New york: The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) has urged world leaders to prioritize and address the pressing health, education, and development needs of young people, as the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) progresses in New York, United States.

According to Ghana News Agency, a statement issued and signed by Mr. Raphael Ahenu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF, expressed concern that millions of young people in the global south, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America, face significant challenges in accessing quality education and healthcare, with high unemployment plaguing those countries.

The statement noted that despite decades of commitments to sustainable development, many young people continue to experience poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, unemployment, and the impacts of climate change. It emphasized that diseases, poverty, and lack of opportunities continue to rob young people of their potential, highlighting systematic neglect of the youth's health and wellbeing.

It further stated that change is necessary because young people are not just beneficiaries of policy, but they are partners and leaders in shaping a better future. The statement stressed that failure to integrate young voices into high-level decision-making perpetuates cycles of inequality.

The statement highlighted the urgent need for global institutions and development partners like the United Nations to provide young people with a stronger platform and greater influence in international peace and security discussions. GloMeF believes that young people must have a seat at the UN Security Council, as their perspectives are indispensable to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.

The statement called for immediate action from governments, development partners, and multilateral agencies to increase investment in youth health, education, and employment programs in the global south. It urged governments to develop inclusive decision-making frameworks that prioritize youth participation at all levels and ensure that global peace and security mechanisms recognize the critical role of young people in conflict prevention and resolution.

As UNGA deliberations progressed, the statement urged world leaders to leverage the opportunity and make concrete commitments to young people, thereby building a world where every youth can thrive.