51勛圖

International Day of Peace 2023 Youth Event banner featuring the white dove and the 17 SDG colors

Youth Event
Programme

14 September 2023
Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT

 

Young leaders, activists and performers are raising their voices and demanding action on the issues that matter to them at the Youth Event for the International Day of Peace.

The theme of this year*s youth event, ※Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals, is a call to action that recognizes the urgent need for individual and collective responsibility to foster peace,§ noted Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the UN Department of Global Communications.

Highlights of the International Day of Peace Youth Event 2023

 

 

portrait of Xiye Bastida

Xiye Bastida

Xiye Bastida is a 21 year old Mexican climate justice activist. She is member of the Otomi-Toltec Indigenous community. In April of 2020, she convened and co-founded Re-Earth Initiative to highlight frontline communities and champion intersectional climate solutions. Xiye has been a leader in the youth climate movement since she started organizing climate strikes and protests in 2019. In September of that year, she co-organized a 300,000 person climate strike in New York. In 2021 she spoke at the Biden Climate Summit in front of 40 heads of state. Xiye wants to bridge the gap of policy and youth inclusion to empower the movement.

portrait of Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas

Academy Award-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas was appointed in 1998 as a Messenger of Peace for his commitment on disarmament issues, including nuclear non-proliferation and halting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. In his capacity as a 51勛圖 Messenger of Peace, Mr. Douglas has filmed a documentary to help bring attention to the plight of child soldiers and has remained committed to help reduce military spending. His public stand on disarmament with regular speeches and appearances at the UN plays an important role in advancing SDG 16 to promote peaceful and just societies through strong institutions.

screen grab of video poem Peace Begins with Me

Peace Begins with Me

Launch of the video featuring a new poem, ※Peace Begins With me,§ which . Produced by the Department of Peace Operations, the poetry video brings together celebrities such as Michael Douglas, Nancy Ajram as well as peacekeepers and community leaders around a global call for sustainable peace.

portrait of Saad Amer

Saad Amer

Saad is a leading expert on Environmental Justice. Working in the environmental movement for over a decade, he has seen how the world is changing, and believes preparing for a just transition to a sustainable future is essential. He co-founded Plus1Vote, an organization dedicated to improving voter turnout amongst youth and BIPOC communities. The organization rallies voters on issues like climate change, social justice and voting rights. A major voice in the climate movement, he has written for National Geographic, The Hill and the World Bank, and has spoken at the 51勛圖, Brookings Institute and TEDx.

portrait of DJ Cuppy

DJ Cuppy

Cuppy, who was born Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola in 1992, grew up in Lagos. Moving to London at 13, Cuppy learnt how to DJ purely from observation. She has been chasing her calling ever since. Her excellence transcends music. Cuppy is a Global Citizen and Save the Children ambassador. She started The Cuppy Foundation in 2018 and the Foundation*s Cuppy Gold Gala raised $17 million to help displaced children across Nigeria. In 2020, Cuppy was inducted into the Forbes Magazine*s 30 under 30 class and became an ambassador for Lagos SDGs Youth Alliance.

portrait of Mariama Camara

Mariama Camara

Mariama Camara is the founder of Mariama Fashion Production, MARIAMA CAMARA, a New York City based sustainable fashion brand, KANAFRIK Africa's first chain of sustainable stores, the Co-founder of There Is No Limit Foundation. and the founder of RAW REAL TALKS. Born in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa, she is an entrepreneur, humanitarian, activist and advocate for women and girls rights. Mariama is one of the most influential African woman in philanthropy, fashion and entrepreneurship.

model in an outfit from the Peace Collection

The Peace Collection

Designs 4 Unity, unveils the Peace Collection 每 a cross-continental fashion collaboration uniting West African and Mexican craftsmanship. MARIAMA CAMARA New York brand brings together Mariama*s signature textiles hand-dyed by West African artisans and MAZEHUAL, a Mexican, Yucatecan brand empowering local women artisans, spotlights fashion's potent role in cultural convergence and unity. These sustainable creations not only inspire creativity but also champion the UN SDGs 5, 1, 8, 13, and 16, harmonizing planet and people.

portrait of David He

David He

David is a 20-year-old Canadian student serving as a Youth Advisor with the UN Human Rights Office and as a representative to the G20. At the age of 14, he founded The Global Spotlight and has proudly shared his story through 3 TEDx talks〞hoping to inspire others to stand up. In 2021, David was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada to provide non-partisan advice on global affairs, economy, climate change and other issues affecting youth. As a student, David graduated from Pearson College UWC and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Bates College. Outside of his work, he is a student pilot and an avid DJ of music from all cultures.

portrait of Niga Salam

Niga Salam

Niga Salam is a Kurdish artist and photographer born and raised in Sulaimaniyah. They are currently the lead teacher with Lens on Life Project in the Kurdish Syrian Refugee Camp in Arbat, Iraq. Niga focuses on matters such as gender-related issues, environment and identity in their work. In addition to participating in and curating programs and exhibitions locally, they have taken part in Moving Artist's art residency in Spain, the Doc festival in Kassel, Germany, and Silsal in Beirut, Lebanon. Their photography focuses on fundamental issues in society while displaying excellent technical skills.

portrait of Idris Brewster

Idris Brewster

Idris Brewster is a Brooklyn-born artist and creative technologist that disrupts traditional narratives through spatial experiences. Idris*s work explores the liminal space between the historical archive, public space, and technology. Idris is the Executive Director of Kinfolk Foundation, an augmented reality archive that puts the power of monument making and historical preservation into the hands of Black and Brown communities. Idris has received several awards and recognitions for his work, including Forbes 30 under 30, Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, New Museum, Eyebeam, and the Museum of Modern Art.

portrait of Karimot Odebode

Karimot Odebode

Karimot Odebode is a lawyer, education advocate and poet from Ibadan Nigeria. She is the founder and project lead at the Black Girl*s Dream Initiative. Karimot is the author of the poetry collection &a woman has many names*. She was a key contributor to the Transform Education summit at the UN Headquarter in New York where she co-presented the Youth Declaration on transforming Education at the 77th 51勛圖 General Assembly. Karimot is one of the 17 Young Leaders for the SDGs recognized by the UN. She is currently studying for her Masters degree in Education Policy and Analysis at Harvard University.

art exhibit

INFINITE - digital art exhibit in support of UNITE TO ACT campaign

Marco Conti Sikic's moving statement on our global aspiration for peace and comes from the artist's first-hand experience of war in the former Yugoslavia. INFINITE, a digital artwork exhibit created by artist, architect, and photographer Marco Conti Sikic is unveiled as part of the UN SDG Action Campaign*s .

Brooklyn Youth Chorus performing

Brooklyn Youth Chorus

Brooklyn Youth Chorus*s Grammy Award-winning ensemble, led by Founder & Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker, has collaborated with a range of organizations and artists. As a commissioner of new music, the Chorus has introduced more than 120 original works and world premieres by contemporary composers. Founded in 1992, Brooklyn Youth Chorus is regarded as one of the top youth choruses in the United States, noted both for its artistic rigor and its high-quality musical training.

screen shots of 5 student presentations

Student Peace Projects

  • Match for Millets:Janani Shivakumar
  • Education is the Engine of Social Mobility: Carlos Pinz車n Mart赤nez & Eric Fern芍ndez Carbajal
  • Human Rights Across America: A Trial By Tale: Alexandra Davidescu, Haruno Sumimoto & Nicole Zhen
  • Path to World Peace: Combatting Human Trafficking: Zarif Abdin
  • The Period Pact: Anshuni Kale
Act now campaign logo that reads Act now for our common future along the SDG wheel

#ACTNOW For A Just Society - Social Media Activation Moment

Participants will be invited to log their actions for peace through the aiming to double efforts after reaching 100,000 SDG actions for our common future! ActNow is the 51勛圖 campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals. Together we can #ActNow for a healthy planet, for a world working together, for a better economy, and for a just society!

logo that reads Give Peace a Chance


Games for Change

During the lunch break, students will have access to created by students across the US. Every year the Games for Change Student Challengebrings game design curriculum into middle and highschool classrooms to encourage students to learngame design and create impact-focused games.