Who is Representing Swiss Youth?
The Swiss Youth Delegates represent young people of Switzerland internationally at the United Nations. A team of four representatives is mandated every year for two years to be the voice of young Switzerland in the international arena. Three of them, the UN Youth Reps, are part of the Swiss delegation to three large UN conferences in New York and one of them, the Climate Youth Delegate, attends the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP). Furthermore, the Swiss Youth Delegates are observers at UN Geneva. Besides collecting experiences internationally, they raise awareness for UN-related topics in Switzerland, with an annual project and by organizing school visits and events about the Sustainable Development Goals.
Affiliations
Swiss UN Youth Reps is A project initiated by the Swiss National Youth Council
and supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Climate Youth Delegate Program is supported by the Swiss Federal Department for the Environment.
Founded in the 1930s, the Swiss National Youth Council (SAJV/CSAJ) is now established as the umbrella organization for around 60 youth organizations in Switzerland, representing more than 500,000 children and young people. The SAJV's main goal is to serve as a spokesperson for the interests of Swiss youth on a political and public level. To achieve this goal, the SAJV initiates and develops various projects in its central areas of Youth engagement, our future, and inclusion. SAJV also coordinates the Climate Youth Delegate programme.
The task of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is to safeguard Switzerland's interests abroad and in its relations with foreign countries. Currently, the head of the FDFA is Federal Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs is Ignazio Cassis. In international UN conferences, in coordination with the Swiss Missions to the UN, we are allowed to make statements on behalf of youth in Switzerland.
The task of the Federal Office of the Environment (FOEN) is to ensure the sustainable use of national resources, the protection against natural hazards and the conservation of biodiversity. The FOEN is also responsible for international environmental policy. Currently, the head of the FOEN is Federal Councillor Albert Rösti. In UN Climate Change Conferences, we bring the voice of Swiss youth into the Swiss negotiating delegation.
Youth participation in decision-making is one of the key areas highlighted within the UN agenda on youth. This emphasis on youth involvement is why it has become increasingly common for countries to appoint youth delegates to participate in conferences such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Most activities involving youth delegates are coordinated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA).
Jorina Kaminski
UN conference:
64th CSocD - Commission for Social Development
Priority topics:
Climate protection & Climate education (SDG 13 & SDG 4), Equal Rights & Gender Equality (SDG 5), Social Justice (SDG 4 & SDG 10)
"Inviting youth to the table when discussing the future is inevitable, since we, youth, are the future"
Lucía Elena Saunders
UN conference:
High Level Week of the 80th UN General Assembly
Priority topics:
Mental Health and Disability (SDG 3 & 4), Peaceful and Constructive Dialogue (SDG 16 & 17), Global Awareness and Solidarity
"Creating global citizens starts with empowering our local communities that everyone‘s story brings unique value to the table"
Andreas Bernhard
UN conference:
81st UN General Assembly 3rd Committee
Priority topics:
Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Reduced inequalities (SDG 10)
Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), Strong and impartial international justice, Non-proliferation and Disarmament, digital governance and cybersecurity
"Peace must be achieved through justice, for peace without justice cannot endure. I will
always support justice, dialogue, and the peaceful resolution of conflict"
Marta Zaragoza NAvarro
UN conference:
80th UN General Assembly 3rd committee
Priority topics:
Water & Climate Agendas (SDG 6 & 13)
Gender Equality (SDG 5)
CHildren & Youth Advocacy (SDG 4 & 17) Mediation & Sustainable Peace
Science-Policy Interface
Transparency, Accountability & Participation
"Looking forward to continue building bridges across topics, regions, and generations"
Mehdi Mesbah
UN conference:
63rd CSocD - Commission for Social Development
Priority topics:
Economic and social development of the global south (SDG 1 & SDG 8)
International cooperation & global governance (SDG 16 & SDG 17)
"I aspire to represent a multicultural youth concerned and working towards the improvement of our world"
Hanishha Soosai
UN conference:
CRPD - Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Priority topics:
equal opportunities (SDG10), migration and refugees, inclusive education (SDG4), and human rights
Elena Müller
2025-2027
Conference:
COP30 (Belém, Brazil)
Agenda items: Climate Change, Mitigation, Climate Finance, Just Transition
Anna Kurth
2024-2026
Conference:
COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan)
Agenda items: Gender and Climate Change, Mitigation
