The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convened its annual Youth Forum – a platform where young people can bring forth their views and ideas on innovative solutions to issues of relevance to young people in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Among other topics, participants discussed youth-led solutions for sustainable development, well-being in an era of digitalization, and advancing gender equality.

The three-day event took place under the theme, ‘Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development.’ Young people offered their perspectives on how to tackle roadblocks to the implementation of the Goals undergoing in-depth review at the 2025 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) – SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 14 (life below water), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).

Addressing participants during a panel discussion on youth-led solutions, UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Philemon Yang called for investment in education, infrastructure, and job opportunities to “allow everyone everywhere to thrive in the global digital economy.” “[E]mpowering our young people is an investment that delivers sustained benefits across society and the future they shape,” he said.

Acknowledging the value of intergenerational dialogue as recognized in the Declaration on Future Generations, Yang announced he will convene: a high level meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth in September; and a multistakeholder dialogue to assess the implementation of commitments made towards Africa’s development.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier said the creativity of young minds is the reason why it is essential to include youth in decisions. He underscored the need to challenge the social and cultural beliefs that continue to depict young people as “inexperienced or unfit to lead and make decisions.”

Member of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) SDG 4 Youth and Student Network Executive Committee Christina Williams urged participants “to move beyond development for survival” and emphasized the need to “think of education as life-long learning.”

Founder of Youth for Privacy Joon Baek said by leveraging the power of technology, Internet, and artificial intelligence (AI), “young people must organize themselves to reject the versions of future that take away human agency.”

A panel discussion on youth and health highlighted digital health as a tool for efficiency, innovation, and resilience, and warned against technology-facilitated gender-based violence, calling for safer digital platforms.

During a panel discussion on gender equality and youth participation, speakers underscored that gender equality is a precondition for reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development, which strengthens institutions and reduces violence. They called attention to the vulnerability of adolescent girls in conflict situations and highlighted the need for disaggregated data.

A panel discussion on youth for sustainable oceans addressed the urgent need to protect the ocean, highlighting overfishing, rising temperatures, and coral bleaching among the threats facing it. Speakers underscored the critical role of youth in driving sustainable solutions.

Other sessions of the Forum shared youth’s perspectives on regional development, meaningful youth participation in policy and decision making, the evolving role of science and technology in empowering young people, and youth solutions for an inclusive future.

The Forum, convened by the ECOSOC President from 15-17 April 2025, was co-organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UN Youth Office, in collaboration with UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD). The Forum was co-convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO), with technical input from youth organizations relevant to the theme of the forum.