Scouting advocates for progress on SDGs at UNGA 80

Scouts representing our Movement gathered in New York last week at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to advocate for greater progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a critical milestone for the 2030 Agenda. Together, they urged governments, institutions, and partners to take action and prioritise solutions to tackle the most pressing issues facing young people today, including climate change, conflict, inequality, and access to quality education and health.

This year’s event, held from 21 to 25 September, marked the 80th edition of the UN’s key policy-making body, as well as the five-year countdown to 2030 when Member States and society will be held to account on the promises made over a decade ago to work towards sustainable development. Against a backdrop of wavering trust in multilateralism, UNGA 80 also serves as a pivotal moment for young people to influence how the UN must adapt in an increasingly polarised world. 

World Scouting Youth Representatives Garam Jeon (South Korea), Yossr Baaziz (Tunisia), and Amal Ridene (Tunisia), Chairperson, Ethics Committee, took part in engagements alongside David Berg, Secretary General, throughout high-level week. At events both within the formal UNGA agenda and in parallel platforms across New York, they shared their expertise, built partnerships, and amplified the call for more meaningful youth participation in global decision-making.

Among the highlights was the General Assembly’s first-ever official high-level plenary meeting dedicated to young people, where Amal spoke on a plenary panel drawing attention to the lasting impact of investing in young people beyond the classroom.

Meanwhile, at multiple side-events and moments with senior leaders, Garam and Yossr showcased the transformative role of young people as innovators in shaping the future of learning. Garam spotlighted Scouting initiatives such as JOTA-JOTI and the online programmes developed during the COVID-19 pandemic that harnessed technology to connect young people and strengthen their skills.

World Scouting also engaged high-level roundtables, events and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council on youth innovation for climate resilience and skills development. Representatives also had the opportunity to advocate for the issues they care about with Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General at the UN, and Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the UN Youth Office. 

During a special event dedicated to the role of youth-led solutions, the Big Six and the United Nations Youth Office announced a new partnership to strengthen youth leadership and action toward the SDGs, focusing on collaboration, advocacy, resource mobilisation and greater representation. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), attended the session and received the inaugural Global Youth Mobilizer Award in recognition of the WHO’s support for the initiative.

Building on past partnership successes, SAP and World Scouting co-hosted the fourth edition of a dialogue series on learning and skills for sustainable youth development. These discussions brought together diverse stakeholders from Accenture, Deloitte, Misk Foundation, The International Award, Generation Unlimited and more to explore creative and collaborative approaches to education and work. Also in attendance was HH Princess Sama Bint Faisal Al Saud, Board Member, World Scout Foundation, who opened a session on preparing young people for tomorrow’s workforce. HH Princess Sama also spoke at side events on peace education and the importance of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue.

Beyond the formal sessions, UNGA80 provided opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ties with other youth-focused organisations working on education and youth development. World Scouting’s leadership met with Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, to discuss the importance of child and youth safeguarding within Scouting. Bilateral discussions also took place with key partner organisations to scale up youth-led climate action initiatives and explore continued partnership opportunities to address global challenges, such as youth unemployment and the impact of artificial intelligence.

Scouting’s participation in global decision-making platforms, such as the UN General Assembly, is essential to ensure that young people are actively advocating for human and youth rights, pressing world leaders to take urgent action, contributing meaningfully to policy development, and raising their voices on issues that affect the largest youth generation in history. These engagements also provide a powerful opportunity to showcase Scouting’s contribution to building a more peaceful and sustainable world, having already delivered nearly 3 billion hours of community service toward the Global Goals with a commitment to reach 4 billion hours by 2030.