Since its inception in 2019, the Young Activists Summit has served as a platform to empower and connect young changemakers committed to defending human rights and protecting the environment. This year, the Summit (#YAS24) embraced the theme "Go Far, Go Together," showcasing the remarkable stories and impactful actions of five exceptional individuals aged 19 to 30. These 2024 Laureates address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including climate change, sexual harassment, homelessness, and racism in their actions. Through their innovative and concrete efforts, they are driving positive change within their communities and beyond.

This year’s laureates exemplify the power of youth-driven solutions to global challenges: Marley Dias advocates for diversity in literature; Shanley Clemot McLaren tackles gender-based violence in the online sphere; Alvaro Quiroz empowers homeless people through art and advocacy; Cynthia Houniuhi spearheads legal initiatives to combat climate change for future generations and Sohanur Rahman champions climate justice and democratic reforms in Bangladesh.

Sohanur Rahman had been nominated by the EU Ambassador in Bangladesh for his work on climate justice with his organization YouthNet. After surviving super-cyclone Sidr as a child, Sohanur recognized the extreme vulnerability of communities to climate-induced disasters, which hit Bangladesh especially hard. This led him to become a key figure in the country’s fight against climate change. In 2016, he founded YouthNet for Climate Justice, to raise awareness of climate issues among younger generations. In 2019, a campaign led by YouthNet led the Parliament of Bangladesh to declare the climate crisis a planetary emergency. YouthNet also helped halt the construction of ten coal plants. Recently, Sohanur and his group played a key role in peaceful student protests advocating for greater democracy in Bangladesh. This uprising ultimately led to the ousting of the country’s Prime Minister, who had been in power for the past 15 years. Today, Sohanur continues to push for climate action to be prioritized on the interim government’s agenda.

During his stay in Geneva, Sohanur met with EU Ambassador Lotte Knudsen, Head of the EU Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva. He also had a discussion with young professionals of the EU Delegation and EU Member States Missions.

European Union, 2024

Together, these young activists inspire meaningful action against systemic issues worldwide. As Maimouna Ba, laureate from last year and founder of Women for Dignity in the Sahel, highlighted in her concluding remarks: “For me, the Young Activists Summit was quite literally a new breath of air”, underscoring the profound significance and transformative impact of this community.

For more info, go to https://www.youngactivistssummit.org/.

You can watch #YAS24 here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1f/k1f130sirz