Remarks by SDGs Youth Panel at the Youth 2030 Briefing for Member States

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on the engagement of youth.

As a member of the SDGs Youth Panel, I have been working with the UN Team in Thailand, and I am grateful to see increasing commitments to involve youth at the table.

The perspectives of youth have been heard directly with UN agencies and government officials, whether it be through consultations or drafted documents.

Furthermore, youth are also contributing to the SDGs, specifically on the climate agenda.

We have participated in national-level commitments and the current delegation to COP27, as well as global movements like the Youth4Climate flagship events.

This has been a great step for youth involvement, but we must continue forward.

Thailand, like many other countries, still has many issues of disparity.

We have to recognize the gaps in engagement, and a shared goal between Ms. Gita and myself is to widen the youth networks in the country.

There are two key steps that I want to highlight.

First, we should localize youth outreach.

It is undeniable that language and technological barriers prevent many young people in Thailand from engaging with the UN system.

I view that youth from all communities, regardless of their level of literacy or socioeconomic background, should be empowered.

Second, we need to develop platforms to allow youth and youth-led initiatives to reach their full potential.

The work of the UN could be more accessible to youth on the ground, extending beyond existing UN youth organizations.

This support would help amplify young people’s actions to be a leader in their communities and help promote inclusive action from all levels.

At the end of the day, it is clear that the UN has made progress with Youth2030.

In the remaining years ahead, I look forward to seeing youth be meaningfully engaged through cocreating and codesigning solutions for our planet.

Thank you.