Openingstoespraak Intergenerational dialogue (retreat) UCLG, 19 februari

 

Dear members of the Presidency,

dear partners,

dear friends and colleagues,

dearest youngsters,

 

I would like to take a moment to welcome you,

young leaders,

young elected officials,

to our UCLG retreat,

and even more,

to the exercise on the future of local multilateralism.

 

In a critical moment for the future of our world,

the work that we’re doing this morning is essential

– not just to reflect,

but to collectively imagine

and shape our joint future,

and that of the future generations.

 

The meeting today builds on the commitments that we undertook,

reflected in the Pact for the Future of Humanity adopted in Daejeon.

A commitment to multilateralism,

to equality and care –

putting rights and responsibilities at the centre,

based on transgenerational and intergenerational solidarity, dignity,

non-discrimination,

and the sustainability of life.

 

The commitments of the Pact were adopted to face the realities of the urban era:

local and regional governments are facing a growing mistrust of our public institutions,

a global context marked by uncertainty,

and we are seeing a question mark around multilateralism. We come together to bring an answer to this question,

and this is where you come in.

The future of multilateralism is not just about institutions

—it is about leadership.

Your leadership.

 

The global context of growing conflict and eroding trust in our institutions and democracies goes hand in hand with an ever-pressing need for intergenerational dialogue and youth participation in the public debate.

In this regard,

local and regional governments play a key role in promoting meaningful youth representation in policy and decision-making processes as a building block for peace and social cohesion.

 

We know that building trust in institutions is difficult, especially in a time when many feel disillusioned.

And we know that as young leaders,

you may have faced barriers to being heard.

But your presence here today,

your leadership in your cities and regions,

is proof that these barriers are not permanent.

They are meant to be broken.

 

The Hague Charter on Municipal Peace,

adopted last year in the framework of the UCLG World Council in The Hague,

acknowledges the importance of cities and territories in peacebuilding,

and places us at the centre of global efforts to prevent conflicts,

in line with our calls to the international system.

I hope that this Charter, built on the long-standing tradition of city diplomacy of our organization,

and my city,

The Hague,

the city of Peace and Justice,

and with the aim of strengthening our global peace agenda will be of inspiration to you,

the next generation of city diplomats.

 

The Municipal Movement is committed to promote the localization of the Youth,

Peace and Security agenda

and the Declaration on Future Generations,

with young people at the centre of peacebuilding.

This is how we build a new social contract,

with co-responsibility and active participation of all citizens at the centre of both global and local governance.

 

In the lead up to the Summit of the Future last year,

together with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments,

we advocated for strengthening our engagement in intergovernmental processes,

to fulfil our responsibility and role:

reshaping the multilateral system to deliver sustainable and resilient world for present and future generations.

As part of the outcomes of the Summit,

the Declaration on Future Generations is a way forward,

and an acknowledgment that it is up to you to take the lead.

 

As we head into the last years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,

and with our sights now set into what the post-2030 multilateral system looks like,

it is up to us to see a future where collaboration between generations is not just an aspiration

but a reality embedded in local, regional, national and international governance structures.

 

As young elected officials,

you have the power to set a new standard for governance—one that focus on participation,

solidarity, and long-term responsibility.

The world is watching how you lead, and your actions today will define the policies of tomorrow.

 

As young leaders, and as young participants in democracy, you are not just participants in the multilateral system that we want.

You are the change that we want to see.

Your leadership is the living proof that the future is not something to be ready for.

It is something we shape,

starting here,

starting now.