Resident Coordinator’s Remarks at the Young ASEAN Leaders Policy Initiative (YALPI) 2022 webinar

YALPI representatives, youth leaders from across ASEAN, colleagues and friends,

Thank you for the opportunity to join the discussion on homelessness, stigmatization and discrimination, as a key aspect of the COVID-19 challenge and structural inequalities that we need to address as we build forward better.

First, let me acknowledge YALPI’s leadership in bringing this issue to the forefront as part of the “ASEAN After COVID” initiative. Through your research, advocacy and awareness-raising, as well as by convening events such as this, youth networks have an irreplaceable role and opportunity to influence policymaking, for the benefit of society as a whole.

We often hear that youth are the leaders of tomorrow. The obvious response is what about today?

We all have a responsibility to build a more sustainable and equitable world, instead of depending on future generations to magically solve our problems, and I appreciate your engagement in this initiative.

I’m also pleased to be joined by my colleagues from UN Habitat and UNDP who bring their expertise on homelessness and related issues, so we can address social challenges from the evidence-driven and comprehensive approach required for sustainable solutions.

For my part and from the perspective of UN Thailand, I want to take a macro view of homelessness as it relates to the principle of Leave no one behind, the UN’s integrated strategy through the recently signed UN Cooperation Framework, and the power and essential partnerships with youth and civil society. 

Let me start with recent UN News coverage of homelessness in Thailand, focusing on UNICEF’s work with the Childline Thailand Foundation, which has operated a refuge for vulnerable children under 18 offering food, counselling and shelter.

Our partners on the ground open a window for better understanding homelessness, and the impact of COVID on the most vulnerable.

Although the shelter had to close temporarily due to the pandemic, Childline and UNICEF continue to provide support with daily necessities, hygiene supplies and personal protective equipment, as well as mental health and child protection services.

This work depends on trust, recognizing and valuing vulnerable people as members of society.

Listening to people who are in vulnerable situations, in this case children, is a powerful counter to the stigmatization and discrimination that does so much harm when it comes to homelessness.

In line with YALPI’s background briefing on homelessness, it also disproves the common misperception that homelessness is simply caused by personal fault or bad decisions, which is an example of sloppy thinking that can lead to bad policy.

Leave no one behind is a central promise of the of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the commitment of all UN Member States to eradicate poverty, end discrimination and exclusion, and reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities.

Homelessness is in itself a denial of human rights in the form of the right to housing, extending to the right to life, non-discrimination, health, water and sanitation, security of the person and freedom from cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment.

As in every country, COVID in Thailand and across ASEAN has affected both economies and societies, exposing pre-existing imbalances, inequalities and vulnerabilities.

In addressing homelessness, we need to consider multidimensional poverty, and the intersections for people living in poverty with gender inequalities and gender-based violence, people living with disabilities, migrant and stateless status, youth welfare issues, and many more factors.

This means that integrated policy solutions are essential, dealing not only with housing and employment, but also harm reduction, mental health and social welfare services.

An important component of this approach is the social protection system, and in Thailand the UN has helped to move the policy needle for more inclusive coverage spanning the informal economy, which has been so hard hit by COVID, and the mobility of benefits as people change jobs and circumstances.

Key police advice going forward is to expand coverage within the existing system and unify protection schemes, to avoid fragmentation of efforts.

This is a policy audience, so let me drill down into the details of governance and implementation from the UN perspective.

Earlier this month, UN Thailand joined the National Economic and Social Development Council and the Ministry of Foreign affairs to sign the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which will guide the work of all 21 agencies in the UN Country Team over the next five years.

In every country, the Cooperation Framework aligns with the Member State’s national development plan, coordinating the UN’s work with government, the private sector and civil society – including youth – to maximize our comparative strengths and fully leverage the UN’s international expertise and networks.

The UN mandate on human rights and Leave no one behind, as well as addressing global challenges such as the climate crisis, is built into the foundations of all of these Frameworks.

In Thailand, based on extensive consultations with government and across society, the guidelines set out three key priority areas: 1) Transformation based on a green, resilient, low-carbon and sustainable economy; 2) Development of human capital by strengthening institutions, partnerships and the empowerment of people; and 3) All people in Thailand, especially those at risk of being left behind, can benefit from development free from discrimination.

This discussion today on homelessness and discrimination speaks directly to priority number 3, which is addressed through integrated policy advice and programming that is interdependent with the Cooperation Framework as a whole.

For youth organizations and development professionals, it’s important to understand how these guidelines and governance structures work, as entry points for advocacy and to contribute to the UN and partners’ programmes in Thailand, and in turn influence policy.

In the implementation and monitoring of the Cooperation Framework, the UN Country Team will be supported by the SDGs Youth Panel, an institutional mechanism made up of young people who are emerging leaders and advocates for the Global Goals.

Across the UN system in Thailand and beyond, youth engagement and partnerships are central to our programmes and development strategies.

To be honest, we haven’t always done the best job communicating this, with the UN often seen as an ivory tower or unresponsive to young people’s ideas and participation. To achieve our ambitious goals, we need to be more inclusive, and your support and contributions are invaluable.

There needs to be a place at the table for young women’s groups, people with disabilities and those affected by multidimensional poverty. This inclusivity is about fairness and human rights, as well as the recognition that we do not fully understand the issues without these voices and insights.

The Youth As Researchers global initiative has demonstrated the contributions of demand-driven social justice research and policy advocacy conducted by young people. In ASEAN, research focused on LGBTQ, people who use drugs, people with disabilities, and out-of-school youth, has yielded results as young researchers are able to connect with their peers and gather data in ways that other researchers cannot.

This is also true for youth advocacy that speaks directly to young people and meets them where they are. Each one of us is an influencer, and I’m not talking only about Twitter, Insta or TikTok, although social is of course important.

As thought leaders who understand the policy environment and need for integrated and evidence-driven development solutions, your engagement and agency on these issues with your own networks today will have lasting impacts on our communities, countries and the region.

Again, I commend YALPI for demonstrating this role and taking leadership on homelessness and stigmatization as part of the interconnected challenges posed by COVID and recovery.

Sustainable development is a continual process and to make a difference on homelessness we’re going have to collectively keep working, building coalitions and innovating solutions. I strongly urge you to keep up your engagement with the UN, within the system as staff, consultants or volunteers, and as partners supporting and leading these joint efforts.

I appreciate the opportunity to join you today and I look forward to a lively Q&A session.

Thank you.