Historic address at ECOSOC Youth Forum: Naveen Gautam elevates voices of marginalised youth

At the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum, history was made when Naveen Gautam, representing the Stakeholders Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) Youth Constituency, took the stage as the first Dalit youth leader to moderate a plenary session at the United Nations. His powerful remarks, delivered at the session titled “Social Development: Youth Solutions for an Inclusive Future,” were not only a personal milestone but also a political statement, amplifying the voices of historically excluded communities from across the globe.

Gautam opened the session with a heartfelt welcome that immediately set the tone for what would be a deeply moving and politically resonant conversation. “Jai Bhim, Salam, and Namaste,” he greeted, invoking a spirit of solidarity and justice. Reflecting on his identity, he said, “I come from the Dalit community in India — one of the most systematically marginalized communities in the world, facing deep-rooted caste-based discrimination on work and descent. To be standing here, moderating this global platform, is not just personal — it's political.”

In a room filled with youth leaders, stakeholders, and representatives of member states, Gautam brought attention to the ongoing struggle of over 270 million people globally who face similar discrimination. With grace and conviction, he acknowledged the generations who fought to make such representation possible and called for a round of applause to honour those efforts.

Marking thirty years since the first World Social Summit in Copenhagen, Gautam reminded participants that many of the promises made in 1995 remain unfulfilled for youth across the Global South, especially those from Indigenous backgrounds, informal settlements, displaced communities, and CDWD groups. “Those promises,” he said, “are still a work in progress.”

Yet, his message was not one of despair, but of strength and vision. Highlighting the agency of young people, he said, “We are not sitting on the sidelines — we are organizing, mobilizing, and leading solutions.” Gautam shared the ways in which the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) has been actively shaping a youth-led roadmap for the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Qatar. From virtual and community consultations to the creation of the Children and Youth Info Hub, the aim has been clear: to democratise access to information and ensure that grassroots youth voices drive the negotiation process.

He stressed that young people are already shaping the future through their involvement at every level — from community organising to global policy-making. “From CSocD to Third Committee, and now here at the ECOSOC Youth Forum — we are making youth voices heard every step of the way,” Gautam said.

The plenary session featured three powerful speakers introduced by Naveen Gautam, each bringing a unique perspective to the dialogue on social development and inclusion:

• Alejandra Tentle, a young Afro-Mexican feminist and activist, shared her work with The Millennials Movement and the Tembembe Center for Afro-Mexican Studies. Her efforts focus on amplifying Afro-Mexican history and supporting the identity and representation of her community.
  
• Divine Irakoze, a youth and refugee advocate, spoke from her experience as a member of SheLeads Kakuma and a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho. A published author, she uses her platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by refugee communities.
  
• Charles Katoanga, who leads the Division for Inclusive Social Development at the UN, highlighted the division's role in monitoring socio-economic trends, identifying emerging issues, and supporting the organisation of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
  

Together, the panel underscored the diversity of youth-led efforts worldwide and the importance of inclusive platforms that elevate voices often left out of mainstream development narratives.

In his concluding remarks, Naveen Gautam offered a rousing call to action. “This is our space. This is our time. And you have to hear us now,” he declared. “We will not be silenced. We will not be sidelined. Together, we will fight for our liberation and dismantle the structures that continue to perpetuate inequality and injustice.”

Reaffirming the stakes of the upcoming World Summit in Qatar, Gautam called the session a “rallying cry” for justice, equity, and youth leadership. “We demand a world where our voices aren't just included, but centered. Where our lived realities shape the policies that define our futures.”

Naveen Gautam reminded the audience that social development is not a peripheral concern, but the very foundation of peace, dignity, and justice. Ending on an uplifting note, he invited all participants to walk in solidarity toward a more just and inclusive world: “Walk with us. Stand beside us. And we'll see you on the road to Qatar — leading the way.”

Naveen Gautam's moderation of the ECOSOC Youth Forum's plenary session was more than a symbolic victory — it was a powerful assertion of the right of all communities, particularly those historically oppressed on the basis of work and descent, to occupy global platforms and define their own futures. His leadership reaffirmed a crucial truth: when those at the margins lead, the world becomes more just, more humane, and more hopeful.

Also Read: Empowering CDWD Communities in Africa: Reflections from the International Conference