Source: United Nations (video statements)
A medical doctor by training, Dr. Felipe Paulier is a passionate advocate for young people. Two years ago, aged just 32, his life took a new turn when he became the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, the youngest senior appointment in the history of the United Nations.
“Leaving young people at the sidelines of how we find solutions is not the way. It’s really bringing them [in], because on many of the things, the solutions will come from them.”
The UN Youth Office believes that positive change is rooted in empowering young people to meaningfully participate in decisions that impact their lives and futures. In this episode, Felipe Paulier reflects on youth demands for peace and opportunity, on the stubborn barriers to change, and shares why he always prescribes reconnecting with nature as a cure for digital overwhelm.
[00:00] Introduction
[02:54] Building on the legacy of Youth Envoys
[04:36] The call that changed his life
[08:20] Choosing purpose over convention
[10:26] Discovering the power of participation
[13:13] Lessons from an interfaith leadership journey
[15:10] How medical training shaped his leadership
[16:48] Opening UN spaces to young people
[20:43] Listening to young people in the DRC
[23:39] Truth, transparency and responsibility
[25:40] Intergenerational collaboration
[26:28] Why peace must become a movement
[28:18] What keeps Felipe awake at night
[30:39] Youth unemployment and economic anxiety
[32:56] Envisioning a more peaceful, more human world
[35:06] A message to social media platforms
[36:40] Defining success beyond titles
[37:56] Closing remarks
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About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.