Aisha Hamman advocates structural reforms for Youth Participation at UN High-Level Plenary
By: Jabiru Hassan.
Nigerian lawyer and human rights advocate Aisha Hamman called for systemic reforms to strengthen youth participation in global governance at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Plenary, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth.
Speaking during the session on “Advancing Implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to Leave No One Behind,” Hamman stressed the need to move beyond symbolic inclusion of young people in policy frameworks. “Policy presence without practice leaves millions behind,” she said.
At a second panel on “Full, Effective and Meaningful Youth Participation at National and International Levels,” Hamman urged governments and UN agencies to institutionalize youth leadership in development and peacebuilding. “Young people are not demographic dividends to be harnessed,” she said.
“We are co-owners of this world and co-authors of its solutions.” Hamman drew on her experience leading Lift Africa Foundation, a Nigerian youth-led NGO that supports legal empowerment, civic education, and policy advocacy.
In 2021, she was recognized as a Global Champion for Ending Violence in Nigeria by the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
The High-Level Plenary brought together UN Member States, diplomats, and civil society to review progress on youth inclusion since the adoption of the World Programme of Action for Youth in 1995. Hamman’s interventions contribute to ongoing global discussions on how to embed youth voices in governance, financing, and accountability frameworks.
