The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum continues to serve as one of the most significant global platforms for young people to engage directly with policymakers, institutions, and civil society in shaping the future of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within this wider framework, a dedicated side event titled “Partnerships for Advancing Gender Equality: Youth Perspectives for the Future” created space for a deeper conversation on how partnerships can move beyond symbolic engagement and translate into real, measurable impact. Co-organized by SDSN Youth and UN Women, the discussion centered on SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 10 on reduced inequalities, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals, with a particular focus on the role of youth not just as participants in global processes, but as co-creators of solutions.
The session was moderated by Tara Everton, SDSN, and brought together a diverse panel of young leaders working across law, activism, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and governance. Stephannie Esther Sayo, a lawyer and activist, contributed her experience working on human rights, climate justice, and youth engagement. Anika S. Ahmad, a social entrepreneur and founder of Evolution 360, brought insights from mobilizing thousands of young people globally around gender equality. Camila Kakabadse, a sustainability advocate and Partnerships and Events Project Lead at SDSN Youth, reflected on her work bridging local and global perspectives. Ana Oliveira, a master’s student in international relations, contributed her expertise on governance and policy-making.
The discussion was framed around a central question: what does it take to ensure that youth voices are not only heard, but meaningfully integrated into systems of decision-making?
From Consultation to Collective Priorities
A key foundation of the conversation came from SDSN Youth’s recent global consultations as part of A Youth Vision for the World’s Future (AYVWF) on gender equality, which brought together young people from diverse regions to identify shared challenges and priorities. Despite geographic and contextual differences, a strong convergence of ideas emerged around the structural barriers that continue to limit progress.
Camila reflected on this alignment, noting that one of the most consistent themes was the gap between policy and implementation. As she explained, participants emphasized that “laws alone are not enough,” and that while many countries have formal commitments to gender equality, significant challenges remain in translating those commitments into practice. She highlighted concerns around pay equity, access to opportunities, and care systems, stressing the need to move “towards an accountability and enforcement mechanism.”
She also highlighted that education and cultural change must be central to any long-term solution. One of the most powerful insights from the consultations, she shared, was that “inequality is learned and therefore it can be unlearned.” This framing emphasized that transforming gender norms requires early, sustained, and cross-generational engagement, including the active involvement of men and boys.
A third key insight centered on the importance of context-specific approaches. Camila emphasized that there is no universal model for gender equality, noting that solutions must reflect the realities of different communities. She stressed the need to move away from top-down approaches and instead support “community-led action,” ensuring that those most affected are not only consulted but actively shaping solutions.
Ana reinforced these themes from a different perspective, emphasizing the structural nature of gender inequality and the need for systemic reform. She pointed to persistent challenges such as the gender pay gap and unpaid care work, noting that addressing these issues requires coordinated action between governments, institutions, and civil society. She also mentioned the importance of education and cultural transformation, explaining that “we have to start early and challenge the gender and social norms at all levels of society.”
Beyond Participation: Youth as Co-Creators of Policy
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the gap between youth participation and youth influence in decision-making processes. While young people are increasingly included in consultations and forums, panelists questioned whether these spaces translate into real power within institutions.
Stephannie addressed this directly, drawing on her experience working across youth engagement and policy spaces. She emphasized the importance of moving beyond participation, arguing that youth must be “truly engrained in institutions” rather than only engaged through events or consultations. She called for structural integration of youth voices into governance systems, including national coordination mechanisms and advisory bodies. Stephannie also highlighted that a critical gap in the policy process is the lack of conversion of youth input into actionable frameworks. As she explained, consultations often fail because “insights are not converted into policy frameworks,” emphasizing the need to transform youth contributions into policy briefs, legislative proposals, and budget-level interventions.
Importantly, she also pointed to the issue of accountability, noting that feedback mechanisms are often missing. Without clear reporting on how youth recommendations are used, trust in participatory processes can weaken. For Stephannie, strengthening these feedback loops is essential to ensuring that youth engagement leads to measurable outcomes.
Ana built on this perspective by emphasizing that youth do not only want to participate, but to see their lived realities reflected in policy decisions. She explained that co-creation must move beyond consultation, noting that young people should not only be invited to speak, but should actively help shape recommendations that influence policy-making processes.
She also spoke on the importance of recognition and visibility, noting that when young people see their contributions acknowledged, it increases motivation and encourages continued engagement. At the same time, she stressed that even non-traditional forms of expression, including artistic contributions, should be taken seriously when grounded in real experience and evidence.
Barriers to Progress: Power, Systems, and Norms
When discussing the main barriers to achieving gender equality, panelists pointed to both structural and cultural challenges.
Anika focused on the role of deeply rooted social norms and patriarchy, describing them as one of the most persistent barriers to change. She noted that patriarchy operates across genders and is embedded in societal systems and mindsets. For her, this makes gender equality a long-term challenge that requires sustained awareness-building, intergenerational collaboration, and continued youth engagement.
Camila emphasized that one of the biggest threats is that gender equality is still not embedded in everyday decision-making. While it is frequently discussed in high-level spaces, she noted that it is not consistently reflected in routine institutional choices, from hiring decisions to workplace dynamics. She stressed that until gender equality becomes a daily practice rather than a conceptual goal, progress will remain limited.
Accountability, Power, and the Future of Partnerships
Looking ahead, the panel reflected on what meaningful partnerships must look like in the final years of the 2030 Agenda and beyond.
Anika stressed the importance of moving from commitments to measurable action. She called for increased investment in youth leadership, stating that young people should not only be seen as participants but as partners with influence over outcomes. She also highlighted the importance of inclusion, stressing that marginalized voices must be intentionally centered in all partnership frameworks.
Stephanie reinforced this by emphasizing that partnerships must include resource allocation and financing. Without funding and institutional support, she warned, youth-led initiatives risk being excluded from meaningful impact, and gender equality progress may stall.
Conclusion: From Conversation to Collective Action
The side event ultimately revealed a shared understanding across all speakers: the ideas for advancing gender equality already exist. The challenge lies in ensuring that these ideas are implemented, resourced, and embedded within systems of power. Despite these challenges, the conversation ended on a note of optimism grounded in youth agency and momentum. As Camila described it, what exists now is “momentum”, a growing sense that change is not only necessary, but already in motion.
One message remained consistent: youth are not waiting to be included in the future of gender equality. They are already shaping it. The task ahead is to ensure that institutions, governments, and global partners are ready to move with them, not just in dialogue, but in action.
If you missed this insightful session or would like to revisit the discussion, we invite you to watch the recording. For collaboration opportunities with SDSN Youth, contact youth@unsdsn.org