ECOSOC 2024 will focus on strengthening the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty

©
10 April, 2024

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2024 – a global platform for dialogue between Member States and young leaders to address the challenges of youth well-being and to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – will focus on “Strengthening the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises”.

This year it will take place from 16-18 April, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, and discussions will focus on five SDGs: no poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), climate action (SDG 13), peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16) and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

Jointly convened by the President of ECOSOC, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UN Youth Office, the Forum will bring together youth leaders, policy makers and stakeholders to exchange good practices. Through plenary sessions, thematic debates and intergovernmental consultations, participants will contribute to promoting innovative solutions for the SDGs. The Forum is an opportunity to strengthen youth participation in multilateral cooperation and decision-making as co-creators and promoters of sustainable development.

UNESCO IESALC will participate as co-organiser and speaker in several side events:

Supporting the right to higher education for students with disabilities

People with disabilities face an increased risk of poverty due to social barriers, such as limited access to education and exclusion from support programmes. There is evidence that people with disabilities are more likely to live below the poverty line. Education, especially higher education, is crucial to break the cycle of poverty and improve income and well-being. Addressing the right to higher education for young people with disabilities is a key step towards reducing inequalities and thus poverty.

The event aims to improve access to higher education for students with disabilities globally by learning from successful projects, experiences and good practices, as well as through partnerships and collaborations with different sectors, within the framework of SDG 17.

This side event, organised by UNESCO IESALC in collaboration with the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities, the UNESCO Youth and Student Network for SDG 4, the Global Student Forum, Queen’s University (Canada) and the University of Gondar (Ethiopia).

Date: 18 April 2024

Time: 9:30 am-11:00 am New York time (GMT-4)

Venue: UNOSSC Office, 304 E 45th Street, 11th floor, New York and online via Zoom.

Details and registration here

Greening Higher Education Institutions: Connecting SDG4 (quality education) and SDG13 (climate action)

The aim of the event “Greening Higher Education Institutions: Connecting to SDG4 and SDG13” is to contribute to creating a sustainable and environmentally conscious society and environmental preservation, which lays the foundation for a better tomorrow for future generations. By empowering education stakeholders and young people to be agents of change, we can enhance their capacity to lead sustainable development efforts and effectively combat the challenges of climate change.

Other objectives include: sharing successful initiatives in promoting green skills training and the transfer of green science, technology and innovation (STI) for sustainable development, exploring the role of youth and other actors in driving environmental initiatives and building partnerships, discussing strategies for equipping education stakeholders and creating an enabling environment for green partnerships, promoting multi-sectoral collaboration to scale up green initiatives, and sharing progress in building the South-South Cooperation Network and its pilot project on greening higher education.

This side event is jointly organised by UNESCO IESALC and UNOSSC (United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation), in collaboration with the UNESCO Youth and Student Network for SDG4, National Geographic Learning, the University of Helsinki, Education Above All and Technological University Dublin.

Date: 18 April 2024

Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM, New York time (GMT-4)

Venue: UNOSSC Office, 304 E 45th Street, New York and online via Zoom.

Details and registration here

UNESCO IESALC has also been invited to participate in “Nothing without us”: why young people with disabilities need a say in their future at the Summit of the Future. It will address how to ensure the inclusion of young people with disabilities in discussions and decision-making processes. It also aims to highlight the efforts of youth movements to promote the participation of young people with disabilities.

Date: 18 April 2024

Time: 7:30 – 8:45 AM, New York time (GMT-4)

Online registration via Zoom: here

More details here