Blog of Maria Fornella-Oehninger, SI Representative to the United Nations in New York, with contributions from SI Representatives Frances Zainoeddin and Shaleen Wanjiru.
“Participating in the Summit of the Future reinforced the significance of intergenerational dialogue in crafting sustainable solutions for our global challenges. The side event hosted by Soroptimist International, titled ‘Building Global Momentum for a Sustainable and Equitable Future,’ perfectly encapsulated this theme. As we explored crucial topics like social justice and environmental stewardship, it became clear that fostering collaboration between generations is not just beneficial but essential. Each generation brings unique insights and experiences to the table—older generations offer historical context and wisdom, while younger voices inject urgency and innovative thinking. This synergy is vital as we strive for a future where equity and sustainability are at the forefront of our collective efforts. It’s a call to action for all of us to engage, listen, and work together, ensuring that our actions today pave the way for a just and thriving world tomorrow.”
Shaleen Wanjiru, SI Youth Representative, Kenya.
Building a More Equitable and Sustainable Future
Watch the full webinar recording now.
Co-organised by Soroptimist International, International Presentation Association, Sikh Human Rights Center, and co-sponsored by Baha’i International and NGO Committee on the Status of Women, our side event during the opening of the 79th session of the General Assembly brought together diverse yet unifying perspectives on how to move forward now that the Pact for the Future has become a reality. It was an insightful panel of thoughtful young speakers who spoke about a new definition of progress and well-being based on inclusion and solidarity, drawing on traditional ways of living peacefully, and conserving Nature as it was given to us. It wrapped up with a debrief of the summit of the future and an evaluation of how to move forward by the president of the Conference of NGOs, Levi Bautista. Dr Despoina Afroditi Milaki (International Presentation Association) moderated the session.
Redefining Progress and Well-being
In her introductory remarks, Maria Fornella- Oehninger (SI Rep to the United Nations, NY) focused on the failure of traditional economic development models to do away with extreme poverty and inequality, while at the same time contributing to environmental degradation, destructive climate change and leaving vulnerable populations, especially women and girls at a disadvantage. The future of economic development, she added, must go beyond profits and GDP-measured growth, prioritising instead sustainability, fairness and well-being and ensuring that nobody is excluded from progress.
This was echoed in different ways by many of the speakers.
Voices of Youth and the Call for Inclusive Decision-Making
Cecilia Schirmeister (Bahai Representative to the UN) proposed a new, broader definition of progress, centered on the material and non-material well-being of families and communities, and less on growth and competition, on Us vs Them, on the common good.
For Kenya Youth Delegate, Stephen Okanda, the three key issues for youth are more participation in decision making: young people should be co-creators of policy and not merely beneficiaries. His advocacy focuses on a convention to protect the rights of youth, to create Youth consultative bodies alongside the UN main organs, for example the Security Council and more funding for youth delegation programmes.
Ivy Koek, UN Representative of Soka Gakkai International and Co-Chair of NGO Committee on the Status of Women, called for the creation of a culture of peace and respect for human rights. She highlighted how progress on Women’s Rights can advance at the local level, for example, in the grassroots initiative” Cities for CEDAW”, through which cities and counties around the United States are adopting and implementing the principles of the Convention, even if the federal government itself has never ratified it.
Ananda Lee Tan, Strategy Advisor for the Just Transition Alliance, stressed the importance of intergenerational dialog and of the inclusion of Indigenous people’s practices and knowledge. Change is happening at a vertiginous speed, but it is not accompanied by justice. He pointed out that democracy is being weakened when there is a predominant lack of inclusion and participation. We must break silos and include all at the table.
Indigenous Knowledge and Holistic Development
Ranbir Singh Mangat, speaking on behalf of Sikh Human Rights Group, reiterated the problem of confusing progress with growth: today, growth is increasingly disconnected from human well-being. He focused on food production in the XXI century as an example of what is wrong with the economic system: the for-profit model of corporations is destroying soils and affecting climate change while 35% of the global population cannot afford a healthy diet and 10% go to bed hungry every night. He gave examples of indigenous conceptions of well-being informed by cultural and spiritual values as aspirational models of post-liberal development. An innovative approach to development, he added, must be supported by national and international economic systems that recognise a holistic understanding of human development.
Levi Bautista, President of the Conference of NGOS, wrapped up the session with an inspiring evaluation of the Summit of the Future. It created “an expectation of sunrise after a long night” for multilateral governance and inclusive participation. NGOs were given wide access to the UN physical premises and to its substantive agenda. In 72 hours from gavel to gavel, member states passed three aspirational documents: the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration for Future Generations. Even though it is early to fully assess its success, the Summit promised to forge a consensus and deliver a better present and a peaceful, sustainable and inclusive future for generations to come. But given the multiple fractures in all spheres of human life, will it succeed? The Pact ends with 56 recommendations for tangible actions which are more focused and refined than those previous commitments, but will they be implemented in time, when the speed of reforms and recovery cannot match the speed of change? President Bautista called on civil society to be alert, as the watchdog of implementation, and call out the non-complying.
The event got very positive reviews by those in attendance as well as by a substantive global audience. It created a safe, relaxed space for an interesting conversation among advocates that work in different contexts and allowed for enriching exchanges of diverse perspectives across generations.
Concluding Thoughts
The event got very positive reviews by those in attendance as well as by a substantive global audience. It created a safe, relaxed space for an interesting conversation among advocates that work in different contexts and allowed for enriching exchanges of diverse perspectives across generations. As these voices come together to inspire action and progress, events like this serve as a reminder of the strength found in unity and the potential for meaningful, collective change. This gathering lays the groundwork for continued collaboration and reinforces a shared commitment to a sustainable and inclusive future.