A cross section of the “Caribbean Twenty Percent” (youth between 15 and 29) is set to assemble virtually on 26 and 27 March and make promises to the sustainable future of their countries, region and world at the Caribbean Youth Dialogues ’25.

As it has for the past five years, ECLAC Caribbean’s Youth Dialogues series will provide a forum for young people of the Caribbean to talk frankly about their future in a world that faces deep uncertainty and challenges to existence, peace, gender equality, climate, opportunities for fair life and work, secure food, trade and multilateralism. Caribbean countries, in particular, face serious difficulties as small island developing states, deeply affected by global social, economic and environmental conditions. 

The main focus at CYD ’25 is “A Promise to the Sea”, during the panel discussion on Life Below Water (SDG14), participants will be encouraged to make a pledge to take concrete action to preserve Caribbean sea-life and coastal living. Some 100 young people from youth organisations, special interest groups and independent activists will gather online to focus their promises around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The discussions at CYD ’25 will feed into the UN ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) Youth Forum, to be held from 15-17 April in New York, USA. The ECOSOC Youth Forum is a key multi-country platform where young people can contribute to policy discussions at the UN through their collective ideas, solutions, and innovations. This year, the theme is “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.

Lentz Wendy Civil from Haiti said she’s anticipating interesting discussions at CYD ’25. “I’m looking forward to this year’s CYD because it’s an opportunity to come together as a region, to put the light on the ongoing issues in the Caribbean but mainly to give the youth a place at the table, listen to their voices, and the solutions that they may have for these issues.”

The other main themes of CYD ’25 are:
-A Promise to Live Better (Good Health and well-being)

-A Promise to Her (SDG5: Gender equality)

-A Promise to decent work + prosperity (SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

-A promise to work Together (SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals)

Dayreon Mitchell, President of the Tobago National Youth Council  and a young geographic information system specialist said, “It’s a great environment for young persons to network, collaborate and share their thoughts and opinions on changes in the Caribbean in terms of climate change and climate adaptation. As someone passionate about disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and all of these other entities that deal with sustainability and sustainable development, I’m really excited about these discussions that we are going to be having with these like-minded individuals at CYD ’25.”

Amber Turner, a representative from the National Youth Ambassadors Core of Bahamas, says “I am looking forward because I believe in fostering spaces where we can have inter regional conversations to make sure youth voices are heard and represented.” 

Candice Gonzales, Youth Focal Point at ECLAC Caribbean says ECLAC Caribbean eagerly anticipates CYD every year, and providing the connections and space for the rich exchange. “It gives us the opportunity to hear about the incredible work that some of our young people are doing for regional development. It will also give these passionate young people the platform to offer key recommendations and solutions for further advancement of Sustainable Development Goals.”

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More about ECLAC Caribbean 

The mission of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) subregional headquarters for the Caribbean, is to deepen the understanding of the development challenges facing the Caribbean, and to contribute to solutions by conducting research and analysis and providing sound policy advice and technical assistance to Caribbean governments, focused on growth with equity and recognition of the subregion’s vulnerability.