UN Youth Envoy emphasizes youths' role in advancing gender equality

Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, discussed and underscored the critical roles of youth in advancing gender equality and preventing gender-based violence with Chinese peer educators in Beijing on Wednesday.

On August 1, Jayathma attended a Forum on Gender Equality and Peer Education co-hosted by UN Women and Beijing Royal School, which was the first public event for Jayathma's first official visit to China.

Jayathma in her opening remarks said: "The youth of today will influence the social and cultural norms of tomorrow – it is therefore critical that we engage young people in understanding why gender equality is good for everyone." She pledged to create more opportunities to amplify the voice of youth in global discussions on gender equality and sustainable development in the future.

This event also showed UN Women's Youth Empowerment efforts to representatives from embassies, education institutions, youth groups and other stakeholders. From 2015 to 2018, UN Women implemented its Phase I Peer Leadership Program for Healthy Relationships Program to examine the effectiveness of peer education, social work and social media advocacy in shaping positive masculinities and empowered femininities among Chinese youths. From 2018 to 2020, the Phase II Peer Leadership Program will further deepen its impact on gender equality and peer education.

Jayathma congratulated UN Women China's Peer Leadership Program for successfully transforming youths into change makers within local communities. Through programs like this, she said the United Nations and its youth constituents can generate shifts in social perception and behavior toward gender.