Secretary-General Urges Youth to Take Action on Sustainable Development Goals as International Model United Nations Conference Begins at Headquarters

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Public Information, to the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) International Model UN Conference, in New York today:

Dear young friends, I am pleased to convey my warm greetings to all those taking part in this Second WFUNA International Model United Nations.  We are proud to welcome so many young and energetic participants to the General Assembly Hall during this seventieth anniversary of the United Nations.

You come together at a time of promise and peril across the global landscape.  Nearly 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes — more than at any time since the end of the Second World War.  In every society, women are victims of violence.  The consequences of climate change are ever more apparent.

At the same time, the international community has made important progress by adopting the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  This landmark framework with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was produced through the most inclusive process in UN history.

By the end of the conference, you will have a better understanding of how we seek to build consensus and tackle major global challenges.  You will see the importance of ensuring that all Member States, large and small, have an opportunity to take part in discussions.

This principle of inclusion at the United Nations increasingly extends to civil society, and to youth in particular.  I often say that young people are not only leaders of tomorrow, you are leaders of today.

I welcome your theme “Global Transformation:  The Sustainable Development Goals”.  The SDGs focus on challenges such as inequality, the need for decent jobs and sustainability of our planet.  The Sustainable Development Goals are for you and will only be achieved if all of us — including you — work to make them happen.

So, what can you do?  How can you contribute your energy, your enthusiasm and your new ideas to make a real difference in the world?  For one thing, you can speak up.  Use social media to help mobilize your peers around the world to take action.  Raise your voices with your Government representatives, network and exchange ideas.

At the same time, I will continue to urge political leaders to listen to the voices of youth and engage in a constructive dialogue.  I am confident that this conference will spark your interest in the SDGs and making these goals a reality.  I also hope you leave here with a better understanding of what it takes to be a diplomat and a greater appreciation of the importance of listening to views that differ from your own and using this skill to arrive at consensus.

I admire your commitment and wish you all great success in the discussions that lie ahead.