Youth Declaration consultation process
Transforming education can only be achieved if we, young people, are included in the processes of implementing policy and systematic changes to education stakeholders and governments. This is why youth must be engaged in critical events that will shape education’s future, such as the Transforming Education Summit (TES), which will take place in September 2022.
Developed by the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth together with the Summit Secretariat hosted by UNESCO and a number of partners, the Youth Declaration will:
- gather young people’s collective views on what transforming education should look like
- outline young people’s collective recommendations to decision and policymakers, including governments, civil society, international organizations, the United Nations, and others on transforming education
- highlight young people’s collective commitments and actions towards transforming education
It will be presented to the Secretary-General as young people’s inputs to the Chair's Summary of the Transforming Education Summit.
Young people all over the world are encouraged to shape and influence this crucial document.
Watch the introduction to the Youth Declaration by Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth and SDG4Youth members Doris Mwikali and Sofia Bermudez at the Pre-Summit 28-30 June at UNESCO HQ Paris
Process
The Declaration must hear from youth around the world with different backgrounds and contexts. To this end, several public consultations are taking place between June and September 2022. In addition, the Youth Declaration will take into account outcomes of past consultations and various calls to action and other resources that have been developed in relation to the Transforming Education Summit. An independent consultant will be responsible for bringing all these resources together and ensuring that young people in all their diversity and worldwide will be engaged in a meaningful, diverse, and effective manner throughout this process.
Desk review of key resources and consultations
The Youth Declaration will be informed by the following key consultations:
- World Largest Lesson’s Transforming Education Survey (Transforming Education Survey | The World's Largest Lesson - globalgoals.org)
- UNESCO’s “Three questions to Transform Education” Survey - the survey can be found on the Futures of Education website in English | French | Spanish
- UNICEF U-Report poll calling on all young people to share their views on Transforming Education: Messenger https://bit.ly/TEducationFB | WhatsApp https://bit.ly/TEducationWA | Viber https://bit.ly/TEducationVR
Other key resources include:
- Solidarity Circle Event - International Day of Education 2022
- ECOSOC Youth Forum SDG4 Breakout Session 2022
- SDG4Youth Proposal for Transforming Education
- Unlock the Future Proposal for the Transforming Education Summit
- World Higher Education Conference, Barcelona
- APREMC II Ministerial Conference, Bangkok
- Asia-Pacific Regional Youth Call to Action ahead of the APFSD 2022
If you would like to submit key resources reflecting youth voices in transforming education for the Youth Declaration, please add them to this discussion board.
Youth Declaration Consultations
During the Pre-Summit, a Youth Consultation was held on June 29th 2022. The following takeaways can be highlighted:
- To ensure youth can keep track of the commitments made by governments to transform education, an accountability mechanism must be established. This is critical to create structural changes and ensure countries put education on the agenda.
- Young people not only need to be heard by stakeholders and governments, but if we really want to achieve SDG4 and transform education, they also need to be included in the process and play an active role.
- Any proposal, action, or change we want for education in any field demands more financing. Countries must commit to transforming education not only by words but by concrete actions and funding. Otherwise, we will never be able to create structural changes and ensure access to quality education for everyone.
A second consultation was held online in July and a third in August.
Make your voice heard right here!
If you haven’t done so yet, it is not too late to share your thoughts:
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It is the high time for today's youth to raise their voice for Education Equality and Learning Justice. Otherwise none but them should swallow the bitter pill.
Often children with special needs are forgotten. Like for example children with a visual impairment. Please pay attention to their special needs as they have the same dreams, ambitions and potential as any other child. Make sure that they will be included in the youth consultation. For more information see www.icevi.com or the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL24hlTbOHE
We should work for free education, and ask the government of nations that took part in the UN to add education as rights of human right for everyone.
Educación inclusiva
Las escuelas necesitan de docentes apasionados por enseñar y por aprender, que reten a los estudiantes y faciliten su aprendizaje. Un profesor es un agente de cambio y en realidad, el único objetivo de nuestro trabajo es que los estudiantes aprendan.
SDG4Youth Network Proposal on the Youth Declaration
SDG4Youth Proposal on Transforming Education
ECOSOC Youth Forum SDG4 Breakout Summary
Fridays for the Future Climate Literacy Letter
IYLO IYLC Transforming Education Pre-Summit Recommendations
Generation Equality TES Youth Recommendations
Declaration from Children and Adolescents with Disabilities
SDG4Youth World Higher Education Conference Paper
Generation Connect Youth Call to Action 2022
UNGEI Transforming Education in Crisis
Global Partnership Forum Call to Action on Comprehensive Sexuality Education
UNICEF Companion Report to the State of World's Children 2021
UNICEF U-Report Voices of Youth Consultations
SDG4Youth Sustainability and Education Statement
Youth as Researchers Global Policy Brief
World Non-formal Education Forum
Youth for Climate Manifesto
Y-20 2021 Communique
Y-7 2021 Communique
OHCHR Consultation for the Fourth Phase of the World Program for Human Rights Education
It feels like the world has forgotten about girls' education in Afghanistan. It should be considered a top priority in each nation. Since this has been harmful to our generation it is our responsibility to take action and be heard. I believe if the girls in Afghanistan cannot go to school we should bring the school to their homes. Thus, I have started an organization called Youth For Youth community which connects Afghan students with young tutors worldwide.
The awareness about such issues must spread and action must be taken by asking a simple question ourselves, what is my part?
Education Plus Initiative Recommendations on Youth Declaration
https://twitter.com/EducPlus2025
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