National Youth Summit – Summit for the Future Cambodia

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• His Excellency. Serey Chhumneas, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and his team
• Her Excellency. Sroy Socheat, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the National Youth Development Council of Cambodia and Director-General of Youth, Ministry of Education Youth and Sport and her team
• The UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Jo Scheuer
• Excellencies and distinguished guests, development partners, UN sister agencies, civil society – and most importantly all of the young people here today

Arun Suasodey Good morning! 

On behalf of the United Nations Country Team and as the Representative of UNFPA it is an honour and pleasure to be here today at the Summit for the Future Cambodia. We are honoured to have so many esteemed guests here today - however I am directing my remarks this morning at our youth leaders. Gathered here today are Cambodia’s leaders of both today and tomorrow - set to inherit the successes and challenges of your elders and carry them towards the future. It is an enormous privilege to meet with you and to ensure that your insights, experiences, your intellect and your passion contribute and guide the upcoming Summit of the Future scheduled to take place on September 22-23 in New York.

Our Resident Coordinator and UN country team members were able to join some of you at the youth consultative workshop on the Declaration for Future Generation led by the UN Youth Advisory Panel with support from the UN Country Team in Cambodia.  They were deeply inspired then, and I anticipate that we will be even more inspired today by the passion, creativity and energetic commitment to transformation and positive change by the over 250 young leaders gathered today in this hall.

This national summit holds great potential, providing you a platform to address pressing issues in advance of the global Summit of the Future, and to produce an outcome statement that will effectively convey your voices and your aspirations to an international audience. As you deliberate on the critical issues facing Cambodia and the world - from climate change to social justice, from technological innovation to global governance - I urge you to dream big, to challenge the status quo, and to put forward bold, transformative solutions. Your voices, your ideas, and your actions have the power to catalyse real, lasting change.

I would like to acknowledge and thank HE Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and his whole team for their leadership and the National Youth Development Council for their guidance and partnership. The commitment towards ensuring that Cambodian youth voices are heard at the global level is truly commendable. 

Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the leadership and coordination of the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel Cambodia in organizing this momentous event. I also want to express appreciation to the UN Country Team, notably my own agency UNFPA and my team members who have dedicated much time, leadership and support in bringing this summit to fruition. What is really great about this event today is that it’s been truly youth led. Over the 6 past months, UNYAP alongside many youth networks have worked very hard - congratulations to UN YAP for your ability to bring together over 15 youth organisations and networks which are participating in this event today. 

The 12th of August marked International Youth Day and, though we may be a little late, I take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all 250 of you in person. Happy 25th International Youth Day, everyone. There is no better way to celebrate than to be heard, and this Summit is built for exactly that purpose. Be thoughtful, be loud and be bold and brave!

On behalf of the UN Country team in Cambodia, please be assured that we are resolutely committed to amplifying your calls for transformation, translating your visions and voices into tangible policies and programs, and advocating for greater youth representation in decision-making processes. We recognize that the future belongs to all of you. I eagerly anticipate the insightful discussions that lie ahead today. 

Thank you!