The High-level Political Forum on sustainable development is United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The meeting, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, was held from Tuesday, 9 July, to Thursday, 18 July 2019.
The theme of this year’s forum was “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. KidsRights, having ECOSOC status since 2017, together with International Children’s Peace Prize winner Kehkashan Basu (2016), travelled to New York to promote the power of children and youth as changemakers to reach the SDGs.
Kehkashan participated in the Panel Discussion ‘Young Leaders for Sustainable Development’, moderated by the Youth Envoy Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake. Kehkashan closed the panel with her message to all young people out there: ‘It is time for us young people to step out of our comfort zones and take that extra step and walk that extra mile to get the future we want. We cannot just blame others anymore. We have that potential within ourselves and we need to use that. Together we can and we will achieve a sustainable future.’
On July 11th Kehkashan made an intervention on behalf of the NGO Major Group on SDG10 – reduced inequalities and conducted a very successful side event on July 15th on ‘Empowering Youth in Sustainable Development and peace through Decent and Sustainable Jobs as well as Civic and Political Participation.’
KidsRights and Kehkashan look back at an inspiring, informative and empowering week.