Story

Thailand tops the UN75 survey in Southeast Asia

14 January 2021

UN75 event at Mae Fah Luang University — Caption: Mae Fah Luang University and the UN Thailand co-organises 'UN75: Our Future in Our Hands' to mark the 75th anniversary of the UN and exchange views on the global challenges and multilateralism at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai Province, in November 2020.

Photo: © Mae Fah Luang University

8,000 people from Thailand participated in the initiative to mark 75th anniversary of the UN, voicing what should be priorities for the UN in the next 25 years

The UN marked its 75th Anniversary by starting a global conversation primarily through the UN75 online survey asking people around the world about ‘the future we want’. Globally, 1.32 million people participated by completing the survey and sharing their priorities. In Thailand, over 8,000 people participated, which is the highest rate of participation in Southeast Asia.

Caption: 77 per cent of the participants identified themselves as 30 years old or younger.

77 per cent of participants in the survey were young people, which is in part due to the outreach strategy of UN Thailand through schools and universities. More than half of all respondents were females, which further triangulates the fact that women are more active than men on social media platforms.

In response to the three questions relating to: i) recovery from the pandemic; ii) longer term global trends; and iii) the world you would like to see in 25 years, points towards an enhanced focus on four key issues:

Better human capital development through improved health and education.
Addressing inequalities, with a focus on the most vulnerable.
Climate change and the environment.
Human rights feature very prominently and, in many ways, provide the foundation for all.

UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand Gita Sabharwal said the UN Country Team in Thailand is grateful for the participation of the people in Thailand and is very impressed by the enthusiasm of the youth. “I am particularly struck by the 4 priorities: better human capital development; addressing inequalities, with a focus on the most vulnerable; climate change and the environment; and human rights feature prominently providing the foundation for all. The UN in Thailand will take into consideration these recommendations to ensure that our work in Thailand addresses the priorities of the people in Thailand.”