Resident Coordinator's speech: Brunei Darussalam SDG Youth Dialogue

Dr. Hjh Huraini Hurairah, Head of the Secretariat of the Special National Coordinating Committee on SDGs

Ms. Khairunnisa Haji Ash’ari, President of the Brunei Youth Council

Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen

Assalamo Alaykum, good morning,

It is an honour for me to join you today, and I regret that I couldn’t be with you in person.

My sincere appreciation goes to the Special National Coordinating Committee on SDGs and its Secretariat and amazing staff for welcoming the UN’s presence and contribution to this SDG Youth Dialogue.

I am particularly pleased to address you as FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS at an important milestone in Brunei Darussalam’s journey to achieve sustainable development.

This universal goal can only be achieved when all stakeholders are engaged; and youth are an invaluable resource to raise Brunei’s ambition and ensure a meaningful whole-of-society contribution to realizing Brunei Vision 2035 as set by His Majesty the Sultan.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs provide a framework for addressing the world's most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges, such as poverty, hunger, health, education, unemployment, gender equality, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

Young people have a crucial role to play in delivering the SDGs, both as visionary contributors and agents of change. As a vanguard of the future, young people have the potential to frame and shape the issues and priorities that matter most, with fresh and inherently progressive perspectives. The youth can bring new solutions to existing problems and anticipate emerging ones, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

They are also agents of change themselves, making tangible contributions through volunteerism and community participation, and in the conduct of their everyday lives.

To deliver the SDGs and create a better and more equitable world, which requires mindset shifts and new approaches, it is essential to harness and sustain the contributions of young people over time.

Young people can contribute to SDG localization, starting from within their local communities, in several ways. As volunteers and activists within CSOs and NGOs and community groups, they can deliver issue-based campaigns and welfare and environmental projects on the ground.

They can be critical thinkers, challenging social norms and evolving the national discourse. They can also be change-makers and leaders, directing contributions to Brunei’s future development.

Finally, they can be innovators and communicators, harnessing technologies and new ways of working, and influencing and conveying messages that inspire and mobilize.

From climate change to other socio-economic challenges, youth around the world and in Brunei have shown increasing awareness and involvement in addressing these issues. The government has actively promoted sustainable development initiatives led by youth, and today’s dialogue is a demonstration of the firm commitment to empowering young people and promoting their active engagement.

The United Nations is also firmly committed to engaging and consulting with young people and supporting their efforts to help achieve the SDGs. It has established various initiatives and programs aimed at empowering young people, including the UN Youth Strategy, Youth 2030, and the Youth Envoy. It also provides several platforms for engagement, such as the annual UN Youth Climate Summit and Economic and Social Council Youth Forum.

Just a few weeks ago, the UN Headquarters hosted the Youth ECOSOC Forum, an annual gathering of young people from around the world to discuss and exchange ideas on sustainable development. The Forum emphasized the need for youth-led solutions, digital innovation, and collaboration across sectors and regions. It also highlighted the importance of youth involvement in addressing systemic issues.

As we prepare for the SDG Summit in September 2023, youth are firming up their assessment, vision and recommendations for Member States’ consideration.

I am sure that this SDG Youth Dialogue, your ideas and contributions as well as the examples you will hear about, will further strengthen the country’s SDG voluntary national review, and also your resolve to engage nationally and globally. I would very much like to see young participants from Brunei in next year’s global forum, and we can facilitate that.

We stand ready to support you and support Government’s initiatives that place you at the center of attention.

I wish you an exciting and fruitful three days and thank you, Dr. Huraini, for inviting me to join you today.