Generation Equality: Building Back Better with…

A new generation of young women and girls are leading the gender equality movement as well as other social justice causes that affect their lives personally. Yet, feminist gains are experiencing reversals. Young women and girls face multiple barriers and disadvantages that include violence and limited and unequal access to resources, knowledge, information, networks and job markets as well as early marriage and childbearing in many countries. These multiple forms of discrimination are due to persistent inequalities, discriminatory laws, stereotypical cultural norms and unequal gendered social roles that are attributed to them within their communities and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened some of these inequalities.

The Generation Equality Forum celebrated in 2021 was an opportunity to discuss the challenges of COVID19 for the gender equality agenda and open spaces, accessibility and visibility to young people, supporting their meaningful participation (co-creating and co-leading all processes) and engagement. 

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum will be held on 19 and 20 April 2022. The two-day event will feature plenary sessions, interactive thematic and regionally based discussions. Young people are encouraged to share best practices, lessons learned, solutions as well as creative and innovative ideas with Member States, other youth and stakeholders on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and also on the sustainable development goals under review in the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum in 2022.