In secondary school, I took part in the Concern debating competition, which focused on global justice and international relations. I quickly realised how interested I was in these topics and joined Plan International’s Youth Advisory Panel when I started university, so I could become more involved in activism. We carried out a campaign around gender-based violence, and I even drafted a youth-led submission for Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN. A relative told me about a young person they knew, Orla Murphy, one of Ireland’s first UN Youth Delegates, and I was encouraged to apply.
I was 21 when I started my term as a UN Youth Delegate. Today, Orla is a friend of mine – being a UN Youth Delegate has not just enabled me to contribute to positive change, but also to learn from others and make lifelong friends. Throughout my term, I was motivated to strengthen youth representation, particularly for young people from marginalised backgrounds. While Ireland has a supportive mission that actively involves youth, the same can’t be said for every government.
It was disheartening to see that many youth activists from the Global South brought invaludate perspectives, incredible passion, and strong ideas for accelerating change, yet often lacked the same opportunities for meaningful input. In some cases, their home countries did not have structures in place to fully amplify their voices, especially compared to delegates from the Global North. Recognising this imbalance, we looked for ways to stand alongside other youth delegates and activists, particularly those with marginalised or intersecting identities, to help ensure their contributrions were heard. This included creating spaces in permanent missions, co-organising side events, and most importantly, listening to their priorities and following their lead on how we could offer support.
As UN Youth Delegates dedicate significant time and energy to their roles, often balancing study, activism, part-time work, and personal commitments, it can be disheartening when youth inclusion feels like a tick-box exercise rather than genuine participation. However, the Irish Permanent Mission to the UN provided us with real opportunities to contribute to various UN processes, consistently seeking our feedback and finding meaningful ways to ensure our voices were heard.
Being a UN Youth Delegate has broadened my horizons in countless ways. Coming from West Cork, I didn’t initially see a clear path toward making an impact through a career in international development. My time in the programme helped me to understand where I could most effectively contribute to enacting change within the sector. Participating in high-level meetings at events at the UN, drafting speeches and reports and working with other youth delegates allowed me to build confidence in my ability to contribute to addressing global challenges.
Today, I’m based in Jamaica, where I work with UN Women to support women’s empowerment and gender equality across the Caribbean region. I draw on insights from my time at the UN in New York as a Youth Delegate, particularly in organising high-level side events, which adds a valuable perspective to our work. In a world of deep inequalities and injustice, I am thankful to be surrounded and supported by passionate, committed people who remind me that meaningful change is always possible – and never too late.
– Jessica Gill, 2022-2023 UN Youth Delegate
