Final Event of the Series: Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay

During the final event of the "Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay" series, held at the Legislative Palace on May 21, government officials and United Nations representatives reflected on the outcomes of this initiative, which took place over more than two years and gathered around 2,000 participants.

"Uruguay is an example to the world" and can play a "fundamental role in the Summit of the Future" due to its well-established history as a solid democracy, its high level of human development, and its status as a high-income country in the region, stated Guy Ryder, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Policy.

During the final event of the "Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay" series, held at the Legislative Palace on May 21, the official highlighted the initiative and said that the conclusions reached could enrich the negotiations leading up to the summit, which will take place in New York on September 22 and 23, with the participation of world leaders from the 193 member countries, aiming to agree on multilateral solutions.

The "Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay" initiative began in mid-2022 with the goal of encouraging strategic reflection and fostering plural and participatory dialogue on the main challenges facing the country in achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda and advancing toward sustainable development. It also seeks to create spaces for building strategic agreements and broad alliances.

With this purpose, and over nearly two years, 16 roundtable discussions and working meetings were held, involving around 2,000 people, including government authorities, representatives of subnational governments, political parties, civil society organizations and associations, business chambers and networks, unions and guilds, universities, think tanks, media, cooperation agencies, as well as groups of adolescents and youth, and citizens participating in a personal capacity. This work was supported by a Council of the Future, formed for this initiative and composed of: the president of the Astur Foundation, Cr. Enrique Iglesias; scientist Martina Crispo; sculptor Pablo Atchugarry; and journalist Carolina García.

These types of initiatives demonstrate "Uruguay's commitment" to anticipating and preparing for global changes, positioning it "at the forefront" and making it a "model to follow" for other nations, he emphasized.

During the event, Foreign Minister Omar Paganini also referenced the summit, noting that Uruguay can make significant contributions through its experience in peacekeeping missions, disarmament, and the "Women, Peace, and Security" Agenda.

In addition, it can contribute in areas related to inclusive economic and social development, as well as in environmental and climate change issues, given its strong global position as a country that generates over 95% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Impact of Current Policies on Future Generations

During the event, there was a special segment dedicated to discussing the impact that current policies will have on future generations. Members of the Parliamentary Futures Commission, legislators, and leaders from all political parties with parliamentary representation engaged in dialogue with representatives from UNICEF’s Adolescent Panel.

The conversation focused on four key themes: mental health, education, climate change, and violence. Representing the youth, Virginia Barreira and Mateo Barral expressed concerns and proposals, while party representatives responded, opening the debate.

In terms of mental health, the need for a more complex and comprehensive institutional network was raised to facilitate access to treatment and primary care, thus avoiding critical situations. Regarding education, the question arose about what spaces can be created for young people to actively participate and influence the educational environment, as they are the ones who directly experience the educational reality day to day.

Additionally, there was a discussion on what spaces should be promoted for young people to have real influence with their ideas and proposals on climate change. The topic of violence was also emphasized, with the point made that any action aimed at addressing security and violence must include a strong strategy for rehabilitation and social reintegration.

Among the legislators from the Parliamentary Futures Commission present were: Rodrigo Goñi Reyes, deputy from the National Party; Iván Posada, deputy from the Independent Party; and Lilián Galán, deputy from the Broad Front. Also participating in this panel were: Guido Manini Ríos, senator from Cabildo Abierto, and Antonio Manzi, National Director of Transfers and Data Analysis at the Ministry of Social Development and leader of the Colorado Party.

Building a Long-Term Future Beyond the Next Government

For his part, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Pablo Ruiz Hiebra, reaffirmed that Uruguay has the potential to become a developed country and said that to achieve this goal, it is essential to carry out a thorough review of the present challenges and opportunities, as well as the necessary transformations.

"This must be accompanied by the implementation of public policies with a long-term vision that goes beyond the five-year political cycle," he emphasized.

In this regard, he stated that the cycle of dialogues was carried out with the aim of contributing to this analysis and promoting sustainable development, addressing 14 central themes, including "Child Poverty," "Security and Justice," "Populations, Migration, and Social Protection," and "Science, Technology, and Innovation."

The main conclusions from this series of discussions will be compiled into a document that will be presented to the presidential candidates in the context of the primary and national elections to be held in June and October 2024, from which the next president of Uruguay will emerge.