EU and UNICEF join forces to bring youth voices into the EU–LAC partnership

UNICEF and the European Union join forces to engage and empower young people to shape the future priorities of the renewed partnership between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The European Union (EU) and UNICEF have launched today a new initiative to bring youth voices to the centre of the partnership between the EU and the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States (CELAC). In preparation for the EU–CELAC Summit in July 2023, young people from the two regions will be polled on the policy agenda of the partnership, building on the EU’s Global Gateway strategy with investments in fair and inclusive, digital and green transitions, using U-Report, UNICEF’s flagship digital platform for adolescent and youth community participation.

EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said: “As we are stepping up the EU–LAC partnership, it is essential to engage, empower and connect with young people from both regions on the central issues of our Global Gateway driven actions, in line with the Youth Action Plan commitment to shape EU external action in partnership with young people. The EU–UNICEF U-report is an opportunity for young people to voice their opinions, while we will also engage them in Summit preparations with our LAC partners through a Youth Day.”

The EU–UNICEF U-Report initiative will engage with adolescents and young people in LAC and the EU, paying specific attention to reaching young women and girls. The data gathered will provide key insights, with a gender dimension, to help inform the top issues to be discussed between the EU and LAC policy makers. Young people from the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean will also come together for a Youth Day on 13 July at the EU–LAC Civil Society Forum, a key milestone on the way to the EU–CELAC Summit.

UNICEF and U-Report

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

U-Report is UNICEF’s flagship digital platform to engage adolescents and youth in programme, emergency response, and advocacy actions. With over 28.3 million U-Reporters, it is active in 92 countries and growing by one U-Reporter every 4 seconds.

The new programme builds on the previous U-Report initiative, #YourVoiceYourFuture, launched by the African Union, European Union and UNICEF ahead of the 2022 EU-Africa Summit.

The EU and youth action

European Commission – Youth in International Partnerships

Youth Action Plan in EU external action