We, the representatives of the Y7, call on the leaders of the G7 countries for a stronger and more coordinated global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We demand you respond with a renewed commitment to multilateralism and reaffirm your collective responsibility to promote health equity, protect human rights and minimize the economic fallout for all youth. With over 1 billion young people around the world confronting interruptions to their education and employment, we are suffering the repercussions of this crisis; facing uncertain futures. We are convinced that the G7 leaders’ statement overlooks both the negative impact of this crisis on every aspect of our lives, as well as the unique potential of young people to mitigate the long-term consequences of this pandemic.
We urge world leaders to empower and meaningfully engage young people in their response to COVID-19 and safeguard our future.
As the Y7, we are calling on the G7 leaders to:
Prioritize the specific needs of young people in an effort to address the economic and societal impacts of COVID-19
Provide platforms for young people to share how this crisis is impacting their lives, involve them in decision-making, and facilitate the collection of youth-specific data on the impacts of this pandemic in order to inform future policy responses.
Adopt a youth-sensitive approach by ensuring policies are informed through meaningful dialogue and engagement with young people, decisions guided by Child Rights Impact Assessments.
Incentivize young people to adopt a resilience-based approach to designing local projects in key sectors and help young people to better disclose and manage risk.
Facilitate access to universal health services and mitigate risks for the health workforce
Ensure young people and vulnerable communities around the world have equitable access to health services as well as clean water and sanitation.
Invest in health system strengthening, at all levels of health care, to address adverse impacts of the outbreak and reinforce future prevention efforts.
Increase investment in and facilitate access to mental health support for children and young people.
Support all young people currently studying or working in health - who face increased workloads, skills gaps, higher psychosocial risks and burnout - by providing fair compensation, protective material and appropriate training.
Ensure the protection of democracy and human rights, paying special attention to the principles of non-discrimination and transparency
Reaffirm that all restrictions to fundamental rights and freedoms taken to curb the virus are proportionate, time-limited, evidence-based and strictly necessary.
Ensure the continuity of national institutions and preserve the democratic system of checks and balances in order to guarantee scrutiny and evaluation of rapid decisions.
Address social stigma, discrimination and xenophobia in policy and public messaging.
Prioritize the poorest, most vulnerable communities and young people in resource allocation and include them in resilience planning.
Undertake Gender Based Analysis on policies and collect gender-specific data, recognizing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on different genders.
Protect the right of all young people to access quality education by enhancing technology and providing efficient solutions
Promote access to and implementation of online tools and IT infrastructure; prioritize the digitization of education by promoting digital literacy, ensuring equal digital opportunities and access to affordable internet.
Share prompt information regarding changes in teaching and examination arrangements, including for exchange and international students, and consult young people in shaping new timetables and alternative learning strategies.
Provide teaching resources on infectious disease and disaster preparedness, and promote learning as an official part of the school curriculum.
Safeguard the socioeconomic environments of young and vulnerable people to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic and emergency measures taken
Provide fiscal support to small and medium businesses as well as to families facing financial insecurity alongside the additional burden of providing education and childcare services at home.
Guarantee economic bailouts and emergency funds to safeguard charities whoare supporting vulnerable communities - and are critical contributors to the economy.
Limit the financial impact of the crisis on students by introducing economic relief policies such as student loan moratoriums and reduction/freezing of tuition fees, and consult with young people on the need for further measures to address job and income loss.
Guarantee access to accurate information on COVID-19 and digital services that support quality of life during the pandemic
Ensure that clear, reliable and youth-tailored information on COVID-19 reaches young people through appropriate channels to counter misinformation and reduce associated anxiety and confusion.
Collaborate multilaterally with media organizations and social media platforms to tackle the current infodemic, through emphasizing responsible journalism and dissemination of COVID-19 content.
Harness the digital expertise of young people and provide opportunities that empower young people to support their societies, particularly the elderly, in using digital technologies to access services and adjust to a virtual way of life.