Thursday May 14, 2026
Thursday May 14, 2026
Thursday, 14 May 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Fathima Haneekah Rahil
Representing the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN), its Global Coordinator, Fathima Haneekah Rahil of Sri Lanka, participated in the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum held from 14 to 16 April 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York following an official invitation extended by United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Lok Bahadur Thapa.
Held under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030,” the forum brought together young leaders, policymakers, diplomats, civil society representatives, and development practitioners from across the world to advance discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusive development, and meaningful youth participation in global decision-making processes. The main ECOSOC Youth Forum sessions were attended by senior United Nations leadership including UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Dr. Felipe Paullier.
During the forum, CYPAN collaborated alongside the Commonwealth Youth Council in youth-led engagements and high-level discussions focused on strengthening Commonwealth youth cooperation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development efforts. As part of these engagements, Haneekah Rahil was invited as a speaker at the side event titled “From Promise to Progress: Youth-Led Action for the SDGs,” organised by the Commonwealth Youth Council together with the Government of Ghana, the Government of Sierra Leone, and UNESCO. The session brought together ministers, diplomats, youth leaders, and development stakeholders to discuss accelerating youth-led action and partnerships towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Haneekah Rahil, who is also the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Colombo North, further represented Rotary International engagement at the United Nations in her capacity as the International Service Chair of her club. During the visit, she exchanged the Rotary Club of Colombo North flag with Rotary International Representative to the United Nations, PDG Matts Ingemanson, reflecting Rotary’s longstanding relationship and collaboration with the United Nations.
Haneekah Rahil currently serves as Co-Chair for Programs and Partnerships within the Task Force for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026, which will be held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from 1 to 4 November 2026. In this role, she contributes towards youth engagement, strategic partnerships, and program development connected to the summit.
Reflecting on the experience, Haneekah Rahil emphasised the importance of ensuring that young people are not merely participants in global conversations, but active contributors in shaping policies, partnerships, and solutions that directly impact communities worldwide.
Her participation at the ECOSOC Youth Forum marked another important milestone for youth leadership within Commonwealth networks and highlighted the growing contribution of young Sri Lankan professionals in global governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development spaces.
