Resident Coordinator's speech: Malaysia Youth Summit: The Change makers

YB Dato Sri Rohani, Chair Lady of APPGM-SDG

Ms Nudhara Yusuf, Global Youth Coordinator of the Coalition for the UN We Need

Ms Zoel Ng, Malaysia Youth SDG Summit Director

YBhg Prof Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Co-chair of the Malaysia CSO-SDG Alliance

Expert Panellists

It is wonderful to be here with more than 500 youth changemakers! Proof that our future is in good hands.

Your enthusiasm to work on the Sustainable Development Goals is applauded by the UN. Looking at the programme for today, I am also deeply impressed by the topics being put forward – from issues of the Stateless in Sabah, the environment, role of sports to health, disability and gender equality.

Youths have a critical role to play in shaping the world today in the economic, social and environmental spheres. The UN places youth as a key ally to make the future we want. This is evident in 2020 on the 75th anniversary of the UN when the UN75 campaign was held, which saw nearly 1 million voice share their concerns in areas that the UN needs to work on from now to 2045.

Just before the 76th UN General Assembly in September, the UN Secretary-General launched the “Common Agenda” report, which was formulated based on the data provided by the UN75 campaign. The report looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation and reinvigorating inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism.

The report highlighted 11 commitments to accelerate SDG achievement and commitment is “Listen to and work with youth” which highlighted:

• Remove barriers to political participation and measure progress through a “youth
  
  in politics” index
• United Nations Youth Office
• Transforming Education Summit in 2022
• Recovery barometer to track career paths and labour market outcomes for youth
• High-ambition coalition to promote green and digital-economy job creation
• Summit of the Future in 2023
• Ensure long-term thinking, including through a United Nations Futures Lab
• Represent succeeding generations, including through a repurposed Trusteeship Council, a Declaration on Future Generations, and a United Nations Special Envoy for Future Generation

The UN also has a dedicated Youth 2030 Strategy with a strong commitment to working with youth. The Strategy seeks to significantly strengthen the 'UN's capacity to engage young people and be informed by their views, insights and ideas. It also seeks to ensure the 'UN's work on youth issues is pursued in a coordinated, coherent and holistic manner.

The Strategy is to guide the entire UN as it steps up its work with and for young people across its three pillars – peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development – in all contexts.

Furthermore, the ongoing COP26 held pre-COP and during COP Youth events. A pre-cop Youth event was held in Milan organized by the UN Youth Envoy’s office and government of Italy in late September where 2 Malaysian youth delegates attended and contributed to the discussions which is brought to COP in Glasgow.

As you can see, youths are no longer just participants, a bystander as world leaders discuss issues that directly involve you. Youths are now an integral cog of anything and everything. Disregarding youth disregards our future.

I quote the UN Secretary-General ""We must commit to engaging young people fully ---- not only as a symbol or simply to check a box. The goal must be meaningful participation"."

A whole society approach is needed to achieve the SDGs. Youths are part of society. We can view the youth of today as Generation SDGs - the largest generation of young people in history, who can play a significant role in shaping development for the future that they want in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Wide ranging issues plague our planet from climate change, poverty, gender equality, inequalities and environment – both on land and underwater. During this year’s International Youth Day, the UN highlighted five roles’ youths can play to realise the SDGs:

1. Critical thinkers: Asking questions, identifying and challenging existing power structures and barriers to change, to exposing contradictions and biases. We see many young people who are social media inlfuencers who do just this.
2. Change-makers: With the power to act and mobilise others  bolstered by broader connectivity and access to social media.
3. Innovators: Youth best understand the problems they face and can offer new ideas and alternative solutions.
4. Communicators: Young people can be partners in communicating the development agenda to their peers and communities at the local level, as well as across countries and regions.
5. Leaders: Youth-led organisations and networks, in particular, should be supported and strengthened because they contribute to the development of civic leadership skills among young people, especially marginalised youth.​

The five roles I mentioned are all here today in this Summit. This is a suitable platform that can only grow in its importance to SDG achievement and beyond. I implore you to engage, support and participate and end it with action. Be the model for push critical agendas forward not just until 2030 but also post-2030.

As we look to exit the pandemic and build back a better a future, we have an huge opportunity to change the way we do things – in all aspects. We have the chance to change outdated, unfair and inefficient policies as we embrace the new normal and build back better.

To the all the leaders here today,

You represent our torchbearers for a future that is more fair, just and inclusive.

I hope that this Summit is not a one-off event, I believe it should continue to grow and even plugged into the Malaysia SDG Summit, which was inaugurally held in 2019 and we hope to have the second Summit in 2022.

As I mentioned earlier, disregarding youth disregards our future. You have the means to change the world. Be that change. Starting today.

I wish you a fruitful and engaging session today.

Thank you