YDC endorse Canada’s first all-women delegation to attend the 2021 Youth G20 (Y20) Summit

Young Diplomats of Canada (YDC) is proud to endorse Canada’s first all-women delegation to attend the 2021 Youth G20 (Y20) Summit hosted by Italy. In light of COVID-19, this year’s Y20 Summit will take place virtually from July 19th to 23rd. The Summit will bring together youth delegates from all G20 member countries and the European Union to discuss and form policy recommendations. The Y20 Summit includes the negotiation and formation of a Y20 Communiqué for G20 leaders’ attention.

In February, three delegates were selected from a competitive pool of applicants after a rigorous national competition. Biographical info on YDC’s delegates to the 2021 Y20 Summit is accessible here. The YDC 2021 Y20 Delegates are as follows:

• Laura Bradbury, Head Delegate;

• Keely Bass, Communications Coordinator; and

• Jamilah Bahay, Engagement Coordinator

The Y20 delegation this year comprises an incredibly accomplished group of young women from across Canada. This delegation represents the diverse realities of youth across the country, with representation by Keely Bass from Whitehorse, Jamilah Bahay from Calgary, and Laura Bradbury from Ottawa. 

Over the past few months, the Y20 delegation completed a national youth consultation and will be using what they heard to inform policy proposals on key issues affecting young people. Inclusive workplaces, green job transitions and accessible education were some of the top priorities listed by Canadian youth. Directly engaging global leaders in government and civil society provides an opportunity for the incorporation of youth perspectives within the highest levels of governance. 

This year's Y20 Summit will focus on three policy priority areas:

• Innovation, Digitalization and the Future of Work, represented by Laura Bradbury

• Inclusion and Equal Opportunities, represented by Keely Bass; and

• Sustainability, Climate Change and Energy, represented by Jamilah Bahay

During the week of July 19th to 23rd, the Delegates will be providing an inside look at the 2021 Y20 Summit through YDC social media channels. You can follow the delegation's live updates via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“Global challenges require global solutions; this requires a bottom-up approach, an inclusionary approach, and an interdisciplinary way of thinking about the issues of today and the problems of tomorrow. Youth voices are essential to ensuring equity in our policies that will carry through from today to empower our children in the future.”

• Laura Bradbury, Head Delegate

Quick facts:

• The purpose of the Y20 is to ensure that the decisions and agreements made by Ministers and leaders of the G20 fully reflect the needs and views of young people. It is a unique opportunity for the youth voice to be heard at the highest levels of international decision making.

• The Y20 Canada delegation has engaged with Canada’s Minister of International Development, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Canada’s Ambassadors to the UN and WTO and the AFN Yukon Regional Chief. 

• Every year, Young Diplomats of Canada recruits young leaders from across the nation to represent Canada at the Y20 and Y7 Summits. 

To learn more about the YDC Delegation to the 2021 Y20 Summit or to schedule media engagements with the delegates, please contact y20.delegation@youngdiplomats.ca