CSD-16: When Youth are Up to the Challenge (3 of 4)
Thanks to Selene Biffi, ECYI member and Youth Caucus Coordinator, for offering her reflections on the role of the Youth Caucus at CSD-16.
Two weeks, forty young people, six themes and one challenge: empower young people to speak up for themselves and their communities.
At 5:30am the alarm clock buzzes, just another day in the life of a Youth Caucus Coordinator at the UN’s Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). A daily meeting to chair, drafting groups to organise, pledges to collect and statements to be delivered, among many other things. It may seem like an easy thing to do, but please think again: an average of 15 hours of work a day, networks and credibility to be established, perceptions to be challenged and reshaped. Being a young coordinator requires drive and passion, especially when people do not agree on a sentence, language is a barrier, and frustration is just around the corner.
Read more below!
When I started working as a youth activist my dream was to become one of the best young activists out there, maybe one that would, one day, speak on behalf of other young people at the UN. Five years down the road my dream has come true thanks to all those who believed in me and voted for me to represent them at the Youth Caucus. But my dream also has aspects I did not consider before coming to New York: passion certainly makes you stand out and push for more, but on the other hand, only so much can be done in one day and some things have to be left behind - no visit to the Statue of Liberty, parties, or shopping. In New York, I was living and breathing CSD 24 hours a day.
I am lucky though, as the participants are hard at work in everything assigned to them and the statements are well-received by most governments and chairpersons. A few even got special commendations. If, during past CSDs, young people were just faces in the crowd - legitimate ones, mind you – they are now approaching governments, delivering presentations, and giving interviews. They are truly doing their very best to take full advantage of being here by speaking up for all those who will never make it to New York (let’s not forget that young people up to the age of 25 constitute about 62% of the world’s population).
During CSD-16 the Youth Caucus made a name for itself and was readily identifiable by most people, thanks to new and exciting features never before implemented:
• A brand-new logo and Youth Caucus website in five different languages, updated daily
• A stand with pictures, documents, and pledges to ask governments to commit to young people
• A guide for governments to select and include official youth delegates
Despite the fact that the CSD-16 is almost over, there is still a lot to do and follow-up actions to be supervised. It was definitely one of my life’s highlights.
We have come a long way together, but the real work starts now, with a restructuring phase of the Caucus, new advocacy efforts targeting the policy year and a campaign to be launched. Only one year to go to the next CSD…are you up to the challenge?
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