Interview with Emma van Nieuwenhuizen, Dutch UN Youth Representative Human Rights and Security and Delegate to the ECOSOC Youth Forum
Between 15 and 17 April, the ECOSOC Youth Forum took place in New York, providing a platform for young people to the United Nations to share their views on transforming the world into a fairer, greener, and more sustainable place. Together with the Ambassador for Youth, Education, and Work, Jurriaan Middelhoff, one of the Dutch Youth Representatives - Emma van Nieuwenhuizen – had the opportunity to visit the forum and amplify the voices of youth!
In this interview, Emma shares her experiences of the ECOSOC Youth Forum, her motivations to become a Youth Representative, and her ambitions for the youth agenda more broadly.
Emma, good to see you! Can you tell us, what does a Youth Representative like you do in her day-to-day life?
‘So, every year four Youth Representatives to the Dutch National Youth Council are elected to represent the voices of Dutch youth. Together they function as the bridge between youth and both national and international politics. I was elected as the new Youth Representative for the mandate of Human Rights and Security. Together with a group of about fifteen enthusiastic young people, my team actively advocates for issues concerning these themes.
Part of my job is to talk to as many different young people in The Netherlands as possible, in all their variety and diversity. This can range from youth at vocational schools to higher professional education to youth in juvenile detention centers or connected to youth care. We ask them about their concerns, their ideas, but also their thoughts on potential solutions concerning human rights and safety. Most importantly, we listen to their voices. Ultimately, we take all their concerns, questions, and ideas with us into international politics – to the United Nations, in my case. That is where I amplify the voices of these young people!’
That sounds like a great responsibility! What do your daily responsibilities look like?
‘In my daily life, I have a bachelor’s degree in Security Studies. Following this summer, I hope to start a master’s degree in International Crimes and Conflict, so I can continue in the domain of security but in a different area.
And, I have also been working as a military working student at the Defensity College for some time. I’ve received military training and work as a reservist. In this role, I contribute to a range of projects across departments within the Dutch Ministry of Defense. At this moment, I bring a new perspective to complex security issues – encouraging reflection within a defense sector that can, at times, lean on established routines. By offering alternative angles and asking different questions, I help create space for renewal in a system that needs to adapt to a world in motion. ’
You clearly have a big interest in the security and defense domain. What makes you interested in working on these themes?
‘Security and defense are not only pressing issues in today’s world, they're deeply intertwined with international dynamics, power structures, and societal resilience. What drew me in initially was an academic course on national security, covering topics like counter-terrorism. That course sparked something: I found myself diving deeper, far beyond the classroom, exploring how these themes shape both policy and everyday life. It’s the intersection of geopolitics, strategy, and societal impact that continues to fascinate me.’
What inspired you in the first place to become a Dutch Youth Representative?
‘That’s a long story… It actually started when I was quite young, about eleven years old. At one point, I encountered the story of an Iraqi girl that had been raised in the place where my school was located. She was about to be deported, and her story affected me enormously. I started collecting signatures and writing letters: I turned out to be quite the activist! For the first time, I realized that young voices are often not included in policy. It felt as if young people were not being taken seriously!
When I turned fifteen, I set up an organization around mental health among young people. I talked to many policy makers, people working for the child helpline, important actors in the field of mental health. However, a lot of people told me “wait until you grow up, then try again.” That was frustrating. From that pain, not being heard as a young person despite sharing important message, I started this job. Because I do not want other young people to experience that feeling, ever.’
Amplifying the voices of youth was exactly what you did at the ECOSOC Youth Forum. What was it like?
‘It was my very first experience with the United Nations, very overwhelming yet super inspiring! With a schedule filled with bilateral meetings, plenary sessions, and side events, I had the opportunity to encounter a lot of inspiring people and visions. A moment that stood out for me? Of course, the plenary meetings are where official statements are made, but personally I experienced that real connection occurs in the moments in-between meetings: in the hallways, in smaller conversations with other youth delegates, in the unexpected.
One moment that truly inspired me happened during the plenary session about SDG 14 (Oceans). At one point, a little boy of about eleven years old started speaking, opening with the words: “I am the youngest person speaking to you today.” With his small voice, he managed to silence the entire room, and urged attendees to believe in the power of young people again. To truly see what young people can achieve once they are given the stage. Once they are given the chance. Listening to his message, that was truly inspiring to me. His words really captured the importance of such a youth forum: sharing the power of young people! ’
That sounds like Meaningful Youth Participation (MYP) in practice. What does MYP mean to you?
‘It is easy for actors to claim that they work on "meaningful" youth participation. The term is easily thrown around quite a lot and conversations on the matter often remain at a surface level. Yes, obviously, all actors find youth participation important. However, what is missing are the concrete actions following from such words alone. The active inviting of young people to the decision table. The inclusion of youth in conversations on topics they have knowledge and expertise on. On human rights, on security and conflict, on climate change. Young people themselves are knowledgeable, and more importantly, they have personal experiences related to these themes. Yet still, they are not sufficiently included in decision making processes.
The practical challenge to meaningful youth participation was sometimes even visible at a Youth Forum as ECOSOC… A lot of young people were invited and flown into the United Nations, yet at times a number of youth did not even fit the room. Sometimes, there would be lines of youth eagerly waiting to be part of the plenary discussions, yet no space was left for them. It shows: meaningful youth participation is not just something you claim, it comes with concrete and practical considerations. Those in power should truly consider young people as valuable and knowledgeable discussion partners. And space needs to be created to amplify the voices of youth!’
What is something you are proud of so far, in your role as Youth Representative?
‘That’s such a difficult, yet important, question! I see this role as an enormous responsibility. On the one hand towards all Dutch youth that I represent, on the other towards the youth representatives that I am succeeding. I hope to carry their efforts forward with dedication, persistence, and a strong sense of purpose. For me, that means working hard on the themes within my mandate, while staying grounded in my own values and energy that drive my long-term commitment to meaningful change!’
In this journey as a Youth Representative, what do you hope to achieve?
‘To speak to as many young people as possible! I have noticed that talking to different young people is ultimately what gives me the most energy. Maybe initially I thought that speaking as part of the Dutch delegation to the United Nations – behind an official sign stating “Kingdom of the Netherlands” – would be the most exciting part. But actually, I’ve realized that I get a lot more energy from connecting with young voices, anywhere. Be it in front of a school class, in an unexpected conversation, or when youth come up to me and share their ideas.
In the upcoming year, I hope to be able to hear their voices as much as possible – particularly on subjects as hybrid war and mis- and disinformation. On the topic of geopolitical conflicts. But also on the nexus between climate, security and conflict, the three pillars I will mostly focus on.’
You yourself had the chance to speak some words during plenary sessions at the Youth Forum. What were some of the messages you shared?
‘During a plenary session on meaningful youth participation, I had the opportunity to speak. Part of my main message to the Member States’ delegations was:
Every decision made in this room will echo far beyond it— as policy, as precedent, as lived reality. Young people may not have written the first chapter of this story, but we are already shaping how it ends—and how it will be remembered.
Is there a message you want to share with young people across the world?
‘It is easy to fall back on the idea that, as a young person, you have to wait until you are good enough to do something. Or to wait until you have all the information, before you take the next step. Such thoughts can hold you back, especially when you are young. It is something I have experienced myself as well. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: don’t wait until you feel completely ready. You can move mountains even when you’re only sixty percent there. Truth is, most people are figuring it out as they go, including me. But by showing up and taking the leap, you create momentum and often, unexpected doors start to open.
Far too often, young people are told to wait their turn. I reject that idea. Young voices matter, and it’s our collective responsibility to make space for them, to hand them the mic, not just a seat in the room.’
Emma’s mandate as Dutch UN Youth Representative Human Rights and Security will last until October, 2026. For any idea or suggestion related to the topic of human rights and security, she is more than willing to connect!