Summit of the Future or Summit ​of the Boomers?

scroll down to learn more

UN’s Registration Platform for the Summit of the Future, showing a clear age limit.

© 2024 United Nations, All Rights Reserved.

August 1 2024

The DMUN Foundation Faces Exclusion Despite Special Accreditation

The DMUN Foundation, a pioneering youth-led nonprofit committed to empowering young people ​worldwide, has recently encountered a significant barrier in its mission to amplify youth voices on ​the global stage. Despite being granted Special Accreditation to participate in the upcoming ​Summit of the Future—a landmark event organized by the United Nations to shape multilateralism ​for the 21st century—the Foundation has found itself unable to send its representatives. The ​reason? A systemic prohibition against minors.

The Summit of the Future, set to convene world leaders, experts, and civil society actors, is being ​hailed as a crucial platform to address the pressing challenges facing humanity. For organizations ​like the DMUN Foundation, which focuses on integrating youth perspectives into global ​governance, this event represented a unique opportunity to advocate for the inclusion of younger ​generations in policy discussions that will determine their future.

However, the accreditation of the DMUN Foundation was overshadowed by a disheartening reality: ​the very system that recognized the importance of youth participation at the Summit ​simultaneously barred minors from attending. This exclusion is not merely a bureaucratic oversight ​but a reflection of the entrenched systemic barriers that continue to sideline youth-led ​organizations in international fora.

The irony of the situation has not been lost on the DMUN Foundation and its supporters. On the one ​hand, the UN acknowledges the critical role that youth play in addressing global challenges—​youth are often the most vocal advocates for climate action, digital equity, and human rights. On the ​other hand, by enforcing age restrictions, the same system effectively silences these voices, ​relegating them to the sidelines in a discussion about their own future.

Jaewon Choi, the founder of the DMUN Foundation, expressed his frustration with the situation: ​"We are constantly told that youth are the leaders of tomorrow, yet when we try to engage in the ​processes that shape our future today, we are blocked by arbitrary rules. How can we build a better ​world when the very institutions that claim to support us are the ones keeping us out?"

This incident highlights a broader issue: the systemic resistance to genuine youth participation in ​international governance. Despite various UN resolutions and declarations that call for increased ​youth involvement, the reality is that young people—especially those under 18—are still ​marginalized in the spaces where critical decisions are made. This exclusion undermines the ​credibility of global institutions that claim to be inclusive and forward-thinking.

The DMUN Foundation's experience at the Summit of the Future is a stark reminder that the path to ​meaningful youth participation is still fraught with challenges. While the Foundation continues to ​work tirelessly to ensure that youth voices are heard, this latest setback underscores the need for a ​fundamental shift in how international institutions engage with young people. It is not enough to ​grant special accreditation or offer lip service to the idea of youth inclusion; there must be a ​concerted effort to remove the systemic barriers that prevent young people from participating fully ​in global governance.

As the world looks to the future, it is imperative that we reconsider who is being allowed to shape it. ​If the Summit of the Future is truly to be a turning point for global governance, it must be inclusive ​of all voices—especially those of the younger generations who will inherit the outcomes of the ​decisions made today. Otherwise, it risks becoming just another "Summit of the Boomers," where ​the perspectives of the youth are acknowledged in theory but dismissed in practice.

The DMUN Foundation remains committed to challenging these barriers and advocating for a world ​where young people are not just seen as the leaders of tomorrow but are recognized as essential ​contributors to the solutions needed today.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Foundation strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender ​identity, religion, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

For Foreign Donors

Donors who have foreign citizenship or registered in a foreign country (for entities) may be subject to local regulations that may prohibit them from receiving tax exemptions ​from donations to a foreign non-profit entity or being able to contribute at all. Please check local regulations on contributing to a foreign non-profit entity prior to contributing ​to the Foundation.

Important Notice for All Donors

The DMUN Foundation, its affiliates, and its associates do not provide financial, legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal, financial and/or tax advisors ​before making any financial decisions, including donations to non-profits.

Declaration on Political Independence and Neutrality

The Foundation does not accept donations or contributions from any governments or entities owned by a government due to its policy on political neutrality. No donor, ​regardless of individual or entity, or amount contributed has the right to influence the Foundation’s decisions or any part of its operations.

Statements included in this website may not reflect the Foundation’s opinions on such matters, but opinions of certain members of the Foundation. An opinion that reflects the ​whole of the Foundation or its associated member organizations will be expectedly indicated and stated.

The Foundation reserves the right to refuse donations, contributions, or partnership offers if the Foundation determines the provided contributions/donations to be from illegal, ​unethical, or immoral sources.

Communications Disclaimer

In all emails of The Foundation, TLS, a standard encryption protocol for emails, is used. These emails can include your personal, confidential or other sensitive information ​(“Private Information”). If you or your entity does not utilise TLS, there is a greater risk of unauthorised disclosure of Private Information, which The Foundation does not hold ​responsibility of.

Notice on Grant Provisions

The DMUN Foundation, and its constituent organisations is registered as a non-profit government to the Republic of Korea.

The DMUN Foundation reserves the right to review a gift request/fundraiser request/volunteer application, and if required, withhold or cancel the gift/fundraiser/volunteer ​application if the individual or entity has: gained the funds/resources for the gift in unlawful, immoral or unethical ways, are not legally allowed to provide a gift to a foreign non-​profit organisation, are prohibited under the Inter-Korea Cooperation Act or other relevant regulations from the Republic of Korea, included in the United Nations Security ​Council Consolidated List, or prohibited from contributing to The Foundation through a resolution from the Board of Trustees.

© 2024 DMUN Foundation, All Rights Reserved

All content in the website is available under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 KR, unless specifically mentioned.