Berlin, Germany – The World Health Organization’s Youth Council presented its vision for healthier societies during this year’s World Health Summit in Berlin. In a declaration supported by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and major youth organizations, the council called on policymakers to better leverage the potential of young people.
According to the council, involving and supporting young people is crucial in creating a healthier, more equitable, and future-proof society. This message was emphasized in a declaration published by the 25-member council at the World Health Summit, held on October 14, 2024. The council highlighted that younger generations are significantly affected by global crises, as pointed out by the WHO which reported a rise in diseases, particularly mental and sexual illnesses, among young people worldwide.
In order to address these challenges, the council stressed the importance of not only listening to young people, but also entrusting them with an active role and responsibility. This includes promoting equal opportunities and inclusion in the education system and the use of new technologies, as well as shifting healthcare towards prevention and ensuring equal access to healthcare services for disadvantaged groups.
The council also called for better support for youth organizations and empowering young people to participate in shaping healthcare policies, through new formats for participation and a genuine openness to their perspectives and experiences. Along with the Bertelsmann Stiftung, international youth organizations such as the Digital Transformations for Health Lab and the Junior Doctors Network of the World Medical Association have also expressed their support for the declaration.
Ralph Heck, Executive Board Chairman of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, highlighted the importance of including the voices of young people in political decision-making processes. “Young people make up around a third of the world’s population, but are insufficiently involved in political decision-making processes,” he noted. “This is a problem because they will be affected by the consequences of today’s political decisions for a long time. If their positions are not heard, opinion-forming will be imbalanced. A strong democracy needs the voice of young people.”
Brigitte Mohn, Executive Director of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, echoed this sentiment and emphasized the need for young people’s perspectives in shaping the future of societies. “Health has many facets and is highly relevant to the further development and transformation of societies on all continents. We need the perspectives of young people here,” she said. “They must necessarily be involved in all decisions, for example in the transition to a digital and sustainable economy, the structuring of social life in the digital age, and the development of new ways to ensure global access to education and natural resources. They are the ones who must help shape the future of their countries and take responsibility for it at a later date.”
Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Director of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing major challenges, including those in healthcare. “In healthcare as in other sectors, the major challenges can only be solved at an international level and through close cooperation. The measures described by the WHO Youth Council provide a good starting point,” she said. “However, their implementation depends crucially on whether it is possible to incorporate these calls for action into the political process. This is where political decision-makers are called upon to seriously consider the proposals of our young health experts.”
The World Health Summit serves as a platform for international experts and decision-makers from various fields to discuss and develop solutions for global health challenges. For further information on this topic, please contact our expert, Malte Etienne, at +49 (0) 30 27 57 88 325 or malte.etienne@bst-gesundheit.de.
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