International Youth Day 2022 Conference

For each day, it goes on for 6 hours with the Opening Ceremony, Plenary Session, Group Discussion, and Closing Ceremony. The theme of the 2022 conference was “The Time is NOW!” stating that actions should be taken now. Experts from each field joined through Online Zoom and gave lectures about peace from their own representative countries. Alyssa Han has participated for two days of Youth Peace and the UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals).

For Day 1, there was a greeting message from Jayathma Wikramanayake, the Envoy on Youth, United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth Office. She has stated that youths are especially facing enormous challenges and gave some examples. However, she stated that the most impacted people are marginalized people (young women and girls, LGBTIQ youths, young people with disabilities, youth from indigenous communities, and young refugees. The choices that we make are determined to the challenges that we are currently facing. With the inspiring speech, there was a congratulatory address from Yukio Hatoyama, the 93rd Prime Minister of Japan. Then, there were following speeches and lectures about peace world peace through sports, the UN Habitat, The Power and Role of Volunteerism in Nigeria, etc.) from experts, directors, and researchers. After that, the group discussions took place where there were in total of 10 different topics from 10 speakers. The participants were able to choose and participate. Alyssa has participated in Group 2: International Organization for the Protection of Human Rights and Peace of Conflict from Akolade Aderibigbe. The speaker talked mainly about refugees, the needs, impact of war on refugees, and how, the ways of resolving these problems.

The next day, Day 2 was started with a greeting message from Yeonchul Yoo, the Secretary-General, United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Korea, then with a congratulatory address from Younghan Shin, a former chairman, Presidential Youth Committee. Furthermore, there were plenary sessions held from head and executive directors as well as the president and the manager. Since Day 2 focused on the Youth UN SDGs, it was more in the ideas of how youths and young people can take action (creating urban youth councils to engage young people to civic participation, and municipal governance to realize SDGs).

For the group discussions, Alyssa decided to participate in Group 4, Youth and SDGs: The Role of Young People in Advancing the SDGs. Group 4 has discussed about 3 topics: examples of SDGs projects in each of the participants’ countries, youth action plan, and promises to achieve the SDGs.
First, with the examples they were related to the UNSDGs #4: Quality Education, #5: Gender Equality, #10: Reduced Inequalities, and #16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The examples can be helping students to provide them opportunities to find school with commitments in taking action, taking children to school so that they can get education every weekend, and starting youth organizations that deals with gender equality and youth pregnancy.

For the Youth Action Plan, group 4 has created using social media like participating in hashtag movements, programs, conferences using Zoom and donating funds to organizations and businesses. In addition, recycling old materials and continuing sustainable agricultures to have sustainable world as well as educating the young people about the environment and utilize social media to raise awareness. Lastly, for the promises to achieve the SDGs, the Group 4 has concluded that we should never forget the importance to develop ourselves and the environment in order to save our country. Never stop chasing developments of our country and educations for the youth. Choose to hope and become the hope for the future youths. As a representative of Group 4, Alyssa has presented these discussions.

Overall, with this amazing experience, Alyssa believes that it was a great opportunity to have different opinions from different countries, discuss, share, and inspire others for a better future as youths.