WHO Youth Council: ‘Our voices are vital for the future world’

A global alliance of young people has developed the Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies, aimed at ensuring youth plays a central in creating a healthier world.

They are members of the World Health Organization’s WHO Youth Council, whose declaration outlines 10 specific ‘calls for action’ that put young people at the forefront.

It was launched at this week’s World Health Summit in Berlin, which brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society from around the world to set the agenda for a healthier future.

Kate Ndocko, a member of the WHO Youth Council, said: “This Declaration represents our collective commitment and priorities to help communities, especially youth, at local, regional and global levels, to be healthier and more resilient in the face of the many health challenges the world faces today as well as the ones ahead.”

The 10 calls to action are designed to ensure:

• Access, equity and inclusion for youth in education by removing barriers and designed to reflect diverse healthcare needs for individuals and communities.
• Comprehensive national curricula on health, climate change and digital literacy.
• Quality and adaptive education through flexible and responsive learning environments.
• Youth engagement and leadership in the design and implementation of health policies and programmes.
• Inclusive, accessible and prevention-focused healthcare, including for young people from marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• Investment in young people to empower them to become leaders and drive solutions in the areas of health, climate change and education.
• Brave spaces for healthy environments are created that protect young people from social and institutional barriers, and keep them safe from violence, harassment and other harmful practices.
• Inclusion of young people by governments, international and civil society organizations to co-create policies on priority health needs.
• Valuing the experiences of young people, including their diversity and views, in the development and implementation of health polices.
• Greater support for grassroots youth organizations as a means to investing in future generations.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the organisation was ‘committed to amplifying the voices of young people’.

“The Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies, issued by the WHO Youth Council, does just that, channelling the ideas, advice and action of youth into a powerful call for change, and showing what can be achieved when youth are actively engaged in shaping their health and futures,” he said.

‘This declaration represents our collective commitment’

The WHO Youth Council was established in 2023, and its members are youth representatives of health and non-health organisations and movements. They advise and actively engage with the WHO Director-General and WHO senior leadership on ensuring health policies and programmes reflect the expertise, innovation and needs of young people around the world.

One such member is Rehman Hassan, who is from the Act4Food campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). He said: “We can no longer afford to squander the advice, skills, and energy of young people in transforming our communities, policies and the planet at large. Pandemics and epidemics, conflicts, the spread of misinformation, and the health risk posed by climate change, amongst other issues, are threatening the health and well-being of billions of people.

“Young people are the most underrepresented group in governance, yet half of the world’s population is aged under 30. It is high time we engage them and incorporate their solutions for a healthier way forward. The Youth Council and its constituent organisations, working with WHO, is committed to charting this healthier course for the present and future.”