United Nations Launches a Survey for Youth in Latin America and the Caribbean within the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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The unprecedented global health crisis we are facing is affecting all parts of society and changing lives and livelihoods. In all types of crises and times of need, from climate change to armed conflict or political unrest, young people and youth-led organizations have been quick to take action and respond to the needs of others. The same is happening now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While attention is currently focused on those most immediately affected by the virus, there are many indications the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-lasting social, cultural, economic, political and multidimensional impacts on the whole of societies, including on young people, as highlighted by the Secretary General’s Report “Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity” (March 2020).
The Survey
The United Nations Sustainable Group in Latin America and the Caribbean and the members of the LAC Interagency Task Team on Youth are committed to the goals enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Youth Strategy. Therefore, the respect for all human rights - including economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights - is fundamental to the success of public health responses and recovery from the pandemic.
In this context, the United Nations is inviting adolescents and youth between the ages of 15 and 29 from the Latin America and the Caribbean to participate in a Survey, whose objective is to learn about how they are experiencing the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as their present and future concerns. The Survey will be open until may 26th, 2020.
Young Participation for the Response
In increasing numbers, young people are proactively combating the spread of the virus and working or volunteering to mitigate and address the pandemic’s impacts. However, when developing initiatives to support young people’s efforts to safely and effectively act as agents of change in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of important elements need to be taken into consideration, including inclusion and participation, the duty of care, trust and commitment.
The findings from the Survey will guide the response of the United Nations in Latin America and the Caribbean to stop the spread of the disease and mitigate the repercussions of the pandemic. It is critical for the United Nations to recognize the multiple and diverse impacts the COVID-19 pandemic already has and will have on young people and their human rights.