In 2013, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban
Ki-moon, appointed Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi of Jordan as his first-ever Envoy
on Youth and as the youngest senior official in the history of the
organization. The Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth has a
mandate to harmonize the UN system efforts on youth development,
enhance the UN response to youth needs, advocate for addressing the
development needs and rights of young people, as well as to bring the
work of the United Nations with and for youth closer to them.
To this end, the Envoy on Youth works with
different UN Agencies, Governments, Civil Society, Private Sector
Academia and Media stakeholders towards enhancing, empowering and
strengthening the position of young people within and outside of the
United Nations System.
In addition, the Envoy on Youth is also the advisor to and the representative of the Secretary-General on youth related matters.
We believe that young people are a force for good in the world, that we
have the imagination, courage and ingenuity to find lasting solutions to
the world’s greatest challenges. We believe that our interdependence
and shared humanity requires us to give all we can to make sure that
ours is the first generation to end poverty, the most determined to
tackle inequality and the last generation threatened by climate change.
In September 2015, 193 countries adopted 17 goals to end poverty, reduce
inequality and tackle climate change, known as the Sustainable
Development Goals. To achieve these goals by 2030, we need everyone
involved, not just governments. In particular, we need young people with
the energy and ingenuity to accelerate these Goals.
They come from every corner of the world and any range of fields – from food to fashion to finance (as well as policy, media, civil society, industry, technology, the arts and entertainment). They have the ability to command an audience, influence their peers and inspire their constituents.
Ultimately Young Leaders are driven by the desire to improve the world we live in, for our generation and for those to come.
Moreinfo: sdgyoungleaders.org
