A 22- year-old youth representative of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) from Bacolod City spoke on youth and crime prevention before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on June 6.
“We ask you to give young people the space and the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the decision making process and development of crime prevention policies,” Junbert Pabon of Barangay Bata told representatives from 193 member states.
Pabon, a 2021 Kofi Annan Changemaker, Kofi Annan Messengers of Peace Hero and WOSM youth representative for peace, challenged the UNGA to invest in young people and to allow them to be part of developing multilateral solutions and policies to protect the rights of young people who are victims of poverty and crimes.
Pabon’s experience comes from his own community service, helping bring better conditions, joy and hope to children and young people in juvenile detention, WOSM said.
It was an honor and privilege to represent WOSM and young people, especially the children in conflict with the law at the UNPGA High-Level Debate on Enhancing Youth Mainstreaming in Crime Prevention Policies, Pabon said.
“It was humbling to wear the purple scarf for the first time in a global event and to know that I have the full support of the movement as I set foot on the podium. I am so proud of Scouting’s impact in the lives of many young people around the world,” he added.
Pabon finished his elementary studies at St. Benilde School in Barangay Mansilingan, junior high school at the Negros Occidental High School and senior high school at St. John’s Institute, all in Bacolod City.
He is currently a medical technology graduating student at the University of Santo Tomas.*