7 September 2024
LAU Byblos Campus

Good morning.

It is truly my pleasure to join you here today in Byblos to mark the 10th anniversary of the Youth Leadership Programme, and most importantly, to celebrate the remarkable impact that you have made through a network which brings together over 1,000 participants.

The importance of young people as key architects and custodians of their country’s future cannot be overstated anywhere in the world. And certainly not in Lebanon. A country at a critical crossroads and with so many milestones lying ahead that are pivotal to its recovery and development.

And this is exactly what the Youth Leadership Programme understands and aims to harness: empowering Lebanon’s young women and men to design and implement solutions to realize the future they want. A future you want and deserve. It is quite simple: you are the next generation of leaders that Lebanon so desperately needs to elevate the national interest – away from partisan politics and parochial agendas – above all else.

There is no denying it: the challenges facing young Lebanese women and men are enormous. Quite understandably, this can lead to distress and, as some of you have told me before, to certain levels of numbness. Yet, the potential, vision and energy of young Lebanese women and men is felt everywhere. What’s more…your potential, vision and energy are critical to your country’s transformation. That is, to break the recurrent cycles  of instability, conflict and hardship that have plagued the country for far too long. And within this context, I can only emphasize that much more must be done to fully harness your collective power and action as a driving force for change.

As you may know, resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, which was approved by the Security Council a number of years ago, seeks to ensure that the perspectives of youth are integrated into policies and programs that advance conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. This is not merely about giving you a token seat at the table. Quite the opposite. It is about meaningful inclusion and participation. It seeks to ensure that the solutions and initiatives that are devised accurately reflect the lived experiences, insights, and aspirations of young women and men.

Needless to say, along with the entire UN system in Lebanon, I am deeply committed to promoting your involvement in peace and security dialogue processes, including through our support to and engagement with youth associations and groups.

A guiding tenet of the UN’s 2030 Agenda is that “no one is left behind.” In other words, the universal nature of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals spans all nations, all societies, and all segments of the population – including young women and men.

And so, we need to walk the talk.

You are the present.

You are the future.

You are the agents of change!

And yes, you can count on our support. The entire UN family stands with you and believes in you. We too benefit and draw inspiration from your energy, ideas, and actions.

Thank you.