National Youth Commission Represents PH at the Third Committee Informal Debate of UN Youth Delegates

National Youth Commissioner (NYC) Paul Anthony Pangilinan delivers a statement on Philippine initiatives to educate the youth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic during the virtual informal debate with UN Youth Delegates held at the margins of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, 21 October 2020.

23 October 2020 — National Youth Commission (NYC) Assistant Secretary Paul Anthony Pangilinan represented the Philippine youth at the informal debate with UN Youth Delegates held at the margins of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on 21 October 2020 (New York time).  The informal debate, held virtually for the first time due to the pandemic, is an annual event aimed at encouraging youth involvement in the work of the United Nations.

Commissioner Pangilinan mentioned how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Philippine youth and outlined government projects and activities designed to deal with the national crisis, such as the adoption of virtual and online learning platforms to ensure the continuing education for the nation’s 24.7 million learners. He noted how the Filipino youth, which constitute 30-percent of the population, were quick to harness online platforms to amplify their calls for solidarity and collective action and how the nation’s youth councils and organisations mobilized initiatives, raised funds and gathered donations to assist their respective communities, frontline workers and the most vulnerable. 

Commissioner Pangilinan emphasized the vital role of the youth in drawing up policies and programs on issues such as climate action, disaster risk reduction and environmental protection. He called on all governments to provide the youth with the opportunity to practice their innovative thinking, harness their idealism, and partner with them in educating and equipping communities with the necessary skills and knowledge.

The UN Youth Strategy: Youth 2030, launched in 2018 by the Secretary General, is the UN’s commitment to working for and with young people. Youth 2030 calls for the meaningful participation of young people in five thematic priority areas: engagement, participation and advocacy; quality education and health services; economic empowerment and employment; human rights, and peace and resilience building across the three key UN pillars of peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.  Some 50 youth delegates participated in this year’s event. END