Every two years, two youth delegates are selected to represent the interests of young people in Luxembourg at the United Nations.
As part of the UN Youth Delegate Programme, representatives from all UN member states gather each October to discuss issues affecting young people worldwide. For the past year, Georg and his colleague Laura have served as Luxembourg’s UN Youth Delegates, a role that concludes at the end of March.
In an interview with our colleagues from RTL.lu, Georg described the position as a “great opportunity” to advocate for young people on a global stage. He emphasised that taking responsibility for others has always been important to him.
The mission of a UN Youth Delegate spans one year and begins with a consultation phase. During this time, delegates travel across the country to engage with young people in schools, youth centres, and other settings. Their goal is to understand the concerns, hopes, and ideas of the country’s youth.
Following this phase, delegates travel to New York for a week-long immersion into the world of diplomacy. There, they join youth representatives from other countries to discuss pressing issues affecting young people globally.
Georg highlighted the value of international cooperation, which he experienced firsthand while collaborating with 50 youth delegates from around the world to draft a joint declaration. He expressed hope for the future, stressing the importance of preserving such cooperation.
According to Georg, political leaders must go beyond superficial engagement with young people. “We have to move from youth participation to youth integration in these processes”, he said, urging leaders to genuinely incorporate youth perspectives into their work rather than simply “listening to post a picture to social media”.
As Georg and Laura’s term concludes, the next youth delegates are set to begin their roles in April. More information about the programme can be found on jugendrot.lu.
