Reflections from Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs
As we reflect on 2024, a year of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, one message resonates deeply: young people are not merely participants in the global journey toward progress — they are its driving force. This past year has been transformational for the youth agenda around the world, marked by the full operationalization of the United Nations Youth Office and a renewed commitment to placing young people at the heart of everything we do.
In my travels around the world this year, I witnessed the remarkable energy, innovation and determination of young people in every corner of the globe. Let there be no doubt: Young people are solutions-makers, not spectators — courageously challenging the status quo and designing bold new ways to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time, from climate change to social inequality. Their leadership has been a constant source of inspiration, reminding us that the future we aspire to must be co-created with young people as equal partners.
At a time when intersecting global crises threaten to widen inequalities and stall progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), young people are leading with resilience, creativity and a fierce determination to build a better, fairer and more sustainable world. Across the UN system, we have seen their transformative impact, whether through local initiatives or global movements.
The Summit of the Future served as a pivotal moment this year, unleashing new pathways for young people to influence the policies and decisions that affect their lives. It reaffirmed a vital truth: meaningful youth participation is not just a moral imperative — it is one of the most powerful tools we have to address the complexities of our world.
2024 also marked a new phase for Youth2030, the UN System-wide Youth Strategy, with refreshed priorities and a sharpened focus on accelerating implementation in the years remaining until 2030. This effort reflects our shared belief that investing in young people is an investment in peace, prosperity and progress for all.
This Year-in-Review provides highlights of the many projects my office has led over the past year, and is a testament to the important strides we have made in elevating the ways we work with and for young people around the world, in all of their diversity (many of these highlights are also reflected in the Secretary-General's latest Report on the UN Youth Office, published last year).
As we turn toward 2025, we have an unprecedented opportunity to build on this momentum and scale up our efforts. This will be a year of acceleration — a moment to deepen our partnerships, institutionalize youth participation across all sectors, and ensure that young people’s ideas, leadership, and energy are at the forefront of global change. Together, we will break down barriers, create new pathways for engagement, and amplify the voices of the 1.9 billion young people whose contributions will shape our collective future.
To everyone who has been part of this transformative journey — thank you. Your dedication and belief in the power of young people to lead change have made this progress possible.
The year ahead promises to be one of bold action, shared ambition and renewed hope, as we continue to advance the vision of a world where every young person can thrive, lead and contribute to a better tomorrow.
Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs
Collectively, our followship grew around 10% across our channels in 2024, representing approximately 78,000 new followers as of December 2024 compared to the same time in 2023.
Our fastest-growing channels for the year 2024 were also our newest channels, Threads and LinkedIn, on which we launched @UNYouthAffairs accounts in December 2023 at the time of the establishment of the UN Youth Office.
#Youth2030 Pulse Newsletter
The Youth2030 Pulse is the monthly newsletter from the UN Youth Office, providing updates on youth-related campaigns, events, opportunities and resources from across the UN system.
As of December 2024, the newsletter counts a subscriber base of more than 62,000 (a 17% increase compared to 53,000 subscribers at the same time in 2023). It continues to also sustain a strong open rate of over 81% (compared to an industry standard of 20–25%), and a click-through rate of 12% (compared to an industry average of 8–10%).
Highlights from Engagements with Young People Around the World
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
Davos, Switzerland. January 2024.
Meetings with UN Country Teams, government authorities, youth constituencies and and young people in Thailand and the Philippines.
Manila and Cotabato, Philippines. February 2024.
ICPD 30 Global Youth Dialogue.
Benin, Cotonou. April 2024.
UN Civil Society Conference.
Nairobi, Kenya. May 2024.
World Youth Development Forum & Field Visits.
Beijing and Chengdu, China. August 2024.
Youth20 (Y20) in Rio de Janeiro and meetings with the Brazilian Government & UN Country Team in Brasilia.
Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, Brazil. August 2024.
Meetings with the European Commission, the European Youth Forum, UN Brussels, the European Partnership for Democracy and other European Union officials.
Brussels, Belgium. May and October 2024.
COP29 (The UN Climate Conference).
Baku, Azerbaijan. November 2024.
Misk Global Forum.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. November 2024.
Photo: Misk Foundation
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Conference.
Lisbon and Cascais, Portugal. November 2024.
Photo Credits: UNAOC
Joint UN-FBA Learning Forum on Youth, Peace and Security in UN field missions
Sandö, Sweden, December 2024.
Celebrating International Youth Day
“Let #YouthLead for the Future” Foresight Activity
To celebrate International Youth Day, the United Nations Youth Office, in partnership with the UN Futures Lab, invited young people around the world to join an interactive foresight activity: “Let #YouthLead for the Future”.
We know that tackling the complex crises facing our world today requires urgent action, systemic shifts and enabling environments that elevate the role of young people as the leaders of today and tomorrow. Yet current power systems have continued to prioritize short-term thinking and benefits at the expense of our shared future. Youth foresight and futures thinking are key tools at our disposal to change this narrative.
By helping to better understand probable and possible futures, this process will help define what preferred futures we should collectively and collaboratively work towards.
International Youth Day Message from the ASG for Youth Affairs
In his message on the occasion of International Youth Day, ASG Felipe Paullier emphasized the importance of letting #YouthLead and engaging youth as equal partners in creating a better future for all.
On #YouthDay, and every day, let us learn from the creativity, leadership and resilience of young people even in tough and complex times.
“HOPE in Action” Call for Artist submissions
The United Nations SDG Action Campaign and the HUG, a global community for artists, in collaboration with the United Nations Youth Office, invited artists from around the world to submit artwork that reimagines and recalibrates political, economic, social, and environmental systems for a peaceful, just, and inclusive present and a hopeful future.
The selected artworks were later showcased during key milestone events, including the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.
Bringing Youth Voices to UN general Assembly Week
Advocacy Campaign: It's Time to Let #YouthLead
Leading up to the Summit of the Future with a view towards rebuilding trust and restoring hope in multilateral institutions at this critical moment for people and planet, the United Nations Youth Office has launched an advocacy campaign in the form of an open letter from youth and allies to world leaders, with a focus on elevating young people’s voices and demands.
#YouthLead for the Future: Action Days
On 20 and 21 September 2024, the Summit of the Future Action Days gathered representatives from Member States, civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, youth, and many more.
The Action Days provided an opportunity for dynamic engagement, kicking off with a dedicated #YouthLead Action Day.
© 2024 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. GS650040
Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future brought world leaders together on 22 and 23 September to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
Effective global cooperation is increasingly critical to our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today’s political and economic realities. This once-in-a-generation opportunity aimed to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities.
Adoption of the Pact for the Future
At the Summit of the Future on Sunday, 22 September 2024, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The Pact for the Future and its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations.
“Hope in Action” Art Exhibition
The United Nations Youth Office, in collaboration with HUG and the UN SDG Action Campaign unveiled HOPE IN ACTION — an art exhibition that captures key SDG themes for Our Common Future, such as climate action, gender equality, peace and security, youth empowerment, and digital transformation at the Opening Ceremony of the Summit of the Future #YouthLead Action Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York!
Watch these five powerful youth-driven artworks, selected from 1,500 submissions.
Find more artworks from curated artists from the HOPE IN ACTION art exhibition.
SDG Media Zone
During the UN General Assembly High-level Week, we hosted a session at the SDG Media Zone focused on intergenerational decision-making, co-leadership, the mainstreaming of youth into UN political and programmatic processes, and the critical contributions youth make to driving forward SDG progress. The session was moderated by CNN’s Rahel Solomon, and featured Felipe Paullier (Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs), Flaviana Matata (model & founder, Flaviana Matata Foundation) and Hajer Sharief (co-founder, Together We Build It).
In addition, the Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs joined a session with Yuta Takahashi (Representative Director of Association Katawara) and Nami Inoue (Executive Officer in charge of sustainability at Tokyo Broadcasting System), moderated by Kaoru Nemoto (Director of the UN Information Centre-Tokyo). The conversation called for the integration of young people into peacemaking and security processes.
Advancing Youth2030, the UN System-wide Youth Strategy
Launch of Youth2030 Progress Report & Dashboard: Event at the High-level Political Forum
In 2018, the UN Secretary-General launched the UN’s first-ever systemwide youth strategy, Youth2030, as an umbrella framework for all UN entities and country teams, to drive the organization’s work for and with youth, as well as ensure that youth issues are pursued in a more coordinated, coherent and holistic manner at all levels.
In July 2024, we launched the Youth2030 Progress Report (4th edition), highlighting how the UN system is advancing global commitments with and for youth, the impact of UN strategic planning, the availability of funding and coherence, and coordination on youth work. It also explored how global stewardship is strengthening system-wide accountability, ensuring that no youth is left behind. The progress report is based on reporting from 50 UN entities and 132 UN Country Teams, and includes global, regional, country and entity snapshots.
Alongside the launch of the Progress Report, the UN Youth Office has also launched an interactive Youth2030 Dashboard (highlighting the significant strides made in implementing the UN Youth Strategy and summarizing the areas for improvement) and the Youth2030 Interim Review (providing valuable insights into Youth2030 implementation during the first five years, the lessons learned, and potential areas for further improvement).
Engaging Young People on SDG Follow-up, Implementation and Review
ECOSOC Youth Forum
Over 1000 young leaders from around the world gathered at UN headquarters from 16 to18 April to take part in the 2024 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. More than 80 countries participated in the event with over 90 youth delegates representing their governments.
The 2024 Forum leveraged the expertise of young people to develop solutions for a fairer, greener, more inclusive and resilient future for all, under the overall theme of the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.”
With mounting crises around the world, the annual Forum is a key platform where young people share their ideas, engage with Member States and key stakeholders, as well as showcase the actions they are already taking to make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a reality for all.
The Forum also gathered young people during the last day to share their recommendations and innovative ideas in preparation of the Summit of the Future in September 2024.
Economic Empowerment Through Decent Work
World Youth Skills Day
Ten years ago, in December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly established World Youth Skills Day as to emphasize the critical importance of equipping young people with essential skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship, as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.
2024 marked a significant milestone to reflect on the transformative progress made in youth skills development over the past decade, but also the gaps that remain and the challenges that still need to be addressed, in the context of a constantly evolving world of work
To mark World Youth Skills Day on 15 July 2024, we partnered with the Permanent Missions of Sri Lanka and Portugal to the UN, together with ILO and UNESCO, to host a virtual panel discussion and:
- Review effective practices and interventions to advance skills development that enables youth to contribute actively to peace and sustainable development.
- Highlight youth’s contribution to the acceleration of the achievement of the SDGs especially those related to skills and decent work for peace and resilience,
- Highlight the positive experiences and skills of young people that have contributed to a workplace free from violence and harassment. Explore ways to foster social and emotional learning into education and training systems to equip youth with skills for empathy, resilience, and conflict resolution.
- Explore ways to foster global citizenship education and integrate it in curricula at all levels of education, including TVET, to enhance understanding of global issues and empower youth to act as agents of change.
We also partnered with Generation Unlimited to create awareness on how our collective future is far more prosperous when youth are equipped with the skills they need to thrive. Through this month-long campaign, we highlighted that when we invest in #SkillsRightNow we are transforming futures for youth and shaping a better future for all.
Celebrating Youth Leadership
Young Leaders for the SDGs
On a biennial basis, the Office recognizes outstanding young leaders from across various sectors for their agency, courage and ingenuity in finding lasting solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.
Launched in 2016, the flagship Young Leaders for the SDGs initiative brings together a group of 17 young people from around the world who contribute to implementing the 2030 Agenda, fostering resilience in their communities, proposing innovative solutions, driving social progress, and inspiring political change.
Over the course of their tenure, the 2022 cohort of Young Leaders participated in more than 600 engagements at global level, and more than 250 at regional and national level.
The Young Leaders were also brought together for the final time as a full cohort during the Summit of the Future in September 2024 for a working retreat at UN Headquarters. The retreat provided an opportunity for meaningful exchange of stories of impact, lessons learned, and opportunities for continued growth as alumni of the initiative.
Meaningfully Working with Youth to Shape Our Work
Youth Reference Group
In 2024, the UN Youth Office launched its first-ever youth advisory mechanism: the UN Youth Office Reference Group.
The group, composed of ten young people working on diverse topics across the pillars of the UN's work on sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security, is designed to represent larger youth networks, constituencies, organizations or movements, as well as UN Youth Engagement Mechanisms (Youth Advisory Boards, Youth Sounding Boards or similar).
The Youth Reference Group met in-person alongside the Summit of the Future in September 2024.
Advancing Young People’s Political Participation
Highlights from the "Be Seen, Be Heard" campaign
2024 marked the end of the flagship Be Seen, Be Heard campaign in collaboration with The Body Shop, centered around advocating for the meaningful engagement of young people in all their diversity in public life and politics at all levels.
Over the past three years, the campaign aimed at advocating for legislation or policy change to address the variety of structural and cultural barriers which prevent young people from fulfilling their right to participate in public life around the world. The policy objectives of the campaign were tailored to national contexts and included a variety of calls to action, including lowering the voting age to 16, aligning the eligibility age to run for office with voting age, and increasing youth representation in formal governance structures such as through youth councils, among others.
No Say Day (10 January 2024)
On 10 January, alongside the World Economic Forum Annual Meetings, we marked No Say Day, representing the last day in 2024 when young people’s voices were effectively represented in parliaments around the world.
Half of the world’s population is under 30, compared to just 2.6% of parliamentarians globally, meaning if this ratio were reflected in a year, youth voices would effectively go unheard just ten days into the year.
Collaboration with Global Citizen
Under the banner of the campaign, we partnered with Global Citizen to position our work on youth participation in public life and politics as a core part of their advocacy work on civic space in 2024, mobilizing tens of thousands of people to take action online in support of the Be Seen, Be Heard campaign.
Side event on the Margins of the Summit of the Future
Alongside the Summit of the Future in September, we organized a high-level side event under the banner of “Advancing Youth Political Participation.” It brought together around 100 participants from more than 30 countries and territories, including youth activists, Ministers, State Secretaries, Young Parliamentarians and senior civil society representatives, inviting them to engage in insightful intergenerational discussions under the theme of youth political participation.
It also marked the beginning of a new era for our work in this area, featuring a fireside chat discussion with the Secretary-General of International IDEA, looking at innovative data frameworks to unpack youth political participation.
Protection and Safe Engagement of Young People in Civic Spaces
Training: “Engaging Safely with the UN”
As a core component of this work, together with the UN System Staff College (UNSSC), we updated our virtual training on Engaging Safely at the UN. In this training, we aim to empower youth with essential knowledge about preventing and addressing harassment, discrimination and abuse of authority in UN settings. First launched in 2022, our interactive training was updated with new content and made available on the UN System Staff College website, making it more accessible than ever before.
The interactive course is available at no cost in English, French, Arabic and Spanish. It is accessible on mobile devices and optimized for low-bandwidth connection, so it can be completed at your own pace. To familiarize yourself with the platform, please watch the video tutorial in English, French, Arabic or Spanish.
This initiative is part of our commitment to creating safe and respectful environments for all young people engaging with the UN and in multilateral spaces, aligned with the Secretary-General's vision for meaningful youth participation.
Championing the Contributions of Young Peacebuilders
“Paxterra” — where #Youth4Peace is a reality
The Youth Office also launched the Paxterra initiative — a youth-sensitive version of the third report of the Secretary-General on youth and peace and security. This initiative distils key insights and recommendations into a concise, interactive format that resonates with young audiences. Paxterra presents a vision of a secure, utopian future where young leaders drive peacebuilding initiatives and are recognized as essential partners in decision-making. It contrasts this ideal with the realities of 2022-2023, reflecting the findings from the report of the Secretary-General.
Elevating Youth Voices in Peace and Security
In May, we engaged with diverse actors championing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS), ranging from young peacebuilders to representatives from member states. The interactions took place in the lead-up to the UN Security Council Debate highlighting the role of young women, convened by the Permanent Mission of Mozambique to the United Nations (UN).
Advancing the Five-Year Strategy on Youth-Inclusive Peace Processes
This Year-in-Review of 2023 was developed to highlight initiatives that advance the Five-Year Strategy on Youth-Inclusive Peace Processes (Five-Year Strategy). It spotlights various initiatives, knowledge products, and events undertaken by the International Steering Group members (ISG) throughout 2023, which contributes to strengthening youth participation in mediation and peace processes.
Implementing the UN Youth Strategy – Lessons from The Gambia
The paper identifies learnings from UN colleagues, civil society, and government representatives on the success and limitations of ongoing efforts to implement the UN Youth Strategy within The Gambia.
Fast Facts: Connecting the Dots on Quality Education and Sustainable Peace.
Celebrating Young Feminist Leadership
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68): Youth Forum & Interactive Youth Dialogue.
Dialogue with Transform Education.
Meaningfully Engaging Young Persons with Disabilities
“Believe in Better: Shaping the Future through the Meaningful Engagement of Young Persons with Disabilities” (report, with accompanying assets).
"Humanitarian Checklist: To ensure the meaningful engagement of young persons with disabilities in humanitarian action.”
Side Event at COSP17.
Exhibition with Sightsavers International during UN General Assembly Week.
Standing in Solidarity with Youth in Climate Action
Engagements with the Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
Joint Programme on Financing a Green, Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery.
Spotlighting Young Innovators
Reboot the Earth.
Thank You to Our Donors
Thank you to our 2024 donors for your invaluable support in empowering youth and advancing our shared vision for a better future.