Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 18 September 2020

United Nations

PRESS RELEASE

United Nations launches 2020 Class of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals

Young Leaders for the SDGs is a flagship initiative of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth which recognizes the efforts of young people who are driving action and galvanizing others in support of the 2030 Agenda

18 September 2020, UN Headquarters, New York — The United Nations today announced the names of the latest class of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On a biennial basis, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth recognizes 17 young changemakers who are leading efforts to combat the world's most pressing issues and whose leadership is catalyzing the achievement of the SDGs.

“As the UN marks its 75th anniversary during unprecedented times, the 2020 Young Leaders for the SDGs are a clear example of how young people are leading the way in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for all,” said Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. ”Despite being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, young people around the world continue to demonstrate immense resilience, resourcefulness and leadership in finding innovative solutions to recover better and achieve the SDGs.”

These young leaders — between the ages of 18 and 29 years old — represent the diverse voices of young people from every region of the world, and are collectively responsible for activating millions of young people in support of the SDGs. This group will come together as a community to support efforts to engage young people in the realization of the SDGs both through strategic opportunities with the UN and through their existing initiatives, platforms and networks.

The 2020 Young Leaders for the SDGs are:

● AY Young, 29, United States

● Hadiqa Bashir, 18, Pakistan

● İlayda Eskitaşcıoğlu, 26, Turkey

● Jichen Liu, 23, China

● Lester Philipp Vargas Angeles, 24, Peru

● Loay Radwan, 21, Egypt

● Mariama Djambony Badji, 22, Senegal

● Martin Karadzhov, 27, Bulgaria

● Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, 29, Nigeria

● Ralf Toejnes, 28, Brazil

● Satta Sheriff, 22, Liberia

● Siena Castellon, 18, Ireland

● Tania Rosas, 29, Colombia

● Tim Lo Surdo, 26, Australia

● Udit Singhal, 18, India

● Vanessa Nakate, 23, Uganda

● Zahin Razeen, 22, Bangladesh

More information on the 2020 Young Leaders for the SDGs, including the full profiles of the Young Leaders and their commitments to advancing the SDGs, is available at un.org/youthenvoy/about-theyoung-leaders-for-the-sdgs.

About the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth

In 2017, the UN Secretary-General appointed Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka as his Special Envoy on Youth and as the youngest senior official in the history of the organization.

Ms. Wickramanayake's mandate is to harmonize the UN system efforts on youth development, enhance the UN response to youth needs, advocate for the development needs and rights of young people, as well as to bring the work of the United Nations on youth closer to them. The Envoy on Youth also acts as the advisor to and the representative of the Secretary-General on youth related matters.

For more information, follow @UNYouthEnvoy on social media and visit our website at un.org/youthenvoy.

Media Contact

Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth

Matthew Hunter

+1 (631) 829-4275

matthew.hunter@un.org

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