We, the leadership and delegates of the 2012 Group of Eight Young Summit representing over twenty countries and six continents including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America, met in Washington, DC on 4, 5 and 6 May 2012. In this period of global change with increasing social and economic challenges we affirm the commitment of our generation to sharing and fostering the values of freedom, democracy, education, peace and long term economic stability and development. We value the principles of a truly global network of nations united, which lives up to and exemplifies the guiding principles of the UN at its formation.
During our three-day Summit we discussed issues, challenges and victories that have been achieved in the most important areas of Global Security, Global Governance, Global Infrastructure, Global Entrepreneurship, and Global Health. Some common themes that emerged across these think tank areas include: 1) the need for more strategic partnerships between public and private entities and stakeholders at all levels, 2) the global crisis of unemployment with one billion youth currently entering – or seeking to enter - the workforce, 3) the need for access to capital, 4) leveraging technology to disseminate information across global networks, 5) the need for integrity at all levels of private and public sectors and increased transparency, and 6) activating systems and networks to address these global challenges.
