#YouthLead: Gender Equality for Adolescent Girls and Young Women at the Heart of Multilateralism

This session seeks to galvanize action and explore innovative approaches that empower adolescent girls and young women at all levels – from global multilateral platforms to local community initiatives. It will build upon the momentum generated by the ICPD30 Cotonou Youth Action Agenda, the Girls Pact for the Future, the ECOSOC Voices of Youth Report, the Young Feminist Manifesto, and the Manifesto for MYE for youth with disabilities, among other key youth priorities.

Abby Finkenauer, United States Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues

Aura Lindo, Youth Advocate - ICPD30 Cotonou Youth Action Agenda

Ayshka Najib, Action Coalition Youth Lead on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, and Youth Representative to Generation Equality Forum (GEF) Multi-Stakeholder Leadership Group

Nadine Gasman, President - National Institute of Women, Mexico

Natalia Kanem, UNFPA, Executive Director

Gauri Nimbalkar, Founder - Association for Youth Wellbeing (AYWB)

Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Republic of Liberia

Imane Lakbachi, Director of Network Engagement - International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP)

Ishaan Shah, Co-convener, Young Feminist Caucus (YFC)

Maria Jose Carranza, Youth Advocate - Human Rights for persons with disabilities

Nila Ibrahimi, President of HerStory

Nora Malick, Youth Advocate, Adolescent Girl and Invesment Platform (AGIP)

Riju Dhakal, Youth Advocate, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Nepal

Sima Bahous, Executive Director, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

Tatiana Molcean, Under Secretary-General, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

#YouthLead: Intergenerational solidarity and equity for a shared future

The session brings together young leaders and experienced decision-makers to forge a path toward a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive world. Amidst ongoing environmental crises, economic disparities, and social inequalities, this session emphasizes the need for innovative initiatives that incorporate the voices and needs of both present and future generations. It aims to empower young people with the skills and opportunities to participate meaningfully in global decision-making processes. Utilizing a participatory format, participants will delve into critical topics such as green skills, civic engagement, health, and financing.

Dorice Mkiva, Knowledge Management Officer, UNICEF Tanzania

Shriya Sundaram, UNCDF Partnerships Specialists

Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Bahrain

#YouthLead: Governance for human rights, peace and security and political processes

The session will address the barriers to meaningful youth participation in decision-making at both national and international levels, providing actionable recommendations for Member States to enhance youth engagement. The session will feature two intergenerational dialogues focusing on national and international youth participation, discussing challenges and solutions, with a focus on human rights, political participation and youth, peace and security.

Ahmed Al Hajari, Youth Advocate

Anoushka Sinha, Steering Committee Member of the UNESCO Global Youth Community

Elvis Nkandu, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Republic of Zambia

Emma Theofelus, Minister of Information and Communication Technology

Falfoul Mohammed, Youth Advocate EAA

Galia Kademain, UNOY’S  International Steering Group Representative (ISG)

Manal Benani, Youth and Culture manager at Africa Europe Foundation and Co-founder of Sustainable cooperation for peace and security

Mauricio Pahuara Arango, Founding Director of Juventud. Politica y Desarrollo (JPD) and advisor to Promsex

Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment

Nasha Cuvelier, Co-Founder and Director of Sustentabilidad sin Fronteras

Nicolas Albertoni, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay

Paul Petrider, Youth Engagement Officer

Venus Aves, Member of the UN Youth Office Youth Reference Group

#YouthLead: Inclusive digital future for all

Building on the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, this session seeks to underscore the concerns of youth in the digital age, from the lack of meaningful youth participation in AI and digital governance to the need for equitable access to digital tools for youth of all backgrounds. Further, it will explore ways young people have already been using their creativity, energy, and innovative perspectives to drive positive social change with the help of digital technologies.

Anatola Araba, Artist, futurist, and award-winning filmmaker

Clara Brown, Observer Constituency Representative, UNFCCC

Daniella Esi Darlington, ITU Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Board

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, WIPO

Efe Johnson, Founder of XariAfrica Academy and UNDP & Samsung Generation17 Young Leader 

Emra Mian, Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Eylül Erçin, Global Teen Advisor, Girl Up, United Nations Foundation

Hamza Hameed, ITU SG Youth Advisory board member; Senior Practice Manager for Space & Connectivity, Access Partnership Singapore

Malik Afegbua, Nigerian filmmaker, artist, and creative technologist

Marcos Athias Neto, Assistant Administrator and Director, for Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) UNDP

Melissa Muñoz, ITU SG Youth Advisory board member; Director of Innovation at the Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies of the Dominican Republic (OGTIC)

Mohamed Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs of Sierra Leone

Nchimunuya Munyama, CEO at Netagrow Technologies

Sara Sabry, First Female African Astronaut; Executive Director of Deep Space Initiative

Sri Yeswanth (Yash) Tadimalla, Major Group of Children and Youth, Science Policy, Tech Focal Point

Tayma Abdalhadi, Innovator of User-centric, Digital Solutions

Yurii Romashko, CEO of the think tank Institute of Analytics and Advocacy

Zubair Junjunia, Social Entrepreneur and founder of ZNotes and UNDP & Samsung Generation17 Young Leader 

#YouthLead: Strategic foresight in climate and sustainability

This session will activate the participation of all attendees, including through a practitioner-led, youth foresight exercise centered on how we can unleash the potential of youth to address the climate crisis.

Abril Perazzini, UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow

Amna Habiba, Director of Youth Innovation & Technology at Teach the Future

Ayaka Suzuki, Director of the Strategic Planning & Monitoring Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General

Carla Montesi, Director for Green Deal and Digital Agenda at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission

Charles Oyamo, Co-founder & CEO – Rethread Africa

Charlie Zong, Co-Director, South-North Scholars

Chesyne Danielle Pepito, WIPO IP Youth Ambassador

Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme

Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth of Nigeria

Joice Mendez, Member of the Secretary-General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change

Josefino Nino Ligan, WIPO Youth Ambassador and Inventor

Leyla Hasanova, COP29 Presidency Youth Climate Champion

Max Fontaine, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Madagascar

Nahjae Nunes, UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow & Commonwealth Youth Council Policy & Advocacy Chair

Naomi Dubabagi, Youth Advocate and Co-Founder of The Future Inc

Ronald Luiz dos Santos, National Secretary of Youth of Brazil

Shannon Lisa, Global Focal Point of the Major Group for Children and Youth Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform 

Shurabe Mercado, Biotechnology Engineer & Youth Socio-Environmental Advocate

Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations

#YouthLead: Innovative solutions in humanitarian action

The session will amplify youth-led innovative solutions for emergencies and prolonged crises and aims to address the root causes of humanitarian situations and forced displacement, and support inclusion in national systems. By fostering dialogue and strengthening partnerships among youth-led organizations, young leaders, policymakers, and humanitarian actors, the session seeks to mobilize commitments to increase investment and resources for youth-led initiatives and integrate their participation in decision-making processes.

Daria Mierhut, Youth on the Move Fellow with UNICEF Slovakia

Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

John Jal Dak, UNHCR Global Advisory Board Member for Organizations led by Displaced People

Kelly T. Clements, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees

Krista Belén Rivas Gutiérrez, Regional Leader of the Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN) in Latin America

Mwanza Ngane Barthelemy, Refugee youth-led organization (RYLO) coordinator for the Global Refugee Youth Network (GRYN)

Nhial Deng, Kakuma Leadership and Innovation Centre