Advocacy

How can you advocate for change if you are a small group? How can you positively impact on UN negotiations? How can the Major Group for Children and Youth change things?

Simple

We organise, we make relationships and we lobby like crazy. We are an informed, up to date, dedicated and hardworking team of crazy lobbyists.

It is scary how effective we have become. We have had numerous victories. We have listened to various negotiations and it is really great to hear that member states are meeting with us to lobby us to change our wording of proposed amendments. We have been mentioned in ministerial statements during the beginning of the High Level Session. We have been invited to attend real negotiations. We have actually constructively participated in bi-lateral meetings. It is such a rich experience. Yesterday, I met with the South African Environmental Minister. On behalf our Waste Management focal points (Mitch and Mika). I asked some hard hitting key questions....such as what South Africa plans to do with the tonnes of e-waste that they generate. It was thrilling to hear her mention it in her statement during the High Level Opening. Ireland deserves special recognition for actually mentioning Youth and Children Major Group directly.