I want to voice our challenges and dreams at the UN

By Emmanuella, young leader, World Vision Ghana.

My name is Emmanuella. I am a young leader from Ghana. I would like to share my experience participating in the UN General Assembly-related events in New York. I came to represent my fellow children and young people, highlighting our needs and challenges to world leaders and policymakers so that they will take action.

I feel honoured and happy as a girl from Ghana to be in New York representing children’s voices and talking about the future of children. I feel empowered to speak about children's rights, especially speaking up for girls who often suffer severe violations of their rights. As a girl, I want to voice our challenges and dreams. However, many children and young people do not have this opportunity because adults think children need to be seen and not heard. This often makes children feel invisible and excluded. Therefore, I am calling on all global leaders to change this narrative because we cannot have a better future when children - who are the present and the future - are prevented from speaking up.

My hope is that the Pact for the Future, which is the UN’s new plan for a better tomorrow, will be a platform where children and young people can play a role, and we can resolve our needs and challenges and be engaged in decision-making. We all know that children have not been included in decision-making over the years, but we are the ones who can point out our grievances. 

We are also powerful change agents. In each meeting and event I have participated in, I tell the policymakers to include us on issues that matter. But they should not just include us; they should also translate our contributions and suggestions into action.  

I expect that the Summit of the Future will give us a chance to discuss and ensure that these policies will build a better future for all children worldwide. I look forward to seeing a future where every child, regardless of race, religion or gender, is free from abuse, violence, hunger and inequalities.