time, the Forum left us with a question that does not have an easy answer. Being present matters. Being heard matters. But what happens after? That matters even more. The value of global spaces is not only in the conversations they host, but in whether those conversations lead to meaningful change. Throughout the Forum, we heard reflections about who is missing from these rooms and why. These are not logistical issues ¡ª they are questions of fairness, access and whose voices are considered in shaping global decisions.
We left New York with gratitude, but also with a sense of urgency. Gratitude for the chance to contribute, to learn and to represent our communities. Urgency because the work ahead is far greater than the time we spent in these conference rooms. The Forum highlighted that young people are not simply participants in global processes; we are central to them. And until every young person ¡ª regardless of geography, identity or circumstance ¡ª can access these spaces and be recognized as a partner in shaping decisions, our work remains unfinished.
The 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum was a moment of connection, reflection and shared purpose. But more importantly, it was a reminder that lived experience must continue to drive collective action. We return to our communities with renewed conviction: these spaces must keep opening, keep evolving and keep making room for those whose voices are still missing. Only then can global processes truly reflect the world they aim to serve.
This article was co-authored by UN Youth Office Reference Group Members ¡ª Puneet Singh Singhal, disability rights advocate, accessibility professional & Community Lead of the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities (GNYPWD), and Hanna Mulugeta Melaku, youth advocate for meaningful and inclusive engagement.
The work of the Youth Reference Group is generously made possible with support from the European Union.
The views expressed in the reflections are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Â鶹APP or the UN Youth Office.