On May 9 to 10, the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference was held at the UN African Headquarters in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Social organizations in Beijing, including the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO), Peaceland Foundation, and Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) attended the conference and organized side events and photo exhibitions. The aim was to promote Beijing’s initiatives and achievements in protecting the rights of children and adolescents, leveraging the role of social organizations, and addressing climate change.

The CANGO, in collaboration with relevant organizations, hosted a side event titled “Shaping a Better Future for Our Next Generation”, which brought together social organizations from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. Chinese and international guests exchanged experiences on protecting the rights of children and adolescents and leveraging the important role of social organizations in this regard. The event offered valuable insights for the Summit of the Future. Bodiford, a subcommittee member of the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference, highly praised the significance of the side event, stating that fostering intergenerational communication and promoting social integration and progress will help create a better future for the next generation.

The CANGO also launched a photo exhibition titled “Youth for Climate”, which showcased the active role of Chinese youth in addressing climate change through videos, photos, brochures, and games. Social organizations, including the Peaceland Foundation and the YBF, participated in the “China Night” event organized by Viva La Vida, a Chinese social organization. They engaged in discussions with the head of the Civil Society Unit of the UN Department of Global Communications and other relevant social organizations on strengthening international exchanges and cooperation among social organizations and advancing the role of civil society in achieving global sustainable development.

Further Reading

The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference (69th edition) was the first to be held in Africa since its inception in 1947, attracting over 3,600 representatives from 2,750 social organizations, 64 national governments, seven international government organizations, and 37 UN departments. As a precursor to the Summit of the Future, scheduled for September at the UN Headquarters in New York, it focused on gathering input for the proposed Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact to be adopted at the summit, and discussing the next steps for the 20 Impact Coalitions formed by the civil society. The conference included an opening session, thematic consultations, parallel forums, thematic exhibitions, and a closing session. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and William Ruto, President of Kenya, attended and delivered speeches.