Regional leader joins UN High-Level Political Forum

New York, USA - The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) kicked off last week, 10 July, and will run until Wednesday, 19 July. The HLPF is being held through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This year's theme is “Accelerating the Recovery from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels. 

Throughout the Forum, participants will discuss practical and inclusive recovery measures to address the impacts of the pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and explore actionable policy guidance for the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs at all levels. 

The SDGs provide a comprehensive framework to address global issues and achieve sustainable development by 2030. In this context, it is essential to prioritize the distinct needs and aspirations of adolescents and youth, who form a significant portion of the global population, within this broader agenda.

Jacob Smith during the High-Level Meeting on Road Safety 2022

Our North America Regional Leader, Jacob Smith, will represent the Youth Coalition at a side event during the HLPF in collaboration with the FIA Foundation. He will be one of the speakers presenting closing remarks on the role of youth in promoting and improving adolescent health and in meeting the targets of Agenda 2030. 

He will talk about the presentation of ongoing work to mobilize commitments on adolescent and youth-related SDG priorities, highlight the importance of investing in adolescent and youth-related SDG priorities for SDG acceleration, emphasize stakeholder agenda through the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign, share best practices of successful youth engagement, and more. 

Jacob has represented the Youth Coalition in different High-Level events including the High-Level Meeting on Road Safety held in New York on July 2022. He also currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Organization of Youth Safety (NOYS).

Tatu, the vice chair of the National Children Advisory Board of Zanzibar attending the UN High Level Political Forum for the follow up and review of Agenda 2030 | Photo from Save the Children Tanzania via Twitter

In connection with the HLPF, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) launched a collaborative journey to mobilize commitments and accelerate action on adolescent well-being which will lead up to the SDG Summit happening this September. 

The PMNCH has leveraged the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change Campaign that gathers and amplifies young voices and mobilizes countries to create concrete commitment and action on adolescent well-being.

The outcomes of the Meeting will contribute to the collective efforts to accelerate progress on adolescent and youth-related SDG priorities and ensure their integration into national commitments.