Thai youth leaders push for inclusion, partnership and lasting change

Thai Youth Champions Inclusion and Partnership for Sustainable Progress

Thai youth leaders push for inclusion - A vibrant cohort of young leaders from Thailand is actively influencing discussions on critical issues ranging from public policy and climate initiatives to indigenous rights, disability access, and overall youth wellbeing. Their efforts span from grassroots community engagement to international platforms, demonstrating the growing influence of Thailand's younger generation.

Recently, approximately 400 young participants gathered for a significant national dialogue celebrating the 80th anniversary of Thailand's membership within the United Nations. This milestone anniversary offered a valuable moment to examine future directions, with young people positioned at the forefront of conversations regarding the implementation of the Pact for the Future. This global framework, established by the UN, aims to address contemporary challenges while safeguarding the interests of generations yet to come.

Building Stronger Partnerships

Michaela Friberg-Storey, the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, emphasized that transforming the Pact's aspirations into tangible outcomes requires robust societal partnerships. She noted that these collaborations must be fueled by the creativity, energy, and leadership qualities that young people bring to the table.

Adopted by UN Member States in September 2024, the Pact highlights a crucial distinction: while future generations cannot advocate for themselves, young people currently living can. Six youth representatives shared their insights with UN News on how to ensure young voices carry weight in practical applications.

Strengthening Existing Mechanisms

Rattanachart Paengkum, serving as Assistant President of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, argues that enhancing youth involvement focuses less on establishing new bodies and more on optimizing current structures. He envisions youth participation in Thailand as something built quietly but recognized globally.

Built in silence, heard by the world. That is how I see youth participation in Thailand today. We already have a mechanism that could be one of the strongest in Southeast Asia. The task now is to strengthen it and make it genuinely participatory again.

His guidance to fellow young individuals is straightforward: every movement begins with a single action. Taking that initial step allows for learning, improvement, and bringing others along. Without beginning, the result is predetermined.

Trust and Shared Decision-Making

Soonyata Panurat, who represented Thailand at the ECOSOC Youth Forum held at UN Headquarters in New York earlier this year, stressed that meaningful engagement requires trust and collaborative decision-making processes.

Young people are living the challenges policymakers are trying to solve. Giving us a platform to speak is only the beginning. If nothing follows, nothing changes. Policies should be co-designed with young people, not presented to us after decisions have already been made.

Local Action, Global Impact

Chairat Dipho, hailing from Omkoi District in Thailand's Northern Chiang Mai Province, has elevated local environmental efforts to international recognition. From school-based projects to representing ethnic minority youth at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, he emphasizes that recognizing young people as equal partners requires providing adequate resources.

Resources are not only funding. They are knowledge, mentors, and opportunities that allow young people to take action. Young people are not only future leaders. We are stakeholders and equal partners. When we are seen that way, change can begin locally and reach the global stage.

Beyond Conference Rooms

Marisa Yapangku, President of the Indigenous Youth Seed Network of Thailand, highlights that participation must extend beyond urban centers and formal settings to truly reflect indigenous community realities. As indigenous young women, she notes facing dual barriers related to both ethnicity and gender.

As indigenous young women, we face barriers because of both our ethnicity and our gender. Even when we reach decision-making spaces, our ideas are often overlooked. Representation alone is not enough if it is not followed by action. Decision-makers cannot understand our solutions if they have never heard the realities our communities face. We do not come as mercy receivers. We come to move forward together.

Technology and Inclusion

Panwasa Srikuna, who grew up with visual impairment, has witnessed technology revolutionize educational access. She recalls relying on volunteers to read textbooks during secondary school, whereas today AI tools can summarize information and support her learning independently. She stresses that institutions must evolve as rapidly as technology to ensure equal participation opportunities for all young people.

Nattanicha Kattiyavara adds that true participation extends beyond simply being heard; it requires ensuring that young people have genuine influence over decisions that affect their lives and communities.