Empower. Unite. Transform. Youth Delegates Gather at the 18th International Human Rights Summit in New York

With the motto “Empower. Unite. Transform,” the 18th International Human Rights Summit kicked off with a display of youthful passion and advocacy as 50 Youth and Senior Delegates from 34 nations—joined by over 400 government officials, educators and human rights advocates from around the world—gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Their arrival was met with a standing ovation from the attendees, reflecting collective respect for their commitment to human rights.

The delegates, selected from a large pool of applicants based on their stellar track records in advocating for human rights, didn’t just come for praise. Their main purpose was to expand their knowledge and skills to advance their goals.

Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, President and Founder of United for Human Rights and its sister organization Youth for Human Rights International, has been spearheading the summits since they began in 2004. She praised the delegates for their accomplishments and future potential, underscoring the significance of their ongoing work. “So young and old alike, together, we empower, unite, transform and drive change through human rights education,” she said. “Education is like throwing someone a lifeline in a storm. It can be used to defend against the storm.”

Ambassadors of the Permanent Missions to the UN of Timor-Leste, the United States, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo welcomed the delegates and congratulated them for their advocacy. “People have tossed around all kinds of ideas for how to modernize the United Nations. But for me, there’s one solution that’s non-negotiable: we need more young people in the rooms where decisions get made,” said Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, in her remarks. “But more than that, we need more young people helping to make those decisions…. And I know so many of my generation cannot wait to see all of the extraordinary things you do to make our future a better place.”

The first two days of the summit featured panels on human rights topics such as “Youth on Human Rights,” where a panel of Youth and Senior Delegates shared what they do in their home countries to make human rights a reality. “Listening to you all, I’m reminded of something. We often talk about youth as the future, but you’re all proving that young people are the present. You’re not just waiting for permission to change the world. You’re actually doing it right now,” concluded Yash Goyal from India, an active human rights advocate since 2009 and moderator of the panel.

The final day of the summit featured a cultural festival at the Church of Scientology Harlem Community Center, followed by outreach in Times Square, where delegates put what they learned into action by educating people about their 30 human rights.

“From the first day arriving here, I knew that it was going to be a really special couple of days and a special week. I had no idea what to expect,” shares Jess Fairlie, Youth Delegate from Australia and soul-pop singer-songwriter. “Every day was a perfect combination of wisdom, inspiration, learning, education—so many things can actually be done about any kind of situation when it is done by a group. The options are endless for such a beautiful thing.”