New York, United States - September 22, 2024

[Note: undated footage]

Young people and other influential voices have gathered at the United Nations (UN) headquarters for Action Days ahead of the UN Summit of the Future, discussing how to spark action and advance youth participation in the UN and beyond.

Described as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to review, reflect and replan global progress on Sustainable Development Goals," the two-day Summit of the Future, which will open on Sunday, focuses on issues that impact future generations.

Ahead of the arrival of world leaders for the Summit of the Future and the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, over 1,600 diplomats and activists gathered for Action Days, aiming to put youth issues at the top of world leaders' agendas.

Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, noted that an event like this would have been unimaginable 10 years ago.

He also cautioned that the world is witnessing the highest number of conflicts since the World War II, and these conflicts disproportionately affect young people all over the world.

Other activists say one major problem for young people is their lack of political participation. More than half of the world's population is under the age of 30, but fewer than 3 percent of parliamentarians are from that demographic.

"If we are not involved in the decisions that will shape both our present and our future, then we aren't setting ourselves up for too much success. If we are not the architects of our own future, and the mere inheritors of it, we're not setting ourselves up for success," said Sanjana Sanghi, Youth Champion for the UN Development Program India.

Many participants say they want to see the commitments made at the summit become a reality and be a part of designing the world they want to live in.

SHOTLIST:

FILE: U.N. Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
1. Buildings;
2. United Nations flag;

FILE: U.N. Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
3. Various of UN emblem;

FILE: U.N. Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
7. UN headquarters, flags;
8. Various of UN flag.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]