What HRC59 Showed Us About Youth Power and Leadership
Young people aren’t waiting passively for change, they’re leading it. And we won’t stop repeating this in every global space we step into.
Inside the halls of the United Nations in Geneva, where decisions with international impact are shaped and debated, young advocates filled the rooms to defend bodily autonomy, address the climate crisis, and resist rising authoritarianism. They were also there to work on shifting power — redefining who leads and whose voices are heard — all during the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59).
Women Deliver arrived with a focused agenda: championing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), providing a platform for the voices and perspectives of adolescent girls, young feminists, and LGBTQIA+ advocates, and safeguarding civic space in global forums.
Three young advocates from the Women Deliver Emerging Leaders Program were among those carrying this mission forward, bringing with them their lived realities, grassroots expertise, and the unwavering belief that another world is possible.
Andy Maxwell uses art and education to uplift intersex, trans, and nonbinary voices in Kenya; Leila Rashid Mgalla is a dedicated advocate for youth rights and equality in Tanzania; and Kerry Mwita works tirelessly to ensure SRHR for all also in Kenya. We caught up with them to learn how they navigated this space and what it revealed about the power of youth voices to build a more just and equal world.
Bringing Youth Needs to Global Leaders
As the UN’s primary intergovernmental body for promoting and protecting human rights, the Human Rights Council (HRC) provides a key platform for shaping policy around the world. It’s also one of the few multilateral spaces where youth advocates can directly engage with high-level diplomats and civil society leaders — and influence the very decisions that affect their lives and communities. Because what’s at stake is their future.
For example, the Emerging Leaders met with the Deputy Permanent Representative of Malawi’s Mission to the United Nations, HE Pacharo Kayira. “It was a discussion that detailed Malawi’s progressive role in promoting gender justice within the HRC and beyond. These kinds of engagements underscored the importance of State leadership that is both collaborative and rooted in accountability,” says Kerry Mwita.
We are using global spaces to build a collective vision that unites movements and prioritizes the leadership of the Global Majority. That’s why the Emerging Leaders also connected with the UN Youth Office and Danish Youth Delegates to the UN, exploring concrete ways to guarantee that youth voices are truly integrated into global governance.
In words of Andy Maxwell: “We got the opportunity to ask questions on the existing policies that ensure young people participate in the United Nations conversations. And how youth from the Global South, especially those that are most excluded in the society, are too often left out of spaces where decisions are made.”
Opportunities for direct engagement like HRC59 aren’t symbolic, they are essential. When youth meet with high-level leaders, they open doors to transform the systems that exclude them. It’s no longer only about bringing a folding chair if they don’t give you a seat at the table, as Shirley Chisholm once said. Now, it’s also about who’s driving the narratives in these global spaces — and about redefining the spaces themselves.
“These discussions showed me that while progress is being made, there is still a long way to go, especially in creating equal opportunities for young people from underrepresented regions to fully participate and lead,” adds Leila Rashid Mgalla.
Influencing Policy and Shaping Resolutions
The Emerging Leaders took an active role during negotiations and the drafting of resolutions. “I was able to contribute substantively to the civil society pre-zero draft for the Resolution on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by advocating for governments to make commitments in addressing trans-boundary FGM practices — language that was reflected in the final resolution,” points out Kerry Mwita.
Kerry also participated in the debates around the Resolution on the Right to Education. He stood up for the integration of comprehensive sexuality education and gender-based violence prevention into school curricula. “I also pushed for governments to commit to ending period poverty and stigma, both of which continue to keep millions of girls out of school. In Kenya alone, over 65% of girls lack access to sanitary products, a reality that reinforces inequality in education. Encouragingly, these priorities were captured in the final resolution that was unanimously adopted.”
Yet, here’s one hard truth: global spaces aren’t always living up to their potential. Too often, access is reserved for those with the ‘right’ passport, resources, and connections. That’s why the presence of these young leaders matters: they’re helping to rewrite the rules. “I participated in very important negotiations, including the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Resolution, and the Femicide Resolution. Young people, gender-diverse folks, women, and adolescent girls are not just beneficiaries — we are co-creators,” explains Andy Maxwell.
“Speaking during the youth participation side event, I was able to share reflections from my advocacy work in Tanzania and highlight the importance of giving young people real opportunities to shape decisions — not just inviting them into the room, but truly listening to their ideas and allowing them to lead,” says Leila.
Where We Go From Here
The Emerging Leaders’ experience at the Council reaffirmed that young people from the Global Majority are not waiting for permission; they are already shaping the future with courage, defiant joy, and conviction.
Across the world, the coordinated rise of fascist and well-funded anti-rights actors threatens the rights of girls, women, and gender-diverse people. We must continue participating in spaces like HRC59 to not only counter these regressive narratives but also push forward our vision for equality — making sure leaders listen. We must safeguard the hard-won progress: “I’m reminded that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance,” reflects Kerry Mwita.
It is also a chance to remind States from the Global Minority that they must be accountable for their historical debts to the Global Majority. Not tomorrow, but now. “The UN system still has considerable work to do in centering young people, particularly from the Global South, whose lived experiences often bear the weight of underfunded commitments and systemic exclusion,” adds Kerry Mwita.
The institutions and systems that once sustained our sector are crumbling. While this presents real threats, it also opens space to reimagine what is possible. The future we want starts with a collective commitment to question and rethink the systems, narratives, and practices that no longer serve us. Our next conference, Women Deliver 2026 Conference (WD2026), will embody this spirit. Together with many young leaders, it will serve as a rallying cry, a collective pause, and a strategic moment to rethink power, policy, and gender equality worldwide.
As Leila shares: “Being part of this global conversation reminded me that when youth are given a chance to be heard, their voices can drive real change. These dialogues are proof that when States are open to collaboration and accountability, it creates space for real impact on the ground. It helped me see where power sits, how it moves, and where it must shift”.
