Reflections from YTN Participation in the UN Youth Compass

Our team recently had the privilege of participating in the “UN Youth Compass - Making Meaningful Youth Engagement the Norm” event (see more here), organized by the Learning Planet Institute, the UN Youth Office, and UNESCO and funded by the European Union, on January 23rd, in Paris.

In the form of a hybrid interactive dialogue, the event brought together a global cohort of youth change-makers. Representing our organization in person were Jade Sainte-Rose (Research Team Lead) and Patricia Diogo (Lead Designer, Communications Team), as well as our Founder and President, Balkis Chaabane, who joined the conversation virtually.

We appreciate the initiative of cultivating a truly safe space for youth participation. It is rare to find a forum that allows young people from diverse backgrounds and nationalities to engage freely. The structure of the event, combining high-level panels with intimate small-group discussions, was particularly effective. Overall, it provided a vital platform for networking and allowed us to bring our unique organizational perspectives to the table.

While the freedom of expression was refreshing, a recurring challenge in the international community remained: What does “Meaningful Youth Engagement” actually mean in practice? Without concrete follow-up or a standard framework, we risk circling the same definitions without achieving impact.

At YTN, we strive to move beyond tokenism. MYE requires more than just a seat at the table; it requires a transformation of power dynamics. It is no longer enough to repeat that “youth are the future.” True engagement means fostering genuine youth leadership where young people are architects of policy, not just participants in “youth-friendly” spaces.

Once again, we appreciate and value these global spaces for participation and dialogue because they provide a stage to shine a light on the urgent need for youth-led decolonization in international peace and security. Connecting with like-minded peers who are ready to move beyond rhetoric allows us to strengthen our purpose, grow our movement and ensure that youth engagement is as transformative as it is inclusive.