MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, August 13, 2026/APO Group/ —
With the participation of the delegation from Equatorial Guinea, represented by Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba, the summit placed young generations at the center of the debate on the future and governance of AI.
To commemorate International Youth Day, the United Nations headquarters in New York hosted the Youth and Artificial Intelligence Summit, a historic gathering that brought together more than 600 young delegates from around the world. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea was represented at this global event by its delegation, headed by Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba, Permanent Representative to the UN.
Under the theme “Different contexts, common aspirations”, International Youth Day 2026 recognizes that, although the lives of young people are shaped by diverse local and national realities, their aspirations are profoundly similar: dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation, decent work, quality education and a sustainable future.
This year’s theme pays special attention to young people living in:
• Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
• Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
These communities face interconnected challenges such as poverty, climate change, geographic isolation, economic limitations, and unequal access to digital technologies. Despite these obstacles, young people continue to demonstrate exceptional resilience, leadership, and innovation.
“Young people are already leading the way as organizers and innovators. But to go further, they need access to the skills that will shape the future, from critical thinking and problem-solving to digital literacy,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The United Nations Youth Bureau emphasized that technological change is not a future projection, but a present reality. It urged the equitable development of human-centered skills (critical thinking, empathy, and resilience) and AI literacy, recognizing young people as co-creators of educational policies and models.
Key subtopics for 2026
1. Global Solidarity: Promoting international cooperation, strategic alliances and equitable access to resources so that young people around the world can thrive.
2. Shared Challenges: Dialogue and collective responses to cross-cutting issues such as employment, education, climate change, digital inclusion and mental health.
3. Youth Innovation: Recognition of practical solutions devised by young people in climate action, digital entrepreneurship and social innovation in resource-limited environments.
The global situation highlights the urgency of these discussions:
• The world is currently home to 1.3 billion young people (between 15 and 24 years old), the largest generation in history.
• By 2050, 69% of young people will live in low- and middle-income countries (up from 59% in 2025).
• Between 2025 and 2050, the youth population in high and middle income countries is projected to decline by almost 24%.
• Injuries account for nearly half of youth deaths in low-income countries.
• Children and young people are adopting AI technology three times faster than adults, exposing themselves to unique opportunities and risks.
During the summit, delegates participated in debates and workshops organized by the International Youth Organization and presented a Youth-Led Declaration on AI Policy and Governance. This document will directly contribute to the UN’s efforts to define digital governance, including the Digital Global Compact.
This milestone complements previous UN initiatives such as the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Youth Advisory Board and the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum.
Prior to the meeting, the International Labour Organization (ILO) published a report warning of a new surge in youth unemployment figures worldwide following the pandemic.
The study indicates that 6.1% of jobs currently held by young people aged 15 to 29 are in the categories most exposed to AI automation, which could displace millions of workers in the coming years if retraining and continuous education processes are not guaranteed.