CVIA at the UN Summit of the Future: Champagne Diplomacy or Meaningful Change?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Mr. Samad QURAISHI, Director of the Centre for Voters Initiative & Action, travelled recently to the United Nations in New York to represent the Centre at the Summit of the Future. 

The weekend before the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly, states gathered to support multilateral cooperation with a youth-centred lens. Global leaders hailed the Summit as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to strengthen global governance for present and future generations.

The Centre argues, was the Summit of the Future actually about supporting a tomorrow shaped by youth voices? Or is it just a continuation of a recommitment to the same worn agenda items and talking points, glamorised by youth and seasoned policymakers alike, creating a false sense of meaningful collaboration? When the meetings, panels, and high-level forums are over, world leaders will simply return to their home countries where nothing much occurs.  

It becomes hard to ignore the prospect that youth involvement simply projects an image of progress while upholding the status quo. The Centre's global experts assert that the Summit was a perfect example of “champagne diplomacy”. Champagne diplomacy, referring to diplomatic efforts which are heavy on optics but light on substance, can often leave young changemakers with false perceptions of participation rather than concrete influence.   

While the Summit may be viewed as the centre for global change, the outcomes of these events are often minimal. World leaders continue to cry for the need for youth representation and decision-making, yet the Centre notes that these talks ultimately result in little action.  

The United Nations structure is not suited to the needs of today. Significant reforms must be taken to meet today's global challenges, including increased access to participation in public affairs worldwide. The Centre remains committed to shedding light on these issues and will continue to craft legal frameworks which reflect the goals of the Summit. Building a more prosperous tomorrow begins with our actions today; it demands dismantling symbolic engagement and replacing it with actionable participation.