Read the latest on youth affairs, opportunities, and updates from the UN Youth Office.
NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 15 April 2025
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Fellow Youth, welcome to the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum!
Today, I speak to you with immense gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility, as the first United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, with a message of hope and a powerful call to action.
As I look around this room, I see the faces of change, young people from all corners of the world who refuse to accept the status quo. You are here because you know that the challenges we face cannot be solved without you.
You feel the urgency.
You
By and
We come to this dialogue on pandemics from different backgrounds – one as a former Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the WHO Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, and the other as a recently graduated medical doctor who works closely with the WHO and experienced the COVID-19 pandemic as a young student. We both hold the same view that no one country, and no single generation, can tackle the challenges posed by pandemics alone — from inequitable access to medical countermeasures to the spread of disinformation and to economic damage. Pandemics
By Felipe Paullier and
No single generation can tackle today’s global challenges alone. Intergenerational solidarity is not only a moral imperative but also a practical necessity for fostering innovation and resilience. Younger and older generations bring a wealth of diverse experiences and perspectives, which together create fertile ground for transformative solutions.
Whether addressing the climate and nature crisis, rethinking public health systems, or advancing social justice, this collaborative synergy has the potential to drive breakthroughs that neither group could achieve
NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 20 September 2024
Dear colleagues, delegates, fellow youth!
I am so excited to join you today and officially celebrate the opening of the Action Days of the Summit of the Future.
Today, I carry with me an immense privilege and a deep sense of responsibility as I deliver a message of hope, recognition, and a call to action, as the first United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs.
More than one thousand six hundred young people have registered for the Action Days and thousands more are joining us remotely. This is exceptional!
At the same time, I want to
NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 12 August 2024
Happy International Youth Day!
I’m Felipe Paullier, and I’m excited to celebrate this day with you as the head of the United Nations Youth Office.
Today, we celebrate the diversity of 1.9 billion young people worldwide. We highlight your skills, creativity, and leadership, even in tough and complex times.
But this should be an everyday goal. We need a world where young people’s rights are always protected, and your contributions are seen as essential for a better future.
In recent decades, young people have pushed youth issues to the top of the global
NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 18 April 2024
Your Excellencies, esteemed delegates, young people,
I want to start by congratulating you all for contributing to the important discussions over these past three days.
I trust you share my immense pride and excitement as we reflect on the historic achievements you have brought to the table.
With thousands of young people joining online and in person, the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2024 stands not only as the largest but also one of the most inclusive and diverse gatherings of youth ever convened by the UN. This monumental accomplishment is a testament to your
NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 1 December 2023
Hello everyone!
My name is Felipe Paullier, and I am honoured to be addressing you all from UN Headquarters in New York as the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs.
Today officially marks my first day as head of the new United Nations Youth Office.
As I step into this role, it is impossible not to feel an overwhelming sense of enthusiasm about the opportunities that lie ahead, while also acknowledging the immense responsibility it entails.
My journey as a young advocate and professional is marked by diverse experiences and
NEW YORK, UN Headquarters, 1 December 2023
The global youth agenda enters a new era today, as the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Dr. Felipe Paullier takes the lead at the newly established United Nations Youth Office.
Following the recommendation in the Secretary-General's groundbreaking report "Our Common Agenda", Member States unanimously agreed to the establishment of the UN Youth Office as a dedicated entity for youth affairs within the Secretariat, building upon more than a decade of work led by the Secretary-General's Envoys on Youth, and marking a pivotal
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 27 October 2023 the appointment of Felipe Paullier of Uruguay as the first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. The United Nations Youth Office was established by the General Assembly to lead the engagement and advocacy for the advancement of youth issues across the United Nations and to promote the meaningful, inclusive and effective engagement of youth, youth-led and youth-focused organizations in the work of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri