Official Report from the SOTF Action Days

The world today is facing numerous interconnected challenges that require collective solutions,
especially with regard to youth engagement, climate change, digital transformation, and
inclusivity. The United Nations recognizes that the aspirations and participation of young people
are crucial to shaping our shared future. This report synthesizes the main themes and outcomes
from the UN Action Days and the Summit of the Future, highlighting their significance in the
context of North Macedonia and emphasizing the importance of youth in global decision-making
processes. We link these insights to both Our Common Agenda and the evolving Youth
Agenda, aiming to foster a deeper understanding and stronger cooperation among stakeholders
within the country.

    1. Main Points of the Action Days and the Summit of the Future

Youth as Central Agents for Sustainable Development

The UN Action Days and the Summit of the Future brought together a wide range of
stakeholders to focus on the critical roles young people play in driving positive change globally.
These events underscored the significance of youth empowerment, inclusion, and leadership in
shaping the world’s future in line with the Our Common Agenda framework.

The Action Days centered around youth mobilization and creating opportunities for meaningful
participation. They provided a platform for young people to discuss pressing issues such as
climate change, economic inequality, and the digital divide. These discussions directly aligned
with the Youth Agenda, highlighting the need for policies that support youth development,
skill-building, and broader opportunities for civic engagement.

The Summit of the Future emphasized building multilateralism fit for the 21st century, with a
particular focus on creating a more inclusive future. It linked directly to the themes in Our
Common Agenda, which stresses the importance of future generations. Youth engagement was
framed as essential to ensuring that the agreements and actions decided today are responsive to
the needs of those who will inherit the world tomorrow.

    2. Main Outcomes and Link to the Pact for the Future

The Summit of the Future resulted in several key outcomes, with a major focus on solidifying
commitments to the Pact for the Future. This pact serves as an action-oriented roadmap for the
international community, aligning the UN’s work with the needs of a changing global landscape,
and stressing the importance of youth voices in all areas of policy making. Key outcomes from
both the Summit and the Action Days included:

● Strengthened Youth Inclusion Mechanisms: A formal call for national and
international institutions to create more opportunities for young people to participate
directly in decision-making, particularly around climate action, education, and
employment.

● Intergenerational Justice: The acknowledgment that policies should address the rights
of future generations, emphasizing sustainable development, climate justice, and
economic inclusivity.

● Digital Transformation and Youth Empowerment: Commitments to bridge the digital
divide were highlighted, with emphasis on ensuring equitable access to technology and
digital literacy for young people.

These outcomes were consolidated under the Pact for the Future, which commits to promoting
youth rights, sustainable policies, and equitable access to resources.

   3. Three Key Concerns for Youth from the Pact for the Future

The Pact for the Future highlights several aspects that directly concern youth, including:

● Climate Action and Sustainability
Young people have expressed a deep concern about the current climate crisis and its
long-term impact on their lives. The Pact for the Future reiterates the need for urgent
action in climate policy, targeting emissions reduction, sustainable consumption, and
investments in green technologies. The pact also stresses youth involvement in climate
negotiations, recognizing them as both stakeholders and agents of change.

● Access to Quality Education and Employment
The Pact for the Future places a significant emphasis on transforming education
systems to meet 21st-century challenges. Young people need education that is inclusive,
transformative, and geared towards future work opportunities. Equally important is
the focus on creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities that
empower youth economically and help reduce inequality.

● Digital Inclusion and Rights
A major concern raised by the youth and addressed in the Pact for the Future is digital
inclusion. Ensuring that young people have access to digital resources, skills, and
technologies is critical for fostering innovation and reducing inequality. The pact calls for
concerted efforts to address the digital divide, particularly in underserved communities, to
ensure equal opportunities for all young people.

   4. Criticism Regarding Youth Involvement

Despite the progress made through the Summit of the Future and the Action Days, there are
criticisms about the extent of youth involvement in decision-making processes. Many young
people feel that although their participation is encouraged, the level of actual influence they
hold over policy outcomes remains limited. There is a need for more structured and meaningful
participation channels, where youth contributions are not only heard but also visibly incorporated
into policy frameworks.

Furthermore, the institutional barriers faced by youth from marginalized communities,
including those from rural areas and disadvantaged backgrounds, continue to be a challenge.
Many youth delegates have called for greater efforts to break down these barriers and ensure that
youth participation is truly inclusive and representative. Without an inclusive approach, the
visions discussed at the summit risk leaving behind those most in need of support.

Finally, there is concern regarding youth capacity-building. While the agenda is heavily
focused on youth engagement, the resources allocated to build the necessary capacity for young
people to effectively participate are still insufficient. Many young individuals, especially from
the Global South, need more resources and support to engage in international platforms
meaningfully.

   Call to action

While the UN Action Days and Summit of the Future have highlighted the importance of
youth engagement on a global scale, it is crucial that these principles are implemented at the
national level. In North Macedonia, there is still much work to be done to ensure that young
people have the opportunities and platforms needed to contribute effectively to the country’s
development.

In addition to working towards larger youth engagement through capacity-building and
participation in decision-making, the government should take actionable steps to ensure that
young people can and want to stay in their country and thrive in their personal and professional
lives here. Sustainable employment opportunities, affordable housing, and a supportive legal
framework for volunteering will play an important role in equipping youth with needed skills and
knowledge to contribute to Macedonian society.

After a fruitful discussion with our Youth Delegate, Anisija Ugrinovska, and after taking the
above mentioned content into consideration, we call upon the government to take the following
steps, following successful regional examples:

● Invest in youth capacity-building programs to equip young people, especially from
marginalized communities, with the skills needed to contribute meaningfully.
● Further develop and fund the Youth Delegate Program to ensure young voices are
represented at international forums.
● Strengthen youth participation in decision-making, particularly on key issues like climate,
education, and employment.
● Prioritize digital access and innovation to bridge the digital divide and ensure all young
people have equal opportunities.
● Enable youth councils within key government and international institutions, allowing
young people to directly participate in planning and policy-making processes, especially
in the areas of education, climate change, and employment.
● Encourage and financially support youth-led initiatives at the local level that directly
contribute to community development, with a focus on sustainable development,
innovation, and digital transformation.
● Implement leadership skills training programs for young people, enabling them to play a
key role in policy-making and decision-making processes both nationally and
internationally.
● The government should partner with the private sector to design programs that reduce
youth unemployment, focusing on internships, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship
support, in an effort to create sustainable employment opportunities.
● The government should work towards policies that address affordable housing challenges
for young people, which will make it easier for them to start independent lives and
careers.
● The government should revise and improve the current legal framework for volunteering,
with a focus on making it more accessible and supportive for both volunteers and
organizations.

   Conclusion

The UN Action Days and the Summit of the Future have both served as critical opportunities
to reflect on the future role of youth in global governance. The insights and outcomes from these
events, aligned with Our Common Agenda, indicate a clear path forward: a world where youth
participation is not just encouraged but actively cultivated and integrated into decision-making.

The Pact for the Future provides a solid foundation for youth inclusion, yet it also highlights
ongoing challenges that need to be addressed to make youth participation more impactful.

Moving forward, UN agencies and CSOs in North Macedonia can positively use these insights to
advocate for policies that not only encourage youth participation but also dismantle existing
barriers, ensuring that young voices shape our shared future in meaningful ways.

Georgina Kominovska
Secretary General of UNA North Macedonia (MUNA)