CSocD63 Strategizing Youth Engagement

On February 12, the UN Youth Delegates of Germany and the German Permanent Mission to the UN hosted the event “Strategizing Youth Engagement from the CSocD to the World Summit for Social Development” at the 63rd Commission of Social Development (CSocD63). The gathering aimed to amplify youth voices and foster intergenerational justice in preparation for the 2025 World Social Summit in Qatar.

The event featured a panel discussion with experts, including H.E. Joan Forner Rovira from the First World Social Summit, Johannes Butscher from the CSocD sessions, and Nudhara Yusuf from the 2024 Summit of the Future. Following the panel, attendees of the event participated in focus groups to brainstorm gaps in past social development initiatives, share visions, and strategize ways to bridge these gaps.

Identifying Key Gaps

Key gaps identified by the panel included the need for grants and better financial support models, challenges in monitoring and accountability without overburdening member states, and the shift in multilateralism and inclusion priorities since 1995, highlighting the need for stronger leadership from the Global South. 

Additionally, focus group participants brought to light additional gaps including insufficient intergenerational and intersectional representation, accessibility barriers due to visa restrictions and high travel costs, and the underrepresentation of social issues like homelessness. They also noted challenges with digital platform transparency, limited awareness of youth engagement opportunities, and resource constraints hindering smaller missions and grassroots organizations.

Strategic Recommendations for the Future

To address these gaps, the event proposed several actionable strategies, including innovative monitoring tools that balance accountability with feasibility for member states, strengthening youth participation mechanisms within international negotiations, and ensuring representation of marginalized groups, including future generations and LGBT communities. Participants also emphasized the need for regional dialogues, stronger civil society engagement, strategic foresight in addressing global trends, enhanced digital platforms for follow-up, and improved accountability through shadow reporting.

Vision for the 2025 World Social Summit 

As the 2025 World Social Summit approaches, maintaining momentum and fostering intergenerational collaboration will be crucial to realizing these visions. For the next summit, Butscher wishes to prioritize collaboration, monitoring, and ambition; Yusuf envisions it as innovative, multi-stakeholder, and relentless; and Rovira wants to recapture the hope felt in 1995.

Participants envisioned a more inclusive and participatory summit, emphasizing social cohesion, intergenerational justice, and clear definitions of social issues. They called for actionable commitments and improved accountability, as well as strategic youth engagement, leveraging diverse networks, and creating accessible platforms for future generations. By fostering intergenerational justice and inclusive participation, the envisioned summit contributes to the achievement of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with youth actively shaping the future of social development.

Source: UN DESA