Monrovia, Liberia - : Liberia has embarked on a series of consultations to gather and validate inputs for a well-informed and inclusive national position ahead of the Global Summit of the Future.
This high-level event, set to take place at the United Nations this September, will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus aimed at improving the present and safeguarding the future.
The Summit will focus on adopting the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. Its dual objectives are to accelerate the fulfillment of existing international commitments and to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
To ensure that the voices of Liberian children and youth are prominently represented, consultations have already been conducted in Ganta, Nimba for youths, and in Monrovia, Montserrado for children.
These sessions aimed to tackle immediate challenges, propose long-term strategies, and establish a unified platform for advocacy on behalf of the younger generation.
At a recent one-day national consultation and consensus-building event, organized by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in collaboration with the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Foreign Affairs, and supported financially and technically by the United Nations in Liberia, Deputy Finance Minister Hon. Tanneh Brunson emphasized the crucial role of youth in Liberias development agenda. Referring to them as the tomorrow people, Hon. Brunson urged that the interests of young people be prioritized at the Summit.
United Nations Resident Representative Christine Umutoni, in her special statement, highlighted Liberias alignment with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. She stressed the importance of clarity of purpose, ambition, solidarity, and a commitment to transformation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ms. Umutoni underscored that the national consultation should reflect the aspirations of children and youth, who are the future leaders of Liberia. UNDP Resident Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Ohyemeng-Boamah, acknowledged the multiple challenges Liberia faces, including climate change, global health issues, technological disruptions, and socioeconomic inequalities. He emphasized the need for multilateral cooperation and partnerships to address these challenges and leverage opportunities in an increasingly complex world.
He commended the Liberian government for its efforts in organizing the National Forum on the Summit of the Future. He praised the inclusive and consultative approach adopted to develop a well-informed national position and highlighted the importance of prioritizing sustainable development, financing, and international peace and security.
Roberto Randolph Cooper Jr., Speaker of the Liberia National Children Forum, and Banica Stephenie Elliot of the Federation of Liberia Youths, presented resolutions from the children and youth of Liberia. Cooper called for the full implementation of childrens rights, enhanced access to digital technology, and improved governance.
This national consultation reaffirms Liberias commitment to ensuring that the voices of its youth and children play a central role in shaping the countrys position at the Global Summit of the Future.