By Bosco Bush
For the first time in history, South Sudan is sending two youth delegates to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The UN assembly is set to take place from September 24 to September 30, 2024.
Delegates Elpidio Ladu and Priscila Ayuen will present the concerns of the youth, particularly regarding their ‘marginalization’ at the global level.
Mr. Joseph Kenyi Samuel, project coordinator for this initiative and founder of the United Nations Association of South Sudan, said “It’s very critical because youth are now part of the global decision-making process.”
He said the delegates will present three critical issues that were identified to be affecting the youth throughout the year.
These include; youth misrepresentation in the decision-making process, unemployment, and absence of youth peace and security.
“The most important component of this project is to increase the underrepresentation of the voice of youth from the global South. Not only in Africa alone but there are those countries that are marginalized, they don’t send their youth to the General Assembly and there’s no one talking on their behalf,” Kenyi said.
“This is my impression in this program whereby the youth can stand on that platform, a global platform like the UN General Assembly and voice their concerns of the country’s youth,” he added.
South Sudan delegates; Elpidio Ladu, will participate in the sessions of the High-Level debate of the General Assembly from 18th to 26th of September, 2024.
While Priscila Ayuen will attend the meeting of the task committee on Humanitarian, Social and Cultural Affairs from 26th September to 2nd October 2024, where youth and children issues are addressed.
Before the departure, the delegates were engaged in a series of campaigns with some public universities within the country, and they altogether developed contentious issues for the delegate to present at the UN General Assembly.
After the meeting, the delegates are expected to return to the country and meet the youth and share with them the lessons learned and the way forward for the next year’s cohort participation at the General Assembly.
The program has been supported by the African United Nations Youth Delegate Program (AUNYDP) an initiative of CRISP, a German NGO, with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Six countries in East Africa are participating in the program, including Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The program aims to increase the representation of youth from East Africa in the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA).
According to population estimates, Youth constitute the biggest population in South Sudan, constituting over 70 per cent.
However, UNFPA’s latest report shows that young people in South Sudan are faced with many challenges including lack of employment, education, and limited participation in decision-making as they are systematically excluded due to their age and assumptions that they are inexperienced.
Such a situation has led to frustration among youth and has contributed to youth engaging in violence including armed conflict.
In 2015, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2250, the first resolution that specifically addresses the role of young people in matters of peace and security.
This ground-breaking resolution on Youth, Peace and Security recognizes the positive role young people can play in conflict prevention, the prevention of violence, and the promotion and consolidation of peace.
In this regard, the government of South Sudan has committed to advancing the Youth Peace and Security agenda in the country.