Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Nearly 400 young people recently participated in a national dialogue marking the 80th anniversary of Thailand's United Nations membership. The event focused on the UN's Pact for the Future, a global strategy to address current challenges while protecting future generations. Young people were central to discussions on implementing this pact, adopted by UN Member States in September 2024, highlighting their role as representatives of future generations who cannot yet speak for themselves.
Michaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, stressed that achieving the Pact's goals depends on strong partnerships across society, harnessing the energy and leadership of young people. Rattanachart Paengkum, Assistant President of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, emphasized that effective youth participation should focus on enhancing existing institutions, not creating new ones. He called for revitalizing these mechanisms to ensure genuinely inclusive youth involvement.
Youth representatives also argued that engagement must go beyond offering platforms for voicing concerns. Soonyata Panurat, Thai representative at the ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York, argued that trust and collaborative decision-making are essential for meaningful participation. Policies must be co-developed with young people, not imposed after decisions are made.
Chairat Dipho from Chiang Mai Province shared how local environmental efforts, starting with school projects, can extend to international advocacy for ethnic minority youth, illustrating the diverse roles young people play in shaping the future.