Welcome to the United Nations
“Youth Perspectives on Family Homelessness and Technology” was a side event hosted by UNANIMA International and co-sponsored by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the United Nations. In panel format, the event primarily gave voice to the perspectives of people with lived experience of homelessness/displacement and university students on how Family Homelessness is affected by technology, including through examination of the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all, especially the most marginalized of our world (migrants, refugees, visible and hidden homeless populations). One purpose of the event was broaching the topics of the last two commissions (namely social protections and homelessness) with this year’s priority theme on technology.
The presentations gave insight into many important topics. For example, it was proven that the digital divide is reflective of inequality including between countries and within countries, and gender inequality, exacerbated for homeless and displaced populations. A further example is the focus given to how smart phones change the experiences of migration and seeking asylum. Additionally, the intersections between homelessness and human trafficking were made clear, including how these experiences can drive each other by creating trauma and vulnerability. UNANIMA International took the opportunity to present a working definition for hidden homelessness, which specifies a variety of manifestations of homelessness, including living with abusers and in inadequate housing. Several of the presentations promoted the definition of homelessness proposed by the United Nations Expert Group on “Affordable Housing and Social Protection Systems for All to Address Homelessness.”
The youth speakers included: St. John’s University students, Arianna Papponne (Italy), Rocio Moron (Spain) Ammaar Dawood (USA); Ajifanta Marenah is a St. John’s student who also has lived experience of migration (The Gambia/USA); Mason Persons share about his lived experience as a youth who faced homelessness (USA); and Kirin Taylor, UNANIMA International’s Research Fellow (USA) also presented. Moderator Molly Gerke, UNANIMA International UN Representative (Australia) brought her experiences from the grassroots and years of focus on women and children/girls.
Concept note and all presentations:
AjiFanta-Marenah-Forced-MigrationDownload
Ammaar-Dawood-Refugees-and-Displaced-PeoplesDownload
Arianna-Pappone-InequalityDownload
Kirin-Taylor-Hidden-HomelessnessDownload
Rocio-Moron-Human-Trafficking-and-HomelessnesssDownload
Link to Mason’s Video Sharing Lived Experience:
Pictures from the event:
Source: UNANIMA International