Haddad, from the French-speaking Forum de Jeunesse, and Cabezas Loja, from the Dutch-speaking Flemish Youth Council, spent a week engaging in diplomacy, advocacy, and collaboration with young leaders from around the globe.
The UN Regional Information Centre interviewed the two young activists about their role as UN Youth Delegates at the UN General Assembly and beyond.
Advocating for youth in conflict zones
“Diplomacy should not only take place between states but also include young people, civil society and marginalised voices,” said Haddad, who holds a Master’s degree in International Relations.
As part of the Belgian delegation, the two youth delegates emphasised protecting and empowering youth affected by conflict, including in Ukraine, Gaza, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
During their meetings at UNGA, they also called for education access for millions of young people who are currently deprived of schooling due to war, displacement, or economic hardship, and advocated for mental health support for youth living through or fleeing conflicts, for social justice and gender equality for young people worldwide.
Inspiration from global youth
Cabezas Loja, who is both a law student at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and a project manager within the university’s GreenTeam, was deeply moved by a Youth, Peace, and Security roundtable hosted by Austrian, Peruvian, and Australian youth delegates.
“It was incredibly powerful to see how this global framework is making a real impact,” she said.
Turning hope into action
Both youth delegates highlighted that meaningful change within international institutions requires persistence, collaboration, and recognition of youth as experts in their own realities. They want to see their experiences informing policy discussions, especially on peace and security.
“Young people are not symbolic participants,” Haddad stated. “They are partners shaping solutions.”
“I saw how powerful it is when youth voices are brought directly into diplomatic spaces. Multilateralism has so much potential when grounded in empathy and shared responsibility,” she added.
A seat at the table
Cabezas Loja also stressed the need for long-term and inclusive UN youth mandates worldwide.
Youth mandates vary greatly between countries: from two-year mandates in Belgium to only a few weeks in countries such as Thailand. Many countries do not have any mandates for UN youth delegates.
“With roughly one-third of the world’s population being young, we deserve a seat at the table,” said Cabezas Loja, highlighting that “real solutions require involving those who truly understand realities on the ground. Poverty in Colombia differs greatly from poverty in Ukraine, and youth themselves are best placed to understand the complexities of their experiences.”
Hope as resistance
When asked for a message to other young people, Haddad concluded: “Hope is not naïve, it’s an act of resistance. Never underestimate the power of your voice and your story. Change often starts with the courage to speak out, to listen to others.”
For Cabezas Loja: “Even small acts, when done collectively, can ripple outward like a river reshaping its course. That’s what keeps me going: the belief that together we can make a difference.”
