“Healthy societies begin with people who know they have intrinsic dignity and that they matter.” – WYA Advocacy Fellow
The 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development just concluded! Our WYA Advocacy Fellows were on the frontlines at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to speak up for authentic human development that allows persons to reach their full physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional potential. After being trained through the World Youth Alliance Certified Training Program and Advocacy Academy, as well as countless hours of language negotiations, our representatives have the knowledge, research, and advocacy skills to speak up on behalf of human dignity.
Speaking in front of Member States from all over the globe on this year’s theme of “[e]nsuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages,” one Advocacy Fellow spoke about how human dignity must be at the center of all healthcare policies, with the good of each person as the end goal.
“We believe that human dignity must be the foundation of all health and development policies. Without this foundation, programs risk reducing persons to statistics and objectives rather than acknowledging them as agents of their own flourishing,” the Fellow said. “We call on member states to protect families as the first and most essential communities of care,” the Fellow continued, affirming SDG 3 (Sustainable Development Goals), which was the basis for this year’s theme, and explicitly emphasized the importance of healthy family environments for achieving broader societal goals.
Advocacy Fellows are extremely well-versed in pressing global issues, keenly aware of the impact of international pressures in their home countries. WYA Advocacy Fellows examine international law and assess a variety of policy issues through their time as Fellows, bringing knowledge and expertise to each Commission, by advocating for person-centered solutions and healthcare approaches.
WYA is proud to have such dedicated Fellows speaking up for human dignity and boldly communicating the needs of the human person to world leaders.
Watch the WYA Advocacy Fellow’s Speak at the UN, here!
