Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals Consultation

Date: 2nd April 2013
Category: Respect for the views of the child

UNICEF UK consulted children and young people in the UK to understand more about the kind of world they want to live in, and the issues they view as important, as part of the global conversation regarding the development agenda after the Millennium Development Goals reach their deadline in 2015.

The consultation involved an online survey, to which UNICEF received 587 responses and a series of workshops with 89 children and young people. The responses were diverse and compelling, and demonstrate the important role that young people's voices can and should play in discussions about international development.

Despite the diversity of opinion and scope of ideas, there was strong consensus around some key areas:

• Children and young people should be informed and consulted in the post-2015 process and engaged in efforts to implement the new goals;
• Human rights are a priority for action;
• Freedom is the most important principle for children and young people, and the world they want to live in, and
• The new goals should be universal.

We also asked respondents what they would want to tell world leaders making the decisions that affect their future. They want world leaders to prioritise:

• Sustainability
• Equality and fairness
• World peace
• Consideration of future generations
• Listening to children and young people.
• Download the full consultation report here.