Vienna Conversation Series event on “Youth as Agents of Change: Empowering young people to achieve disarmament goals” 

March 27th, 2025

On 18 March 2025, the Vienna Office of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations in Vienna, hosted an interactive panel discussion titled “Youth as Agents of Change: Empowering young people to achieve disarmament goals.” This edition of the Vienna Conversation Series commemorated the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness (IDDNPA), observed annually on 5 March. The event highlighted the critical role young people can play in achieving disarmament goals, including in connection with two of UNODA’s flagship youth empowerment programmes, the Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons and the Youth4Biosecurity Fellowship.  

Vienna Conversation Series event organized by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Vienna Office, in partnership with the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations in Vienna. 

Attendees were welcomed with inspiring opening remarks. Ms. Rebecca Jovin, Chief of the UNODA Vienna Office, emphasized youth as a powerful force for positive changes and their vital contributions to the advancement of disarmament. H.E. Mr. Tolendy Makeyev, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations in Vienna, underscored the importance of disarmament education and awareness across generations, particularly among young people. 

Moderated by Ms. Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), the panel featured three outstanding young leaders and professionals in the disarmament field. Ms. Joyce Fati Masvaya, a Youth Ambassador for the African Union Initiative’s Southern African Network for Biological Sciences, shared her experience as a graduate of UNODA’s Youth4Biosecurity Fellowship. She highlighted the challenges that youth from the Global South face in engaging with disarmament and how such initiatives have helped bridge these gaps. 

Ms. Kseniia Pirnavskaia, Engagement and Network Coordinator at Open Nuclear Network (ONN), spoke about how the Youth Leader Fund reignited her interest in disarmament and enabled her to connect with like-minded young leaders worldwide. Mr. Yerdaulet Rakhmatulla, CEO & Founder of JASA and Co-Founder of the Qazaq Nuclear Frontline Coalition (QNFC), reflected on his experiences with youth advocacy and mobilization by and for affected communities in advancing disarmament efforts.  

In addition to these inspiring testimonials, attendees engaged directly with panellists and UNODA staff during an interactive Q&A session. Mr. James Cooke, Programme Manager for the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons, and Ms. Marykate Monaghan, Associate Political Affairs Officer of UNODA and the lead for the Youth4Biosecurity Fellowship, provided insights into these programmes, including their objectives, activities, and expectations for future participants. 

Held at the Vienna International Centre in a hybrid format, the event welcomed students and young professionals, as well as representatives of the Vienna-based diplomatic community, academia and civil society. 

This edition of the Vienna Conversation Series was a powerful reminder of the agency of young people in shaping the future of disarmament. The discussion was filled with passion, personal stories, advocacy and commitment to contributing to peace and security. As all the speakers emphasized, when young leaders connect, learn, and collaborate, they become a force for real change. In this regard, UNODA’s initiatives aim both at educating and building a community where young people are empowered to act and inspire others to do the same.  

Did you miss the event? You can watch the recording here!  

You can also listen to it on Spotify here!

Calls for applications remain open through early April 2025!