Good morning,

As patron of the Women Deliver 2016 Conference, it a great joy for me to welcome all of you to Copenhagen and to the Women Deliver 2016, Youth Pre-Conference.

We are at a pivotal moment for the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women around the world. As we embark on the implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals – the Global Goals – there is no better time, than now, to come together and take action to give the words of the 2030 Agenda real meaning.

The involvement and leadership of young people in the implementation, monitoring and accountability of the global goals is fundamental to having any chance of achieving them.

I’m sure you have heard it before, and you will no doubt here it again:  tomorrow’s leaders are the youth of today.  And that is true for some of you and some of you may already be leaders but, in each and every one of us, and maybe it is just for a moment, there is a leader. 

I’d like to share with you the words of Robert F. Kennedy:

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

The youth, that’s you guys, have a central role to play. You have a duty to challenge the status quo and the strategies of today’s leaders.  And there can be no doubt that what you have to offer is needed. Your youthful restless energy, innovative and creative thinking and problem-solving and your commitment and courage to creating a vision for the future and the strategy for getting there are invaluable. 

The 2030 Agenda – with all the promises it delivers – could have, should have delivered a stronger outcome for young people. Key elements such as improving youth friendly services, unhindered access to quality, evidence based information, universal access to comprehensive sexuality education are issues I wish had been given more prominence in that Agenda.

Over the next few days, try and change that - do everything you can to secure that the needs and wants of your generation are heard and are reflected in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda. 

Yes….you, the youth of today, you have taken up the challenge and you have recognized your responsibility and duty.  But, it is a responsibility and duty we all share and the power of uniting our generations, I believe holds the key to resolving many of todays and tomorrows global challenges.

Take advantage of every opportunity that the next few days bring: meet new people; learn new skills; have a little fun in the city of Copenhagen; strengthen and expand your advocacy efforts. And most of all; let your voices be heard.