G7 LEADERS’ VACCINE RESPONSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN “STRONGER, FASTER AND MORE AMBITIOUS” SAY YOUNG LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
friday 11 june 2021
Young leaders welcome the G7 leaders’ recent pledge to donate one billion vaccine doses globally by the end of 2022 - but argue they should have been more ambitious and pledged to do more, sooner.
The Youth 7 (Y7) is one of six engagement groups supported by the U.K. Government during its 2021 G7 Presidency, with the others being the Business 7, Civil Society 7, Labour 7, Science 7 and Women 7.
In May 2021, after consulting with 10,000 young people around the world, young leaders from each of the G7 countries, plus the EU and Australia, announced their recommendations for world leaders.
The youth recommendations have focused on “Making Waves for Future Generations”. Envisaging a world of universal access to robust healthcare systems, the health youth delegates called on G7 leaders to:
Strengthen health systems by increasing public healthcare spending by 1% of GDP to ensure accessible, affordable and fundamental healthcare, particularly global, equitable COVID-19 vaccination access before the end of 2021; and
Temporarily waive Covid-19 patents.
Commenting, Erika Dupuis, Canadian Health Delegate said:
“While we welcome the G7's combined investment of 1 billion vaccines to be distributed to low- and middle-income countries before the end of 2022, we call on G7 leaders to commit to more equitable, progressive, and ambitious responses to inoculate the globe before the end of 2021. With 75% of all vaccine doses being administered to only 10 countries, the time to act is now. We call for stronger, faster, and more proactive measures towards vaccine distribution before the end of 2021."
The Y7 2021 is hosted by the Future Leaders Network and the Summit took place virtually on 8 - 9 May and 14 - 15 May.
Notes to the Editor:
For more information about the support available to young people in the UK, particularly our Youth 7 opportunity, please visit our website: https://www.futureleaders.network
For interviews or more information, please contact Sophie Daud – Chief Executive, directly on +44 7788 990041 or at sophie.daud@futureleaders.network.
About Future Leaders Network
Future Leaders Network is a not-for-profit organisation aimed at discovering and developing the next generation of social, economic and political leaders in the United Kingdom. We are revolutionising the leadership development landscape, by equipping young people with the leadership experience, skills and network they need to deliver positive change in the world.
We make a difference today with the leaders of tomorrow.
Since 2011, we have selected and supported young leaders to represent the U.K. at the G7 and G20 Youth Summits. In 2021, in line with the U.K.’s G7 Presidency, the Future Leaders Network was appointed to Chair and deliver the Youth 7 (Y7) process.
Website: https://www.futureleaders.network
About the Youth 7 (Y7) 2021
Youth 7 is one of six engagement groups of the Group of 7 (G7) supported by the U.K. Government in its 2021 G7 Presidency, the others being Women 7, C7 (non-governmental organizations), Labour 7, Business 7, and Science 7. The engagement groups are involved at every level of G7 activities, including meetings with the Sherpas, Ministers and expert groups, through to the Leaders’ Summit. They prepare recommendations for each G7 Presidency.
The Youth 7 Summit took place virtually on 14 - 15 May 2021, with thousands of young people from all over the world joining on a professional event platform or live-streaming two days’ worth of keynote speakers, presentations and workshops.
Read the full Y7 communique here: https://www.futureleaders.network/y7-call-to-action
About Erika Dupuis:
Erika is the Y7 Health Delegate for the Canadian Delegation. Erika is a practicing Registered Social Worker in the greater Toronto area. Passionate about community education and youth engagement, Erika has supported several youth-led organizations aimed at advancing youth health equity. Erika has contributed to multiple projects at local, federal, and international levels with expertise in education, food justice, harm reduction, alternative youth justice, and sexual and reproductive health. Erika is a current Leading Social Justice Fellow with the University of Toronto and United Way and recently completed a Post-Master's Certificate with New York University. Erika is a graduate of the Master and Bachelor of Social Work programs at Ryerson University where they conducted original research on harm reduction and health equity in Toronto.