Holding leaders to their word: Olufunke at the UN Foundation roundtable
YOURS and the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety are proud and grateful to have Olufunke Afesojaye representing them at international discussions on youth participation and global decision-making. On 21 September 2026, Olufunke joined a United Nations Foundation roundtable exploring how young people's demands can translate into lasting political change.
The event marked the launch of Can I Build a Future? Young movements, political change and the future of multilateralism, a UN Foundation paper examining more than 200 movements and protest records across regions since 2019. Bringing together young movement leaders, public officials, researchers, funders and international actors, the discussion focused on a crucial question: how can youth participation move beyond being heard to having a genuine influence on decisions?
From having a voice to shaping decisions
A key message throughout the roundtable was that inviting young people to participate is not enough. They must also have the opportunity to influence policies, remain involved in their implementation and hold decision-makers accountable for their commitments.
Emilia Saiz, Secretary-General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), highlighted the importance of local and regional governments in shaping people's everyday lives, arguing that young people must be recognised as political actors rather than simply beneficiaries of public policy. Deborah Cora, Head of Office at Plan International's New York Office, also stressed the need for flexible, long-term funding and formal roles in policy development to help youth movements sustain their work and remain involved when political priorities change.
Representing YOURS, Olufunke brought the experience of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety into this conversation, emphasising that a declaration is only the beginning. Young people must remain involved in implementation, budgeting, monitoring and review, with clear mechanisms to ensure their contributions influence decisions.
She also highlighted the importance of transparency and feedback: young people should know what has been accepted, what has changed and what will not be taken forward. This is essential to making participation meaningful and political commitments accountable.
Connecting global commitments with local action
These principles are reflected in YOURS' work with the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety, launched at the 3rd World Youth Assembly in Marrakech in 2025. The Statement is not treated as a final publication, but as a shared framework for advocacy and accountability, connecting global policy discussions with action by young leaders at national and local levels. It calls for increased investment in youth-led initiatives, including doubling such investment, and for tangible accountability mechanisms to ensure that commitments translate into action.
Olufunke's contribution at the roundtable helped bring these road safety priorities into a wider discussion about the future of multilateralism and the role young people should play in shaping it. Her participation reflects the importance of ensuring that youth-led movements are represented in the spaces where decisions are made.
From invitation to inclusion
The roundtable marked the beginning of a longer conversation about strengthening the multilateral system and ensuring that youth participation leads to meaningful outcomes.
YOURS is thankful to Olufunke for representing it and bringing the experience and priorities of the road safety youth movement to this important discussion. Her contribution reinforces a principle at the heart of the Coalition's work: young people must be more than voices in a declaration. They must be partners in shaping decisions, monitoring progress and ensuring that commitments lead to visible, funded action.
When young people are given the opportunity to influence decisions and remain involved in delivering them, participation becomes more than a promise. It becomes a pathway to lasting change.