The past ten years have witnessed a renewed commitment to the rights and participation of youth in Latin America and the Caribbean, reflected in the historic Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development. This agreement, signed in 2013 during the third Regional Conference on Population and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean, established a comprehensive roadmap to address the challenges and seize the opportunities related to population and development in the region.
In this context, and as part of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Montevideo Consensus, it is crucial to recognize the fundamental role of youth as agents of change and promoters of sustainable development in our region. The creation of a Youth Declaration presented a unique opportunity to:
Reaffirm Commitments: The Declaration allowed reaffirming the commitment of youth, civil society organizations, and other relevant actors to the promotion and protection of youth rights, in line with the principles and objectives established in the Montevideo Consensus.
Highlight Achievements and Challenges: Through the Declaration, it is possible to highlight the achievements made and the challenges remaining in terms of inclusion, participation, education, employment, health, and other aspects that impact the lives of youth in our region. This will enable the identification of priority areas for action and mobilize resources and wills to effectively address them.
Promote Active Participation: The Declaration was a space to promote the active and meaningful participation of youth in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies, programs, and actions that concern and involve us directly in our territories. This contributes to strengthening democracy, inclusive governance, and social cohesion in our countries.
Generate Strategic Alliances: The Declaration will facilitate the creation of strategic alliances among different actors involved in working with and for youth, including governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and international organizations. These alliances are essential to maximize the impact of our actions and generate positive synergies in favor of youth.
Encourage Intergenerational Dialogue: The Declaration will promote intergenerational dialogue as a mechanism for the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and perspectives between young people and people from other generations. This will help to build bridges of understanding and solidarity, as well as to leverage the diversity of ideas and approaches to address the common challenges we face as a society.
