Empowering Youth to Shape Just and Inclusive Futures

At the Biennial Panel on Youth and Human Rights, held under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, governments, civil society, and youth leaders themselves converged on a central message: the voices of young people are indispensable to building a fairer and more peaceful world. Far from being passive beneficiaries of policy, today’s youth are innovators, bridge-builders, and defenders of rights, often stepping into roles of leadership without waiting for permission. 

Speakers drew attention to both the promise and the precarity of this generation. In conflict-affected regions such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, countless young lives are being cut short, while millions more are losing access to classrooms and opportunities. Beyond conflict zones, youth face mounting mental health challenges, exacerbated by digital environments that can foster isolation and harassment. The barriers are even greater for young people who experience overlapping forms of exclusion. 

Despite these obstacles, panelists highlighted how young people are driving social progress across continents. From youth councils in Scotland influencing national policy, to artistic and grassroots movements in Guatemala and Gambia promoting peace and inclusion, to global student and climate movements challenging the status quo, the energy and determination of young people was consistently recognized as a vital force for change. Their contributions, however, often take place without sufficient institutional backing or resources. As one speaker urged, governments must work with, not against, youth to unlock their potential. 

Several interventions underscored the need for supportive frameworks: education systems that are inclusive and forward-looking, financial and legal measures that guarantee youth participation, and formal mechanisms such as youth parliaments, online platforms, and cabinet-level dialogues with young representatives. Global initiatives like the UN Youth Strategy, Youth 2030, and the forthcoming Pact for the Future were cited as important vehicles, but panelists stressed that these commitments must move beyond rhetoric into concrete action. 

The discussion also pointed to the transformative role youth can play in bridging divides and countering polarization. Whether through local mediation, human rights advocacy, or climate activism, young people are already demonstrating the ability to build solidarity and drive collective progress. Their leadership, delegates agreed, is not supplementary but central to advancing peace, human rights, and sustainable development. 

Speakers stressed that youth is essential to building peaceful and inclusive societies. Many pointed to barriers that continue to exclude young people, including limited civic space, unequal access to education, and discrimination. These challenges are especially acute for those affected by poverty, conflict, and displacement. Girls and young women remain disproportionately impacted, facing both structural and social obstacles to full participation. 

Many countries such as El Salvador highlighted efforts to promote youth leadership, while others like Moldova called for youth policies to be central to global agreements like the Pact for the Future. Civil society actors urged governments to move beyond symbolic engagement by legally guaranteeing youth participation and supporting it through public policy, funding, and education. Several noted the importance of youth parliaments, digital platforms, and human rights education in empowering young people to contribute meaningfully. 

Young people were consistently framed not as passive beneficiaries but as leaders addressing injustice, promoting dialogue, and advancing peace within their communities. 

In their final remarks, delegates called for concrete steps to institutionalize youth participation and fully implement the youth, peace and security agenda. Formal partnerships between governments, civil society, and international agencies were seen as critical to sustaining meaningful youth engagement. Many also emphasized the contributions young people are already making in advancing social development and driving community-level progress. Inclusion, they noted, is not just a principle but a practical necessity for building societies that are more just, stable, and responsive to the needs of all. 

Watch the Biennial Panel on Youth and Human Rights here.