Reflections on the UN Summit: Beyond Silos and Dynamics of Gender, Power and Youth Voices
By Surabhi Shrivastava
Attending the United Nations Summit of the Future Action Pays on behalf of RNW Media was a rollercoaster of emotions – inspiring, thought-provoking, and hopeful, yet sometimes underwhelming and disillusioning. As the Partnership Lead for Digital Media, I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the challenges we face in creating a peaceful, just, rights-based, and inclusive future for all.
Inspiring Moments
The summit reignited my passion for rethinking democracy, encouraging deliberative thinking, learning, and listening with people from all walks of life. Applying this lens to issues like AI governance was a highlight. The renewed call for gender equality and gender-just societies, particularly in the face of anti-rights movements, was motivating. The momentum building towards Beijing+30 filled me with hope in our collective strength to address gender inequalities.
Youth voices demanding a seat at the decision-making table, whether on mental wellbeing, participatory governance, or AI, was truly inspiring. Their courage to speak up and create their own spaces was a testament to the power of young people.
Underwhelming Experiences
However, the talk about breaking down silos didn’t quite translate to action. Funding was still segmented, and thematic areas seemed to be creating more divisions. I questioned whether this would truly promote cross-movement building and cross-sectoral thinking.
The lack of intersectionality in discussions around gender equality was striking. LGBT+ individuals, young men, and boys were rarely mentioned, despite being left out of progress made so far. Have we not moved beyond gender binaries? The power dynamics at play, with privileged few occupying key spaces, also left me with more questions than answers.
As I reflect on my experience, I’m reminded of the UN Secretary-General’s call for global leaders to reboot multilateral collaboration, recognizing that global problems are moving faster than the institutions designed to solve them ¹. The Summit of the Future was an opportunity to address this, but I’m left wondering if we’re doing enough to create a future fit for our grandchildren.
Copyright: Surabhi Shrivastava wrote this piece on her LinkedIn wall and adapted here.
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