Statement: Local youth actions for the Sustainable Development Goals and beyond
UN Women statement for International Youth Day, 12 August 2025
This year’s International Youth Day shines a spotlight on the extraordinary potential and pressing challenges facing young people—especially young women and girls—as they strive to turn global commitments into meaningful, community-driven change. For the 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 in the world, roughly half of whom are young women and girls, the stakes in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have never been higher and the challenges more evident.
Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration boldly stated that “women’s rights are human rights”, progress in fulfilling those rights has stalled and, in some areas, regressed. In a world facing profound global uncertainty, rising geopolitical tensions, economic instability, shrinking civic space, and deepening inequalities, young women and girls continue to lead the way ahead, accelerating gender equality gains where they matter most: in schools, marketplaces, village councils, parliaments, and online spaces. They are advocating for rights, challenging stereotypes, innovating climate solutions, and confronting discrimination and violence head-on.
Eva Chisom Chukwunelo, a Nigerian disability rights activist, embodies the transformative power of local youth action. After losing her leg at 17, Eva faced not just physical loss but societal exclusion. Refusing to accept invisibility, she works tirelessly to ensure that women with disabilities are seen, heard, and empowered. “Localizing the SDGs means making visibility a right, not a privilege, especially for women with disabilities”, Eva notes. “When we are seen, our needs are heard. When we lead, our communities grow stronger.”
On International Youth Day, UN Women reaffirms its commitment to supporting the leadership of young women and girls. As Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, asserts, “young people are not just leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders today”. It is imperative for governments, communities, and all stakeholders to invest in young women’s education, health, and leadership, including their perspectives in decision-making, and create safe spaces for their participation.
Happy International Youth Day!
