Liberia Secures UN Youth Office Support for UNGA 81 Side Event

Liberia Secures UN Youth Office Support for UNGA 81 Side Event

New York, 21 July 2026 – The Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, today met with Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the United Nations, at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting resulted in Dr. Paullier's commitment to headline Liberia's Youth, Peace and Security UN Security Council’s side event at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled for 18 September 2026.

The event, Rooting and Rising: Investing in Liberia's PATHWAYs Vision for Youth, will bring together governments, UN agencies, foundations, and global partners to celebrate Liberia's progress on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda and engage with the Ministry's ten-year reform vision, PATHWAYs, as a model for youth-centered development in fragile and transitioning states.

Dr. Paullier and Minister Kruah also agreed to deepen collaboration between the Ministry and the UN Youth Office on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, with a focus on amplifying Liberia's progress in implementing its National Action Plan on YPS and strengthening West African perspectives on youth development and peacebuilding. He commended Liberia’s progress, describing the country’s work as an important contribution. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to translating the global YPS framework into concrete national action.

"I am thrilled to see important figures in global youth development endorse what we are building in Liberia; work that is deeply grounded in our local context but clearly aligned with global thinking. And to see that work begin to galvanize real commitments and support, that is what makes this moment so significant," said Minister Kruah.

The meeting was facilitated by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations and was attended by Deputy Permanent Representative, Baba Sillah. The Ministry of Youth and Sports extends sincere appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their coordination and continued support to the Ministry's international engagement agenda.