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YouTubeBrazilian youth participate in the Youth Forum in New York
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New York, 8 Apri, 2019 - Four young Brazilians will participate this week (8 and 9) at the UN headquarters in New York of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, where they will discuss topics such as promotion of peace and safe urban spaces.
Thânisia Cruz, from the Federal District, Maria Eduarda Couto from Pernambuco, Mauricio Peixoto from Brasilia, and Caio Medina from Bahia participated in the Youth Ambassadors Programme.
The initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) aims to strengthen the representation of young people in socioeconomic vulnerability in political spaces of debate and negotiation.
Born in Ceilandia and an activist for the rights of black and feminist women, Thanisia highlighted the contribution of the program in her training as a leader. "As black and young, I recognize that being in the forum is an opportunity to impact the region to which I belong, representing the advocacy work done by civil society and public policy outcomes of affirmative action."
Mauricio, a resident of Sol Nascente "Rising Sun", said: "To participate in the Youth Forum, for me - young, LGBT and from the periphery - is very representative." "I carry with me my town, my community and the young people who are inspired by my work as a teacher. It's a way to show the youngest people that the realization of dreams is possible," he said.
Young people were also invited to compose the plenary session of two parallel events to the forum, addressing the role of youth in promoting peace and safe urban spaces.
In the event "Taking action: youth as champion of peace and security," Maria Eduarda will share the microphone with important activists and political leaders, such as the governor of the Nairobi province of Kenya.
In the session "Empowering youth to promote the objective of sustainable Development 16 [Peace, Justice and Effective Institutions], Mauricio will share his experience in using education to promote peace, together with other young people of Ethiopia and Afghanistan.
Under the annual theme "empowered, included and equal", the forum brings together over 500 participants, including young people, activists and government representatives from around the world to discuss the role of youth in the promotion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The results and discussions of the forum will be used as input for decision-making during the ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum, aimed at diplomats, heads of state and government.
Brazilian Participation
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Caio Medina, 21, graduated in Pharmacy from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), was part of the Olodum School, where he participated in the training course for Afro-descendant leaderships.
Maria Eduarda is from Pernambuco and has a Masters in Sociology. She is also co-founder of the Compassion Project, aimed at an audience in social vulnerability. Mauricio (26), is a cultural producer, teacher and dancer. He is a founding partner of the Human and Environmental Institute (DHAM Institute), an NGO that aims to build, together with the community, sustainable human and environmental relations through education, culture and spirituality.
Thânisia holds a bachelor's degree in Letters (French) from the University of Brasília (UnB). She is a teacher at the Education Department of the Federal District and is a member of the Yaa Asantewaa Collective and the National Articulation of Black Young Feminists.
Entrevista para a Rádio CBN - Brasília
The Youth Ambassadors Programme
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The Youth Ambassadors Programme was created in 2016 with the purpose of training young people in contexts of social vulnerability in the theme of ODS. Among the 70 people already benefited from the programme, the predominance of black women (more than 50% of the whole group), transsexual and quilombola participants stands out.
Thanisia and Mauricio participated in the second edition of the training course offered by the programme in Brasilia, while Maria Eduarda and Caio participated in the third, in Salvador (BA). "Being at ECOSOC is a proof that even with all the social adversities, education can really make a difference. I will be there to have a strong and representative presence that I lacked throughout my childhood and adolescence." of the Pela-Porco community in Salvador
Rodrigo, the youth focal point of the UNODC office in Brazil, highlights the importance of young people in the forum. "Brazilian youth, especially those in a vulnerable situation, are underrepresented in such political spaces, and are usually the most affected by their decisions. This great step reinforces the potential of our young people to play a key role in consolidating more coherent cities , safe and efficient for future generations. "
This is the fourth consecutive year in which UNODC promotes the participation of Brazilian youth in the forum. In 2018, Lorenna Vilas-Boas and Daniel Saraiva, also formed by the Youth Ambassadors Program, participated in the Conference and coordinated the first parallel event focused on Latin America, in which youth and sustainable urban mobility were discussed.
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