Online, 21 November 2024 – Corruption knows no boundaries and no borders, affecting all generations and threatening the dreams and aspirations of young and old. Corruption is a denied job opportunity for a qualified graduate because positions are sold to the highest bidder. Corruption is a polluted river and a razed forest because regulations were ignored for a bribe. It’s the understocked hospital where lives are lost because life-saving equipment never arrives.
In the ongoing battle against corruption, a new generation of integrity leaders is stepping forward to drive change. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board has officially welcomed 21 new members, bringing the total to 41 young advocates from 42 countries, with 20 returning for another two-year tenure.
Established under the UNODC GRACE Initiative – the Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment – YouthLED Board serves as a pioneering platform for young people to collaborate and advocate for anti-corruption worldwide.
The Board’s impact speaks for itself. In just a few years, its members have redefined what it means to engage youth in global anti-corruption efforts. At the 10th Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (CoSP10), Dexter Arvin Yang, YouthLED Board Member from the Philippines, delivered the first-ever youth speech at the world’s largest anti-corruption gathering. “It is not fair that you are discussing our future without us,” he declared, challenging the notion that young people are too inexperienced to lead in this arena.
YouthLED members have also contributed to developing a roadmap to advance non-governmental actors' involvement in anti-corruption, a document presented as an official paper at CoSP10. Young people led regional consultations in their communities to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. These efforts highlight their ability to influence policy at the highest levels while ensuring that youth perspectives are not only included but prioritized.
YouthLED has also developed actionable tools to empower young advocates everywhere. Their step-by-step guide, “Taking Action Against Corruption”, offers a strategy for youth to design and implement anti-corruption initiatives, whether at the community, regional, or international level. From educating oneself about local anti-corruption laws to finding allies and designing inclusive, creative strategies, the guide inspires young people to take action—and to do so safely.
“We do not have all the answers, but we hope, through this toolkit, to build a community of young advocates against corruption,” YouthLED members wrote, emphasizing the collective power of youth.
“I was taught that integrity isn’t just about being honest, but about standing firm in your principles, especially when it’s challenging or uncomfortable,” Grecia Flores Hinostroza, newly appointed YouthLED board member from Peru, said.
During the launch event of the Board, young people talked about how their integrity has been challenged, how corruption can lead to violence and undermine peace and how young people can shape a culture of integrity within their communities. Driven by a sense of urgency to promote transparency, equity and accountability, this group of young people emphasized the importance of standing up against corruption, fostering peace and building trust within their communities and beyond.
The work of the YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board is a testament to their collective commitment to a better future and a reminder that the future does not happen to us - it is shaped by us. And creating a better future is a shared responsibility of everyone – not just those in leadership positions.
Fighting injustice means going against the tide, challenging the status quo and not conforming to oppressive norms or systems. It is never easy, and these young people are already shaping tomorrow’s integrity in their daily lives, one small step at a time.
