“Media plays a critical role in social awareness,” said Zhou Qi, a youth media host and producer with Phoenix New Media, as she reflected on her participation in the UNFPA-led ICPD30 Global Youth Dialogue in Benin this April. 

Zhou Qi was one of the two Chinese youth delegates, supported by UNFPA China, attending the Dialogue to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference of Population and Development (ICPD), which launched a global programme of action to put people’s rights at the heart of sustainable development.

Using digital media to address mental health 

Having worked on a youth platform initiative for the Sustainable Development Goals for four years, Qi said the Benin Dialogue has given her new perspectives on young people’s health and development.

“This is my first time attending a youth-focused global event, and I learned about how the media in other countries are communicating sensitive topics like sexual and reproductive health,” said Qi.

During the event, she talked with young people from Myanmar and India about mental health – a topic she is particularly interested in, as she feels so many young people are struggling with establishing healthy relationships and communicating well with their partners due to social stigma and lack of knowledge and information. 

“I find we are so different in terms of each country's background and young people’s media preferences.” Qi found out that while Myanmar has placed young people’s awareness of mental health as a national priority and advocated for it on traditional media, India and China have focused more on the services provided to young people, taking advantage of digital technologies. What distinguishes young people from India and China is that one uses web portals more than the other and one uses phone apps most of the time.

“So I understand that we can’t have one approach that fits all, but we all have a common goal on young people’s empowerment and development,” commented Qi.

Time to act for climate change

“Women and girls are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” Zhang Qingfang, the other Chinese delegate to Benin, commented on the climate change session at the Dialogue, as she recalled her mother's pregnancy experience during the flood in Anhui Province in the 1990s.

As a manager and core member of China Youth Network, a youth voluntary organization dedicated to young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights in China, Qingfang has been active in advocating for the ICPD.

In the “Climate change, gender equality and population dynamics in an urbanised world” session, Qingfang joined a group discussion on climate change education for young people. 

She said climate change is just around us, but too often, the impacts of climate change are being neglected, especially in women and girls’ access to basic health and hygiene services. 

“Being empowered, young people can be active contributors to combat climate change and mitigate its impacts on women and girls through innovation.”

Pending further confirmation, Qingfang said she will propose to incorporate climate change in the CYN’s signature youth health education programme, which covers over 700 universities across the country.

In June 2024, UNFPA China will organize the ICPD30 National Dialogue with young people from the country. Zhou Qi and Zhang Qingfang will be invited to share their experiences in the Benin Global Youth Dialogue, and will discuss with other youth leaders about how the global experience can help accelerate the ICPD progress in China.