Unlock Declaration Seeks to Build Coalition for Future Generations

This week during a virtual event on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, WOSM, together with the Big 6 Youth Organizations, joined some of the world’s largest and most far-reaching youth-led and youth-focused networks and movements to form the Unlock the Future coalition and sign the Unlock Declaration. 

At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact the prospects of young people, the Unlock Declaration seeks to leverage this seminal moment in shaping how global leaders prioritise the needs of the next and future generations. This comes just a few weeks after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres published the Our Common Agenda report which sets out a blueprint to reinvigorate multilateralism and which has a strong focus on better harnessing and representing the voices of young people and future generations in decision making. 

The coalition will work together in coming months to develop its vision, strategy and plans for collaboration with other partners to work on four initial priorities: ensure young people are at the heart of the decision-making process; increase funding for youth-led and youth-focused organisations; foster opportunities for development and civic engagement; and advocate for shared and aligned policy asks that matter most to young people. 

The members of the Unlock the Future coalition include: BRAC, Girl Up, Global Youth Mobilization, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), World Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (The Award), Restless Development and the Youth Collective, the Global Shapers Community at the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations Foundation. CIVICUS, Save the Children, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation also contributed to the development of the declaration and are committed to joining the coalition.