Norah’s Blog: The Three Biggest Highlights of CSocD64
In the first week of February, 2026, eight of my fellow delegates and I hopped on a bus to New York City, in order to attend the United Nations ECOSOC’s 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development. My name is Norah Nehme, and in honour of this incredible experience, I wanted to share the three biggest highlights of my trip as a MYAD delegate!
Number one: attending a Youth Breakfast hosted by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN.
The day began bright, and rather early, with pastries and fresh fruit welcoming us into an exciting morning. We engaged with youth delegates from around the globe, some representing their nations, and others, civil society organizations, each bringing perspectives shaped by their own realities. This breakfast illuminated me on the power of youth exchange; sitting with fellow young individuals and getting to hear their ideas, perspectives and priorities, whilst getting to share mine, taught me more than any of the plenary sessions or conferences I had attended all week. We always discuss youth engagement, but how often do we get to sit together without borders and challenge each other? How often do we have the opportunity to know our voices are being heard by global leaders? Bridging that gap was the most valuable part of my week.
Number two: hosting our own side event at the UN.
Our panel sought to examine legal reforms and critical protection gaps in international labour law by focusing on advocacy initiatives aiming to address such at grassroots, and national levels. The panel featured leading figures in their respective fields, including national ministers, UN representatives, and researchers, as well as one of our very own delegates, with a second delegate serving as a moderator. Getting to be part of a side event from the preparation to the execution was truly meaningful. Observing my fellow delegates prepare, whether refining their speaking points or coordinating logistics behind the scenes, made me immensely proud to be part of such a hard-working team. Representing youth at such a high level, in such a professional setting, and alongside such accomplished leaders, was truly an honour. We were able to provide a voice to an issue that is not only timely but also crucial to building a more equitable system.
And lastly, number three: being at the United Nations was in itself a privilege.
There is something incredibly powerful about standing in a place of such global significance and learning to trust that you belong there, even though the occasional imposter syndrome feeling may crawl up on you every so often. For the first time, I witnessed youth actively contributing and exchanging ideas in multilateral spaces, rather than just being spoken about as a demographic. Not to be cliché, but there truly is hope for the future, and it lies within the hands of the next generations. Although we may still have a long way to go to reach a utopia, our responsibility is ensuring that their foundations are strong in order for them to inherit a world of peace, prosperity, and justice.
In just one week, I felt myself grow into a new person, in confidence and clarity, and especially in conviction. It was a privilege to be in rooms where life-changing decisions are made. It was a privilege to be able to voice the concerns and aspirations of youth from across the world. And most importantly, it was a privilege to have attended this commission alongside the most intellectual and inspiring colleagues who never fail to stop pushing me further. Thank you MYAD for the experience of a lifetime!
