NEW YORK (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization will highlight the need for marginalized young people to have access to decent work, during a three-day youth forum organized by the UN’s Economic and Social Council. (ECOSOC).

ILO officials will take part in several events at the youth forum, which takes place from 25 – 27 April at UN headquarters in New York.

The forum brings together young people from across the globe to engage with Member States, international organizations and other groups to voice their views, concerns and ideas on how to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The discussions will contribute to the 2030 SDG Summit – the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in September 2023.

The ILO will take part in the following sessions at the Youth Forum:

Special Ministerial Session, “Youth-led Innovations for Decent Jobs for Youth” on SDG 17 – Financing Our Future (26 April, 16:30 – 18:00 ET)

Theme: Innovations and best practices on job creation and skills development strategies designed and implemented by, with and for youth.

Co-organized by the ILO, United Nations Department on Social Affairs, the Office of the United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, United Nations Capital Development Fund, the SDG Fund and the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Side event on “Advancing Young People’s Meaningful Participation and Engagement in Forced Displacement Contexts” (25 April, 13:30 – 15:00 ET)

Theme: The socio-economic challenges faced by young refugees, IDPs and youth from host communities; innovative approaches and partnerships in advancing young people’s engagement and meaningful participation in forced displacement contexts.

Co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ILO, UNICEF and UNHCR under the ILO’s PROSPECTS Programme.

Side event on “Digital Skills for Inclusive and Decent Digital Economy in Africa” (26 April, 13:30 – 14:45 ET)

Theme: How to build resilient infrastructures, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation by enhancing digital skills for youth in Africa.

Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; co-organized by the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the ILO under the aegis of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.

Side event on “Youth as Drivers of the Green and Just Transition: Delivering meaningful youth engagement and leadership on SDG 7 and 9” (26 April, 13:30 – 14:30 ET)

Theme: The critical role of young people in achieving SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and SDG 17 on Partnerships to achieve the goals; and to promote concrete actions and recommendations to fulfil young people's aspirations for a just, green transition.

Side event on “Green Jobs for Youth: Results of Latin America and the Caribbean workshops” (27 of April, 18:00-19.30 ET)

Theme: collaboration between governments, young people, university networks, and employers’ and workers’ organizations to accelerate the creation of more and better jobs for youth in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Co-organized by the ILO, UNICEF and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as part of the Green Jobs for Youth Pact