One-third of the world’s population is made up of young people; it is the largest generation in human history. But with increasing automation, changing migration patterns and the rise of new technologies, young people face an uncertain future. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was invited to the Graduate Institute on 6 May 2019 to address this challenge and propose solutions during a lecture entitled, “Generation Unlimited: Unlocking the Power of the World’s 1.8 Billion Young People”. 

“As the world’s leading children’s organisation, I […] thought that we could do more targeted work in the second decade of a child’s life”, said Ms Fore. “[…] we don’t really understand young people […] so it is with humility that UNICEF and all of our partners are standing up to say that ‘We need your help!’”
  
The global partnership platform, Generation Unlimited, was created to connect education and training to the employment needs of the future in order to give young people more opportunities. It joins together governments, civil society, UN organisations and young people to forge new paths to success for future generations.

“Every country, large and small depends on the economic firepower of their young people”, concluded Ms Fore. “[...] Let’s work together to find new ways to equip young people with the education and skills they need to shape better futures for themselves and for our world.” 

The event was moderated by Mark Cassayre, Chargé d’affaires, ad Interim, Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and Graduate Institute alumnus.

This was the fourth lecture in the Women in World Affairs Lecture series, which showcases the achievements of prominent American women, from different sectors and backgrounds, in world affairs. This lecture was organised by the Institute and the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and with the support of UNICEF.