Supporting work for, with, and by young people in forced displacement

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Background

The global refugee crisis, with over 110 million displaced persons in 2023 and projected to rise to 130 million by 2024, highlights the urgent need to empower young people affected by displacement. They face barriers in education and employment but demonstrate a strong willingness to lead positive change in their communities. Self-reliance, particularly economic inclusion, is crucial for sustainable solutions. Forums like the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2024 provide platforms to showcase young people’s leadership and innovation in addressing challenges. Empowering youth to lead and participate in decision-making processes ensures more sustainable outcomes and contributes to poverty eradication and sustainable development goals.

Thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Permanent Representation of Denmark to the United Nations, the Global Compact for Young People in Human Action, Danish Refugee Council, Global Refugee Youth Network, ILO, Save the Children, UNFPA, UNHCR and UNICEF are together organizing a side event at Economic and Social Council Youth Forum 2024 highlighting key challenges and opportunities in engaging forcibly displaced youth at work.

The side event is organised under the framework of the initiative, Advancing Young People’s Engagement and Meaningful Participation in the PROSPECTS Partnership and is a concrete follow-up to the Global Multi-stakeholder pledge to Support Work With, For and By Young People in Displacement co-led by the ILO at the Global Refugee Forum 2023.

Objective

The overall goal of the proposed ECOSOC Youth Side Event is to provide a collaborative, open and inclusive space to promote the meaningful participation of forcibly displaced young people in global policy deliberations on achieving durable solutions to forced displacement.

This side event will aim to:

• Provide a platform for refugee and host community youth to share their experiences and perspectives on the challenges they face with the international community.
• Spotlight partnerships with refugee youth and refugee youth-led initiatives bringing about positive change in their communities despite the challenges.
• Share innovative approaches in advancing the meaningful engagement of forced displaced youth to promote their self-reliance.
• Engage in an interactive dialogue between young people, especially young refugees, and stakeholders working with and for youth, including governments, international organizations, NGOs and youth-led organizations, on how we can effectively support work for, with and by youth in forced displacement contexts.

Programme and names of speakers/panelists

13:30- 13:40

Welcome and Introduction

13:40- 14:20

Moderated panel discussion –
Tentative list of speakers:

• Ambassador Jurriaan Middelhoff, Ambassador for Youth, Education and Work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Jacob Blasius, Danish Youth Delegate for Democracy and Partnerships
• Rose Mashimbo, refugee youth representative, Stand for Change and Unity
• Krista Belen Rivas Gutierrez, UNHCR refugee youth representative
• Priya Marwah, Global Lead, Adolescent and Youth, UNICEF
• Danielle Engel, Global Team Lead, Adolescents and Youth, UNFPA and Co-Chair of the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action
• Barthelemy Mwanza, Global Refugee Youth Network
• Eesha Moitra, Youth Employment and Engagement Officer, ILO

14:20-14:40

Interventions from the floor:

• Giovanni Bassu, Deputy Director, UNHCR New York Office
• Jakob Illemann Myschetzky, Global Advisor, Youth in Displacement, Danish Refugee Council
• Mai Sami Ahmed, Advocacy Officer Fellow (Child Rights and Participation), Save the Children New York Advocacy Office

Q & A session

14:40-14:50

Closing remarks

Note
*Please note that it is important that you register to allow you to enter the UNFPA HQ Building. QR codes will be issued to you to facilitate your building access*
*Light lunch and refreshments will be provided from 13:00 ET.
*Language interpretation is unavailable.