Ishaan (U6S2) participated in the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) 2021 convened by UN Women and the Governments of France and Mexico. The GEF is a process for member states, private sectors, civil society, and youth to make concrete commitments to advance gender equality over the next five years. 

In response to the exclusion of tackling modern slavery at the GEF, Ishaan co-led the creation of the Youth Against Slavery Manifesto which provides governments and private sectors with tangible and effective measures that they can adopt to help end modern slavery.

With the Generation Equality Youth Taskforce, youth leaders of the Action Coalitions and National Gender Youth Activists, Ishaan also co-organised the Generation Equality: Young Feminist Unconference. The Unconference virtually hosted over 1,000 guests internationally, providing them with a platform to make commitments and influence the outcomes of the GEF.

Ishaan presented youth demands regarding Economic Justice and Rights to the Executive Director of UN Women (Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka), Director of the Civil Society Division (Lopa Banerjee), Secretary-General of the GEF (Delphin O) and Action Coalition Leaders. These included improving financial literacy, providing universal education, combating modern slavery and effectively building back better from the pandemic.

Ishaan and his colleagues are proactively working to stop the ongoing tokenising and exclusion of youth from decision-making spaces within the GEF and beyond. They are developing accountability measures, demanding increased funding for youth efforts, and pushing for meaningful youth inclusion; co-creation, co-leadership and co-ownership in decision making spaces at an international level.

Well done, Ishaan!