TO MARK INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY [MONDAY 12TH AUGUST], MORE THAN 150 ACTIVISTS FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES HAVE WRITTEN AN OPEN LETTER TO WORLD LEADERS, CALLING FOR URGENT ACTION TO ACCELERATE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN ORDER TO AVOID ‘DECADES OF DISASTER’ FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET.
Signatories to the letter include activists such as Founder of the Five Foundation Nimco Ali, Indian feminist Trisha Shetty, Amika George, founder of the award winning #FreePeriods campaign, South African disability rights advocate Eddie Ndopu and UN young leader for the SDGs Joannie Bewa.
The letter has also received the backing of major international organisations such as the ONE campaign, Global Citizen and Restless Development and global leaders including the Chair of the Elders, Mary Robinson and Edna Ismail Aden, Former Foreign Minister of Somaliland and Founder of the Edna Adan University and Hospital.
With 10 years left to deliver the Global Goals for Sustainable Development – agreed to by every nation in 2015- campaigners have urged leaders to set out a clear ‘2020 Vision’ by backing young people and listening to the solutions they offer. The letter makes three key demands focused on investment, accountability and solidarity between global campaigners on different issues.
The letter comes at a critical moment ahead of the upcoming G7 Summit in Biarritz and the United Nations General Assembly in September, where leaders will meet to discuss the world’s most pressing issues including at the SDG summit, the first since the Global Goals were agreed in 2015.
—
For press enquiries, please contact [email protected]
THE LETTER IN FULL
Dear World Leaders
We are writing on International Youth Day to demand a more urgent “2020 Vision” from you, by offering it up ourselves.
The global population of young people is rising and so are the issues we face together. In the next decade, the World Bank estimates 600 million young people entering the job market will not find jobs; and climate change will continue to adversely affect developing countries, where 90% of young people live. This is an emergency for people and planet.
If we do not together ensure a Decade of Delivery for the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, from 2020 to 2030, we will together live with decades of disastrous consequences into the 21st century.
We stand ready to help partner and fix these failures, but young people’s voices and priorities are often side-lined and their solutions ignored. Please hear us now as we make these demands:
- Young people are our present and our future, and this future needs investment – a basic level of financing for our health, education, empowerment and resilience in the face of climate change. Experts estimate this investment costs a minimum of $300 per person per year in the lowest income countries.
- To translate Global Goals to local results we need to be able to have the freedom and space and voice to freely track these funds, to “follow the money” – through open budgets and open contracts through to collecting data on outcomes – to ensure it gets where it is needed and is delivering real local results.
- We call on campaigners and concerned citizens around the world – environmental justice, social justice, gender justice, inequality and anti-corruption activists – to unite and together demand a course correction for people and planet.
Young people are organising for impact when leaders meet at their big global gatherings this year and next. Together we must demonstrate a dramatic course correction. Leaders must hear us and, in partnership, act with us. Follow this link to add your name.
Signed by
Abdoul Aziz Traore Chair, Suudu Andal, Burkino Faso
Abdoulaye ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Abdoulaye Sow, One Champion, Sénégal
Aboubacrine, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Abubakar Mohammed, Nigeria
Accountability Lab, Global
Adelle Onyango, CEO Adelle Onyango, Kenya
Adenike Bamigbade, Programme Associate, Step Up for Social Development and Empowerment in Nigeria, Nigeria
Afreen Naaz, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Ahmadou Bamba Diop, One Champion, Sénégal
Aichata, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Aissata, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Akpem Terese Shadrach, Founder, Youths With a Future Initiative, Nigeria
Alex Causton-Ronaldson, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Alex Holmes, Diana Award and Queens Young Leader, UK
Alfred Matsimbe, Athandizi, Malawi
Aliou Amadou, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Amadagaly Ibrahim Maiga, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Amani al-Khatahtbeh, Founder and Editor-in-chief of MuslimGirl.com, USA
Amika George, Founder of #FreePeriods, UK
Aminata, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Angelin Jenifer, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Aniekan Ekpenyong, Director for Africa, Global Health Focus, Nigeria
Anita Kube, She Films Africa, South Africa
Anyinge Norine, Uganda
Ashok Bisunke, Nepal
Arrey Obenson, JCI Secretary General
Awis Pant, Student, Nepal
Becca Hawkins, Climate Change Campaigner, UK
Benedicta Dawson-Amoah Youth Think Tank, Ghana
Benjamin Feist, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Blessing Omakwu-Soremekun, Founder, The She Tank
Boboye Adeniji Oluwafemi, Project Lead, Youth Be Inspired Initiative, Nigeria
Boukary, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Boutimelo Zwane Commission for Gender Equality, National Independent Human Rights Institution, South Africa
Brehima, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Canon Felix, Menya Foundation, Gitega-Burundi
Carla Home, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Carlos Sanvee, Secretary General, World Alliance of YMCAs, Global
Caitlin O’Donoghue, United Kingdom
Chaimae Bourjij, Founder of Youth SDG Action Project and Winner of the ‘Mobilizer Award’ by UN SDG Action Campaign (2018), Morocco
Charlotte Musgrove, UK
Cheikna, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Christian Vanizette, Co-founder, Make Sense, France
Chansa Innocent Youth Think Tank Researcher and Innovations Lead & Programs ChEDIC InnovaTions Hub, Zambia
Cuthbert Mukora, Head of Programmes, Rural Enterprise Trust of Zimbabwe (Goalkeeper Youth Action Accelerator), Zimbabwe
Dalila DOSSOU, ONE Youth Champion, Sénégal
Damilare Oyedele, Cofounder, Library Aid Africa, Nigeria
Dannika Calyon, Youth Activist, Australia
Danyal Hayat, Head of International Department – Cecos University Peshawar, Pakistan
David Watson Mwabila, Dytech, Zambia
Diakalia M, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Dilip Kumar Sharma, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Dominic Cowell, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Dr Edna Adnan Ismail, Founder, Edna Adnan University and Hospital, Somaliland
Dr. Joannie Marlene BEWA, “Physician & Public Health Specialist
Founder, Young Beninese Leaders Association (YBLA)
United Nations Young Leaders for the SDGs,” Benin Republic
Dumisani Kaliati, Founder and CEO, MicroMek Ltd (Goalkeeper Youth Action Accelerator), Malawi
Dzikunu, Richard Mawutor, Youth Power Global Leader, Winner of 2018 United Nations Action Campaign Awards, Ghana
Ebenezer Wikina,
Edward (Eddie) Ndopu, Member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advocacy Group for the SDGs, South Africa
Elizabeth Glaser, Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Emmanuel Ametepy, Convenor, African Youth SDGs Summit, and UNDP 16×16 Global Youth Leader, Ghana
Fabienne Rafidiharinirina, Founder, Madagascar Initiatives for Digital Innovation (Goalkeeper Youth Action Accelerator), Madagascar
Faith Kaoma, Restless Development, Zambia
Fatuma Likwawite, Youth Accountability Advocate, Tanzania
Fouzy Mathey, Cofounder, YES For Humanity, Nigeria
Francis Ametepy, Ghana Students Accountability Network, Ghana
Georgie Wallis, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Global Citizen Global
Hammed Kayode Alabi, Executive Director, Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative (KLCI), Nigeria
Hamzat Lawal, Follow The Money via Connected Development [CODE], Nigeria
Helena Cartee, Student, United Kingdom
Helena Leonard, Women Deliver Young Leader, Namibia
Hercules Jim, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring and Council, Papua New Guinea
Holly Kennett, Partnerships Coordinator, Restless Development
Ibrahim Batambuze, Reach A Hand, Uganda
Ibrahima, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin,Country Coordinator, Break-Free Plastic Movement Nigeria
Idrisse, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Ilwad Ali, Director of Programs & Development for the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, Canada/Somalia
Inota Cheta, Youth Power Global Leader and Director SHE Entrepreneur, Zambia
Isaac Ezirim, Founder, Teens Can Code, Nigeria
Ivan Kasonko, Key Populations Uganda, Uganda
Jagriti Rani, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Jainish Vig, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Jay Prakash, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Jerry Azilinon, ONE Youth Champion, Sénégal
Jevanic Henry, YCCA, Saint Lucia
Joel Naluwairo, Founder of Millennium Corps Uganda, Uganda
Jonathan Harper FRSA, Chief Executive Officer, Future Foundations, UK
Joshua Alade, Project Coordinator, Nigerian Youth SDGs Network, Nigeria
Juan Carlos Monterrey, Director, The Center for Climate Resilient Development & Technology (Climate Resilient), Panama
Judith Kitinga, Youth Accountability Advocate, Tanzania
juma Osman, YouthAdvocate, Uganda Youth Coalition on Adolescent SRHR & HIV
Katie Fuhs, Youth Leadership Council Member, Global Fund for Children, USA
Kennedy Odede, President & CEO, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), Kenya
Kia, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Kisirisa Muhammed, AFFCAD, Uganda
krishna Sharma, Women Deliver Young Leader, Nepal
Laura Ulloa, Peace activist and writer, Colombia
Lewis Wilkinson, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Maeve O’Reilly, Youth Activist, Ireland
Mahamadou, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Mamadou, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Mamadou Adama Diallo, ONE Youth Champion, Sénégal
Manish Saini, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Mariam, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Marie Jeanne Andre DIOUF, ONE Youth Champion, Sénégal
Marlou Cornelissen, CEO, World Merit, UK
Marwa, UN Women Gender Agora, Morocco
Mary Robinson, Chair of the Elders, Ireland
Memory Banda, Let Girls Lead and the Girl Empowerment Network of Malawi, Malawi
Michael Mwangoka, Restless Development Tanzania
Mme Konaté Ami, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Molly Pugh-Jones, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Mohamad Danial Hakim Yazid Timothy, Student, Malaysia
Mohammed Bayero Yayandi, Community Champion Follow The Money. Nigeria
Moneera Yassien, AMNA Organisation, Sudan
Moussa Salif, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Mputa Ngalande, SRHR Activist, Zambia
Mthobisi Simelane, Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Muleta Kapatiso, Friends of Inmates , Zambia
Nadege S. Uwamahoro, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, Denmark
Nandini Tanya Lallmon, Founder and Chairperson, International Youth Council Mauritius Chapter
Napoleón García, Youth Director, Nuestro Tiempo and Censura Cero, Mexico
Ndagire Moreen Maria, Student, Uganda
Niamoye, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Nikhil Taneja, Co-Founder and CEO, Yuvaa,
Nikita Khanna, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Nimco Ali, Co-founder and CEO of The Five Foundation, UK
Nishchhal Kharal, CEO, Idea Ghar, Nepal
NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, USA
Okore Scheaffer, Vice-chairperson of Ukweli party, Kenya
One Young World
Ousmane, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Oscar Atura, Student, Ghana
Patrick Karekezi, Youth Think Tank Researcher, Uganda
Penda, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Perry Maddox, CEO, Restless Development, US
Poppy Bullen, Communications Officer, Restless Development, UK
Pooja Kapahi, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Preeti Singh, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Primrose Manyalo, Restless Development Youth Power Coordinator, Zimbabwe
Priscilla Nyaaba, Ag. Executive Director, Youth Harvest Foundation (Goalkeeper Youth Action Accelerator), Ghana
Priyanka Rajendram, Co-founder of Girlsplained, Singapore
Project Everyone, Global
Purity Kagwiria, Feminist and Girls Rights champion, Executive Director @ Akili Dada, Kenya
Qabale Duba, Qabale Duba Foundation, Kenya
Rahim Abas Kiobya, CEO and Founder, Geospatial Tanzania LTD (Goalkeeper Youth Action Accelerator), Tanzania
Raja Rabbi Hussain, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Rajshree Sharma, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Restless Development, Global
Ria Sharma, Founder Make Love Not Scars, Anti acid and women’s rights activist and author
Ritu Jain, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Ronard Fharldines, FEMINA HIP, Tanzania
Rosie Oakley, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Ruhimbana Muzamil, Entrepreneur, Rwanda
Rwendeire Peniel, Chairman of the Board, Network for Active Citizens, Uganda
Sabrina Yasmin Rafel, Co-founder of Girlsplained, UK
Saffran Mihnar, Youth Power Global Leader and Director for Development and Communication, Earth Lanka, Sri Lanka
Sahana Afreen, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Sané Mariam, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Sasssoumah Berethé, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Scarlett Curtis, Activist, writer, journalist, and blogger, UK
Sean Awali, Executive Director of Triumph Uganda, Uganda
Semiye Michael, Founder: DEAN Initiative, Nigeria
Seyi Akiwowo, Founder if Glitch
Shane Dooner, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Sobel Aziz Ngom, “E.D at Social Change Factory
Sohanur Rahman, YouthNet for climate justice
Swaliho M. Fofana, Executive Director YouthAid Liberia, Liberia
Board Member at Generation Unlimited,” Senegal
Soîbou, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Sophie Norman, Youth Stop Aids Campaigner, UK
Souleymane, ONE Youth Champion, Mali
Starr Wattam, waitress, netherlands
Sulaima Ramadan, IMPACT, Palestine
Sunidhi Kant, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
Swastika, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
TN Gnawali, Nepal
The ONE Campaign, Global
Thirukumar Premakumar, Founder of International Youth Alliance for Peace, Sri Lanka
Thobias Komba, Youth Accountability Advocate, Tanzania
Towett Ngetich, CEO, Uthabiti Health (Goalkeeper Youth Action Accelerator)
Towera Msiska, Pakachere IHDC, Malawi
Trisha Shetty, Founder, SheSays India, India
UnJaded Jade, Vlogger and Restless Development volunteer, UK
Valarie Musavi, PIPE, Kenya
Veronica Mwisa, Restless Development Volunteer, Tanzania
Vibhu Sharma, Global Board Member at Generation Unlimited
Victoria Ibiwoye, Youth Power Global Leader and Director, OneAfricanChild, Nigeria
Vidhant Jain, Youth Accountability Advocate, India
WAGGGS, Global
Wendy Musonda, Youth Think Tank Researcher, Zambia
Winnie Adur, Girls Advocacy Alliance, National Gender Advocate and Policy Analyst Restless Uganda
Ysabel Vargas, International Youth Council-Pilipinas. Philippines
Yvonne Ochieng, Nzumari Africa. Kenya
Zanele Mabaso, Sonke Gender Justice, South Africa