A YOUNG Dundrum student is preparing to take her place on Ireland’s next delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Aisling O’Boyle (22) was selected for prestigious role that will see her work closely with Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the UN. While in New York Aisling will have the opportunity to represent the youth of Ireland during sessions of the UN committee dealing with human rights issues.
The programme is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish Aid, and the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), which represents organisations working with over 380,000 young people each year.
Valerie Duffy of the NYCI said: “The UN Youth Delegate Programme provides an exciting opportunity for young people in Ireland. After a competitive selection process which saw applications from all over the country, we are delighted to have selected this young person who will work throughout 2018 and 2019 to highlight youth issues at local, national and global levels.”
The delegates will be engaging in extensive consultation throughout the year. Those holding youth events in Ireland can contact unyouth@nyci.ie to invite the Irish UN Youth Delegates to attend. The delegates will also address a Youth Summit as part of One World Week organised by the NYCI on November 21.
Aisling has just completed a BA Honours degree in Political Science and Geography at Trinity College, Dublin. Aisling is currently a Communications and Education Stagiaire with European Movement Ireland and previously interned with Women for Election.
In March 2018, Aisling represented the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts at the United Nations 62nd Commission on the Status of Women. She lobbied for the unique needs of girls and young women to be recognised, particularly their rights to education and healthcare, to live a life free from violence, and to be included in decision-making.
Aisling has been a member of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) since the age of six. She volunteers on a local, regional, and national level and has run a number of advocacy projects with IGG. She was invited to speak about intergenerational climate justice at the launch of the 2015 White Paper on Renewable Energy following her advocacy about COP21. She received the Dean’s Leadership Award for Volunteering from Trinity in 2017 in recognition of her work with IGG.
While at university, Aisling was the public relations officer for Trinity’s Society for International Affairs, working with many external organisations including embassies and development NGOs. She also held positions in Trinity’s Social and Political Review, the Student’s Union, and the Environmental Society. Aisling was the recipient of the 2017 James Killen Award for Political Science and Geography.
Aisling is passionate about empowering young people to be politically engaged, tackling inequalities, and addressing climate change. She believes that quality education, both formal and non-formal, is key to achieving youth empowerment and to eradicating inequalities.
Aisling believes that young people need more meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making and that the Sustainable Development Goals should be achieved in collaboration with young people.