Statement of the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference on “The Role of Youth in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals Through Digital Transformation and Innovation”

On the afternoon of September 16, 2023, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi , the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference held its closing session. At the session, the Conference adopted the Conference Declaration on “The Role of Youth in Promoting the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals through Digital Transformation and Innovation”. The National Assembly's Electronic Information Portal respectfully presents the full text of the Conference Declaration:

We, with over 300 young parliamentarians, are present at the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference from September 14-17, 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam, to reaffirm our commitment to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly through digital transformation and innovation. Our average age is 38.4 years, and approximately 44% of us are female parliamentarians. Attending the Conference are representatives from global and regional organizations, youth groups, startups, young intellectuals, and leaders from the IPU and Vietnam. We are delighted that the Conference coincides with September 15th, the United Nations International Day for Democracy.

Our conference in Vietnam marks the 8th anniversary of the Hanoi Declaration on the SDGs, adopted by the Inter -Parliamentary Union in 2015, and sets out the commitment of parliamentarians to addressing global priorities. With the 2030 Agenda halfway through, this is a crucial and decisive moment.

We are concerned that with less than seven years remaining to achieve the SDGs, only 12% of the targets are currently being implemented effectively, while 50% are still moderately to severely behind schedule. These findings demand not only serious consideration but also more decisive action, particularly regarding the gaps that remain in achieving the goals for education, gender equality, employment, economic growth, climate action, peace , justice, and institutions, as these are especially important concerns for young people. There are still 258 million children out of school, while we need universal education that leaves no one behind. The rate of young people who are unemployed, out of school, or not trained (NEET) is worsening, rising to 23.4%. Young women still face more challenges than men and have only about two-thirds the employment opportunities of men. We also haven't achieved balance when it comes to the representation of women and youth in politics. Less than 27% of parliamentarians worldwide are women, and only 2.8% are 30 years old or younger. We need to work faster, more creatively, and with greater urgency to achieve the common agenda that all nations have agreed upon.

Our world is witnessing rapid technological advancements, digital transformation, and innovation. We need to harness these potentials to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, especially those crucial for young people. For example, in education, digital tools can open up educational and training opportunities for more young people through online platforms. By fostering innovation, we can help youth-led startups thrive, creating more jobs for young men and women. As these businesses excel at adapting to or mitigating the impacts of climate change, investing in the younger generation in green sectors in the future could yield even greater positive impacts.

The opportunities ahead are clear and wide open for everyone, yet a significant gender gap persists. The fact that 26% of women own smartphones compared to men is unreasonable. Digital transformation and innovation should be opportunities to promote gender equality by facilitating new avenues for women to empower their self-determination.

As key innovators, technology users, and drivers of technological development, young people are playing a crucial role in placing digital transformation and innovation at the heart of efforts to accelerate the progress of the SDGs, making them more accessible to everyone and ensuring no one is left behind. Today's young people are taking on many important roles in the private sector, such as CEOs of technology companies and innovative startups, or investors in digital transformation. And in politics, the role of young people needs to be developed similarly.

We, young parliamentarians, know how to tackle complex issues in a digital landscape, and we understand best the pulse of youth and future generations of our country. Our role is to bring their will and aspirations to the parliamentary arena. Young people are familiar with new technologies; they possess the full potential to drive new solutions for the benefit of all humanity, through entrepreneurship, the development of new technologies, and the exploitation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We reiterate our call for parliamentarians and political leaders to take transformative action to engage more young people in politics by participating in the IPU Campaign “I Support Youth Participation in Parliament!”.

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the strategic importance of digital tools in our parliament. These tools can contribute to a more comprehensive and transparent legislative process, oversight, and decision-making on important issues, and enhance public participation. Real-time interactive channels can enable instant interaction between constituents and representatives. By facilitating this positive transformation, digital transformation can empower citizens, especially young people, to actively participate in the political process and contribute to shaping policy decisions. For parliamentarians, these digital tools offer greater opportunities to integrate their work and private lives, particularly for those with family responsibilities. We welcome the SDG Self-Assessment Toolkit as an innovative approach to help parliaments integrate the SDGs into their specific work and contribute to more consistent and sustainable effective implementation of the SDGs.

Science and technology are fundamental to promoting peace and sustainable development, and also offer solutions to today's complex challenges. Science enables evidence-based and fully informed policy-making, whether it's about environmental protection, development, or conflict resolution. Science can be the basis of knowledge-seeking and solutions for the common good, creating a neutral platform for cooperation and fostering peaceful coexistence. We, as young parliamentarians, can play a crucial role in developing a generation of tech-savvy and problem-solving youth to promote peace and sustainable development.

When harnessing the power of technology and innovation in a changing world, we must strive to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing unintended risks. This includes adopting an ethical and prudent approach to science and technology to ensure they are used for the benefit of humanity and the environment, while also safeguarding privacy, security, and well-being. Simultaneously, the process of promoting digital transformation and innovation should not foster global homogenization, but rather respect the richness of diverse cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Cultural diversity is a strength for sustainable development; it should not only be protected but also cherished, as it is an indispensable element that can further foster creativity and innovation.

To help advance the implementation of the SDGs through digital transformation and innovation, we young parliamentarians have discussed and proposed the following actions:

1. In the field of Digital Transformation, we call upon and propose to the member parliaments:

a) Update parliamentary regulations and working methods so that MPs can participate and apply them online, promote greater digital transformation, leverage interactive platforms to support direct dialogue between voters and MPs, and encourage the participation of groups, especially young people, in parliamentary activities;

b) Consider studying the establishment or strengthening of forward-looking parliamentary committees, such as Future Commissions and mechanisms tailored to the specific conditions of each country, to help parliaments anticipate and respond to long-term trends or potential threats, while ensuring the participation of young people in those bodies;

c) Ensure all MPs are equipped with the necessary knowledge and technical support to fully participate in online legislative procedures; enhance the application of virtual assistant platforms to support MPs; utilize AI tools to improve the quality of legislation; and build a digital library for national legal documents.

d) Enacting laws and policies to bridge the digital divide and ensure accessibility for all, through measures including low access costs, building digital infrastructure, and enhancing professional skills;

e. Develop a suitable legal framework and strengthen international cooperation in protecting the digital sovereignty of nations to create a safe, healthy, and sustainable online environment;

f. Enact appropriate policies and procedures to prevent and respond to all forms of online harassment and violence against Members of Parliament, including violence against female Members of Parliament;

g. Support the development of effective mechanisms and methods for collecting information and data to monitor the implementation of the SDGs;

h. Support the role of the United Nations in developing consensus-based standards and legal frameworks for cybersecurity, digital transformation, and AI.

2. In the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we call upon and propose to the member parliaments:

a) Strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through the development of a legal framework for innovation and entrepreneurship, increasing the budget to support youth-led businesses, and entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives through funding, financial and technical support aligned with the SDGs, with a focus on empowering young women;

b) Promote the development of educational programs that focus on the skills needed to prepare the next generation – a generation of young innovators and entrepreneurs who prioritize digital skills;

c) Calling on the IPU to consider feasible solutions within its existing mechanisms to engage in innovation and digital transformation issues;

d) To promote a global network of young parliamentarians on digital transformation and innovation, within the framework of the Young Parliamentarians Forum, in close coordination with the IPU Innovation Centre;

e. Strengthening the relationship between the scientific community and parliament to create more space for science to contribute to peace and sustainable development, with a focus on prioritizing the participation of young people;

f. Encourage entrepreneurial and innovative activities focusing on youth and students, especially women; strengthen gender mainstreaming in relation to the SDGs; and develop a separate program for digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship.

g. Promoting innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship in various fields, with a focus on FoodTech, is a way to make a positive contribution to the implementation of the SDGs, address food security issues, and end hunger.

3. In the cultural sphere, we call upon and propose to the member parliaments:

a) Develop a common parliamentary approach to establishing a framework of principles and values ​​in decision-making, research, and development in science and technology, such as the draft IPU Code of Conduct on Scientific and Technological Ethics, to ensure that the development and application of science and technology are carried out responsibly, ethically, and sustainably;

b) To make a strong contribution to efforts to prevent online violence against women and girls, through promoting gender equality, controlling hate speech, and managing AI so that women and girls are protected and new technologies are not gender-biased;

c) Strengthening the framework law for data protection and other legal tools, especially for personal data and cyber threats, and promoting open-source and transparent algorithms;

d) Promoting inclusiveness, intercultural dialogue, and respect for cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge as drivers of sustainable development, prosperity, and peaceful coexistence;

e. Developing the role of culture as a driving force for sustainable development; committing to protecting and promoting cultural diversity, affirming the role of the creative economy and cultural industries; affirming the role of culture and cultural diversity in addressing current challenges facing humanity, especially climate change, and combating the illegal trafficking and smuggling of cultural assets;

f. Promoting respect for cultural diversity in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; strengthening cooperation in economic innovation, significantly increasing labor productivity, and creating new drivers for economic growth. Simultaneously, helping state agencies operate more transparently and efficiently on the digitalization path, aiming to narrow the development gap and ensure national sovereignty and individual privacy in cyberspace, while also safeguarding national sovereignty.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Vietnamese National Assembly for its thoughtful, professional, and successful hosting of this Global Young Parliamentarians Conference and for supporting the participation of young parliamentarians, youth, and the promotion of the SDGs through the IPU and other international and regional inter-parliamentary mechanisms. We are ready to be partners in the mission of harnessing the power of technology and innovation to serve the SDGs, in a responsible manner, ensuring that no one is left behind, especially future generations, while respecting the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. We will stand together to keep our promise in the Hanoi Declaration 2015 and respond to the urgent call of the 2030 Agenda.

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