A Day at CSocD63: Reflections from the MYAD Delegation
Monday, February 10, 2025
It’s my second time attending the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) at the United Nations (UN) with MYAD, yet I always feel the nerves and anticipation. Even more since this year since I got to be a head-delegate. In addition to developing policies with my fellow delegates, I ensure the trip runs smoothly and moderate meetings with stakeholders. However, given last year's experience and my great team, I knew the week would be fantastic.
The first step of the day was picking up UN passes, which means waking up at the crack of dawn to get to the UN pass office before the line grows long. I still enjoy this part because the office is right before the UN Headquarters (UNHQ), so we get a glimpse of the building before getting our passes. I remember last year, seeing the UNHQ for the first time was quite symbolic, so I was happy to experience that again through first-time delegates this year.
Then, we were able to enter the UN legally without getting arrested, yay! We picked up a second special ticket for the opening ceremony in Conference Room 4, right at the building's entrance. During the ceremony, we heard from various UN and Commission representatives, namely the current ECOSOC President and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, H.E. Mr. Bob Rae! Furthermore, the Chair of NGO Committee for Social Development – Ms. Liana Almony – delivered a statement that was partly edited by the MYAD negotiations team! #ProudMoment. The opening ceremony offers an overview of the Commission's discussions, though UN representatives and the chairs of bodies tend to be more ambitious than the Member States.
Next, we rushed to our UN tour, where we visited key places like the Security Council chamber and General Assembly Hall. We also learned a lot of background and insider information about the UN, which is useful ahead of commission week—even for Poli Sci majors! My favorite part of the tour is the artwork around the UN, which is diverse and inspiring. This year, my favorite piece was two murals by Candido Portinari, gifted by the Permanent Mission of Brazil. One mural depicts the unfolding and consequences of war, while the other shows the same for peace. They’re positioned at the entrance and exit of the GA hall, reminding delegates of the weight and consequences of their discussions.
After a quick lunch at the cafeteria, Bela and I rushed to attend a side-event organized by the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia on “Reforming Social Protection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote social cohesion and accelerate the implementation of SDG Agenda 2030.” Side-events are panels or workshops on specific topics related to the commission’s theme organized by Permanent Missions or NGOs, in parallel to the high-level discussions (i.e. the opening ceremony) where state representatives and civil society organizations simply state their positions. They tend to be more interactive and specific, making them particularly enjoyable to attend. I was especially interested in this one as I study Middle Eastern studies at McGill, with an interest in the socioeconomic changes in the Gulf. Saudi government and civil society members discussed current reforms, and it was interesting to hear their perspective on social protection and progress compared to Western ideals. Being at the UN, it's important to be mindful of your positionality, while still staying true to your advocacy.
Our last stop of the day was at the Permanent Mission of Belgium to meet with Benjamin Robinet, a representative handling climate files for the Mission. We had the opportunity to present several of our policy recommendations to get feedback and explore potential areas for collaboration. One highlight for me was presenting the policy I co-authored with Francesca on fostering a green labor market from both the demand and supply side. We also had a very interesting conversation about the evolution of multilateralism in light of current geopolitical situations. While it raised some concerns, it also motivated us to continue our work and advocacy in the UN’s often inaccessible space. More than ever, it’s crucial that MYAD brings progressive and thought-provoking recommendations to these high-level forums, where action and language are often constrained for Member States. The current backsliding on several issues would only worsen without civil society pushing back!
by Jeanne Gonelle
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Waking up in the heart of New York City, I knew today would be a whirlwind. I dressed, hopped on the NY metro with my co-delegates, and made my way to the United Nations Headquarters, ready for a jam-packed day of panels, side events, and policy advocacy meetings. Today was also the day Francesca and I were leading the MYAD Instagram takeover, so there were plenty of photos and videos to capture. I was up for the challenge and couldn’t wait to capture the experience both virtually and in person.
High-Level Panel Discussion: Ministerial Forum on Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion in Complex Crises
Location: Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Sitting in a room filled with accredited and inspiring individuals worldwide was nothing short of surreal. The discussions were thought-provoking, addressing how nations can work together to foster resilience and inclusivity in the face of crises. It was incredibly inspiring to see global leaders engage in solutions-driven conversations, reinforcing my belief in the power of international collaboration.
Before the next event, I grabbed a quick breakfast with my co-delegates—a bagel that, without exaggeration, was the best I’ve ever had. New York food is truly something else!
Side Event: Social Development in Aging Societies
Location: Conference Room 4
Host: Permanent Mission of Spain
Time: 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
This session highlighted how demographic shifts significantly impact developing countries, which are not equipped to deal with the fast population growth rates that characterize their current realities. One of my key takeaways was the importance of preventing the shame and ostracization of elderly people in various nations. Instead, we ought to foster intergenerational solidarity so that aging, which is a burgeoning reality, can benefit societies rather than polarize them. The discussions made me reflect on youth's global responsibility to ensure aging populations are treated with dignity and respect.
Policy Advocacy Meeting with the Permanent Mission of Chile
Location: One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza
Time: 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
This was, by far, the most engaging meeting with a Permanent Mission yet. I had the opportunity to pitch Jeanne and I’s refugee policy proposal—Addressing Structural and Social Barriers to Refugee Inclusion—and was thrilled to see the PM genuinely connect with it. Chile has already prioritized refugee inclusion in its policies, and we received insightful feedback on making our proposal more applicable in multilateral settings. This conversation reaffirmed my passion for policy advocacy and international law, showing me the tangible impact well-researched proposals can have.
Before the meeting, I had lunch at the UN—a teriyaki chicken and rice dish that was absolutely delicious. I’m convinced that every meal in New York is a culinary masterpiece!
Side Event: Building Social Resilience and Solidarity
Host: NGO CSocD
Time: 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM
One of the most profound moments of my day was speaking with Queen Mother Blakely. She emphasized that while I should strive to make a name for myself in the West, I must eventually bring my talents back to Africa—specifically Nigeria, my native country—to contribute to its development. Her words deeply moved me, reminding me of my responsibility to give back to my community. This conversation will stay with me as I continue my international law and advocacy journey.
To wrap up the day, I indulged in some tacos with the entire CSocD Team—again, hands down the best I’ve ever had. New York has officially spoiled me when it comes to food.
Being immersed in this space—surrounded by driven individuals, UN representatives, and civil society organizations, all united in the pursuit of a better tomorrow—was a truly transformative experience. Engaging in critical discussions and witnessing the tangible impact of advocacy efforts deepened my commitment to ensuring that young voices are not just heard but actively shape multilateral decisions. As a tenacious student aspiring to practice international law, this opportunity showed me a glimpse of the impact I hope to achieve. I am more determined than ever to elevate, disseminate, and protect norms of social inclusion and intergenerational solidarity on a global scale.
by Henry Maidoh
Thursday, February 13, 2025
This spring, I had the privilege of representing MYAD at the 63rd Commission For Social Development (CSocD63) in New York. As an economics student passionate about social issues, I worked alongside my fellow delegates, Bela Sullivan and Lawrence Plastina, to research and write policy recommendations addressing the impact of economic corruption and AI proliferation on youth outcomes. At CSocD, I had the pleasure of meeting with Permanent Mission representatives to discuss the feasibility of our proposals. These conversations highlighted the challenges of translating policy ideas into diplomatic action—what commitments governments are willing and able to make versus how civil society can advocate for inclusion. Our discussions reinforced the importance of strategic advocacy in promoting youth voices at the UN.
Youth in Policy
One of my favourite moments at CSocD63 was a side event for youth delegates, hosted by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland. Side events usually consist of panel discussions and keynote speeches, but this event provided an open space for solution-driven discussions among young advocates from around the world. My group focused on SDG 4: Quality Education, where we examined gaps in accessibility to quality education.
What made this discussion stand out was hearing firsthand accounts of how education policies impact students in different regions. It was a refreshing moment where youth, the direct beneficiaries of education policies, were proposing solutions based on their unique lived experiences.
AI Discussion at the UN
Like many, I’ve been following the rapid development of AI, so I was intrigued to see it gaining attention at the UN. At a side event organized by the UN DESA Programmes on Youth and Ageing, the panel discussion focused on AI-driven inequality. While AI holds the potential to improve education and healthcare outcomes, the panel also highlighted a critical issue: that benefits are not distributed equally. AI is typically designed for mainstream users, often overlooking the specific needs of marginalized communities, such as accessibility features for people with disabilities or language support for non-native speakers.
This discussion made me think about the supply-side problems in AI development. There is less incentive to design AI for small or underserved populations, even when the need is significant. This market failure calls for government intervention for more inclusive AI development and deployment. Moving forward, I hope to see more emphasis on the potential of emerging AI technologies to deepen or reduce inequality in global policy discussions.
While the UN serves as a platform for discussion of social issues, the step forward is ensuring these conversations into policy changes. For MYAD, that means refining our policy proposals based on the feedback we received from Permanent Missions and continuing advocacy for the issues we’re passionate about.
by Claire Cheng
Friday, February 14, 2025
As a first-year delegate for MYAD, I was both excited and nervous to attend the 63rd session of CSocD. Despite months of preparation—writing policies, refining our arguments, and undergoing training—I still felt uncertain about what to expect. I had authored two policies on climate justice: one advocating for mental health support in disaster relief programs and another promoting economic policies that facilitate the transition to a green economy.
By the final day of CSocD, I was finally starting to feel comfortable navigating the UN. Our last official meeting was with the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg, where we presented our policies one last time and received valuable feedback. After a quick group photo, some delegates and I made our way to the Civil Society Forum, where we attended panels on topics ranging from menstrual hygiene and support for women in conflict zones to Indigenous resilience.
One speaker who stood out to me was Anita Thomas, the UN Representative to the Women First International Fund. She spoke about the need for economic policies that foster an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable economy—precisely the issue my co-author, Jeanne, and I had addressed in our policy. I knew I had to ask her a question. Nervously, I wrote it down and waited for the Q&A. The moment the floor opened, I shot my hand up, hoping to be chosen from the sea of raised hands. To my surprise, I was! I got to ask a question about integrating youth voices into economic decision-making and ensuring they are taken seriously. Afterwards, I had the chance to connect with her and meet other youth delegates from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique insights!
The Civil Society Forum was our last official event at the UN—unless you count my frantic last-minute shopping at the UN gift shop. As we walked out of the building, I felt a mix of gratitude and sadness. I was incredibly fortunate to have been part of such meaningful discussions, yet there was a lingering feeling of unfinished business (turns out, saving the world in five days is harder than I thought).
To wrap up the experience, our team headed to Time Out Market for dinner, where we watched an incredible violinist and DJ duo perform. Later, we met with other youth delegates at a restaurant for final goodbyes. My heart was full that night—a perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day!