New York (Jan. 30, 2017) – Invited by UN Secretary-General’s Youth Envoy, TDN Founder Ariel Rojas is representing our organization at the ECOSOC Youth Forum. Youth representatives from more than 100 countries are attending the event.

Since 2012, the annual Youth Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has become a platform where young people can contribute to policy discussions at the United Nations through their collective ideas, solutions and innovations. The Forum allows representatives of youth-led and youth-focused organizations and networks, youth advocates and others to dialogue with Member States, and to explore ways and means of promoting
youth development and engagement.

The report of the Secretary-General “Critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level” recognizes the potential of the ECOSOC Youth Forum by stating that the High-level Political Forum could be informed by and benefit from several specific Economic and Social Council forums covering cross-cutting issues in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the existing forum on youth.

Objectives
• To provide a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States on the themes of the ECOSOC High-level Segment, including the High-Level Political Forum.
• To promote innovative approaches and initiatives for advancing the youth development agenda at national, regional and global levels with a view to promoting global (multilateral) solutions to the global challenge of “shared prosperity”.
• To share knowledge on achieving youth development by promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
• To launch ideas and initiatives for collective action for people, planet, peace and prosperity.