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Applying for the “Her Turn Harvest” Initiative as a Rapporteur was a no-brainer for a young female Internationalist like me, especially at this crucial moment in global governance, where the world is about to select the international leader who will inherit 80 years of institutional and transnational challenges and continue paving the way for the pursuit of sustainable development, human rights protection, peace, and security, which are the pillars of the UN. Against the demise of multilateralism within UN Member States and civil society, especially among youth, the United Nations needs a resilient, visionary go-getter and a committed humanist at its forefront, now more than ever. And this experience made me realize that it’s high time women were allowed to show the world that we are capable of great things by conquering high-level decision-making spaces.
The “Her Turn Harvest” Initiative has not only helped me reflect more critically on the state of the world by listening to the candidates' takeaways and proposals regarding the need for effective reforms, but has also provided me with a platform to become an instigator of change. Pondering on the preparatory online sessions with renowned female experts, the decalogue-building process, the candidates' debate, and the overall rapporteur experience, I can only say that the initiative has exceeded my expectations, making me more aware of the stakes as well as the role that we, future generations, can play in reshaping the bargaining process rather than being given a token seat at the table.
Discussions with the GWL Voices network left me profoundly inspired. They empowered me to voice my concerns and ideas for the common global good alongside like-minded “UN nerds” during an action-packed day filled with interactive group activities, interviews and the United Nations Foundation’s Lead Next Generation Fellow’s valuable input in the workshops.
I left energized to continue believing in women and youth belonging in global decision-making processes and eager to foster their meaningful participation in those high-level spaces. Moreover, the fact that the current candidates for the position of next UN Secretary-General will be reading the recommendations on the decalogue we have developed makes me both proud and relieved to have contributed to such a transformative endeavor: it goes without saying that for the UN to be able to deliver effectively and regain trust from civil society, it has to listen to the most pressing public demands and act accordingly.
All in all, this whole experience has served as a stepping stone to bridge feminist and youth leadership perspectives with global governance issues, ensuring that tangible impact is not just discussed at the highest level but also implemented in the field. This humanly captivating and intellectually stimulating experience has reinforced the raison d’être of the “nothing for us without us” motto.
I’m profoundly grateful for this incredibly enriching and thought-provoking opportunity to shape the global agenda on a modest scale and to be part of a network of brilliant female colleagues and mentors determined to change the world for the better. I look forward to engaging in more instrumental initiatives, such as “Her Turn Harvest”.