Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth. Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake was appointed as the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth in June 2017 at the age of 26. In this role, Jayathma works to expand the UN’s youth engagement and advocacy efforts across all four pillars of work – sustainable development, human rights, peace and security and humanitarian action – and serves as a representative of and advisor to the Secretary-General.
Pride Month is a crucial time of the year for queer communities and allies to honour the road towards equality walked thus far, celebrate diversity, and speak up about the injustices and prosecutions they continue to face as part of everyday life.
For young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and gender-diverse (LGBTIQ) people, this is an important time to feel less isolated, see more representation and support, and sometimes even to come out. However, not only has COVID-19 cancelled most of the celebrations, measures to combat the pandemic have also created an environment where their rights are further being violated.
Young queer people rely on safe and inclusive youth LGBTIQ centres, groups and specialist support services that affirm their identities, where they can be their true selves, relate to others, and learn and socialize in a safe, non-judgemental space and environment.
But despite being an essential service, a large part of LGBTIQ youth organizations and networks across the world are voluntarily led, operating with minimum to no finances. Some of them have successfully moved into digital spaces after COVID-19, but many others have had to close down, leaving a large number of young queer people without any support. In contrast to the popular myth that all youth are digitally connected, many young LGBTIQ people have no access to the internet and are digitally excluded. For others, online platforms are not safe spaces to be: This is where they can face abuse, harassment or get outed. Being on online platforms can also be a triggering experience and reminder of past trauma. Read more via World Economic Forum