WHO South-East Asia Regional Youth Council launched

Colombo | 12 October 2025 – At an event jointly organized with the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, WHO South-East Asia today launched its Regional Youth Council, an advisory platform for the Organization, in Colombo, ahead of the Seventy-eighth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia. The launch event introduced the Youth Council’s mandate and structure and fostered shared commitment and collective vision among its members for the Council’s forthcoming workplan, while highlighting and reinforcing sustained political and technical commitment to meaningful youth engagement across the Region.

Young people aged 10–24 years constitute over 315 million of the population in the WHO South-East Asia Region, the largest adolescent population among all WHO Regions. Their meaningful engagement is essential to advancing Universal Health Coverage and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In recognition of this, the -Council ensures voices of the youth are not just symbolic but play a systemic role in shaping health policies and strategies across the Region.

Based on expertise, interest, representation, and diversity, nine youth organizations were selected as members of the WHO SEAR Youth Council representing eight countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste) along with one regional organization.  Additionally, five organizations were designated as alternate members to participate as needed. 

The Youth Council aims to

• foster meaningful youth engagement in health and well-being agendas,

• provide an advisory role to WHO SEARO senior leadership and Member countries,

• amplify youth perspectives to strengthen adolescent-responsive health systems and policies,

• mobilize partnerships and political support for youth-led health solutions. 

Through the WHO SEAR Youth Council, WHO and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to investing in the health and well-being of the Region’s youth, securing a triple dividend of better health now, productive lives tomorrow, and stronger communities in the future.

To watch the WHO SEAR Youth Council launch event, click here.