“Having youth at the table is not enough,” says head of International Youth Organization for Ibero-America

This year, the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ) participated for the first time in the BRICS Youth Summit, marking a significant step toward enhancing South-South cooperation. Read the exclusive interview with Alexandre Pupo, Secretary-General of the OIJ

By Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes / BRICS Brasil

At the close of the previous year, Alexandre Pupo was elected by consensus as Secretary-General of the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ). This marks the first time a Brazilian has been appointed to lead the only international public organization dedicated specifically to youth, representing 21 countries. In addition to Brasil, a founding member of BRICS, Bolivia and Cuba — partner nations of the bloc — are also members of the OIJ.

Under the Brazilian presidency of the Organization, an unprecedented milestone was reached with its participation in a BRICS Youth Summit, where the Secretary-General gave an exclusive interview to BRICS Brasil.

In this interview, Pupo delves into the New Youth Agenda, emphasizing that young people should not only claim their space but also lead discussions, create their own forums, and take an active role in driving change. He also highlights South-South cooperation as a strategic path toward building more inclusive global solutions.

This was the first time OIJ formally participated in a BRICS Youth Summit. How does the organization’s agenda align with BRICS youth priorities?

Alexandre Pupo — We have been working to align the BRICS Youth Agenda with the New Youth Agenda, the Organization’s political framework for Ibero-American countries. These agendas share strong synergies, as the Ibero-American community is largely made up of developing nations. So there is much that binds the youth of the Global South, whether in Latin America, Ibero-America, or other regions of the world within the BRICS framework. 

The OIJ is the only international public mechanism dedicated to youth. In the context of this meeting, which brings together representatives from Asia, Africa, and Oceania, how can the Organization’s efforts help inspire the creation of similar institutions in other regions?

The OIJ was created specifically to strengthen youth institutional frameworks across Ibero-America. That means promoting youth ministries, youth secretariats, youth-focused laws and policies, and social participation councils. We see similar structures in many other countries, albeit in different forms. At the Summit, for instance, we heard from the United Arab Emirates about how they organize youth councils within every ministry. That kind of exchange helps us reflect on alternative models for youth institutionalization.

At the same time, I think OIJ can help foster the formation of similar organizations in other parts of the world — international youth bodies that, like ours, promote regional youth policies. OIJ is also an open organization; we welcome new members beyond Ibero-America.

Last year, during Brazil’s G20 presidency, then-Secretary-General of the OIJ, Max Trejo, attended the Youth 20 meeting — the youth engagement group for the world’s major economies — where he discussed key priorities under his leadership. What will be the main focus areas for the next five years?

Alexandre Pupo — At the start of this administration, we set priorities based on insights gathered throughout the campaign, engaging with countries to understand their perspectives. The first priority is Youth and Democracy — a crucial issue for this generation. While studies suggest a decline in adherence to democratic ideals, young people’s actions and aspirations still align closely with democratic values. The second priority is Mental Health and Social Media, a widespread challenge affecting all nations. Within the BRICS framework, we’ve seen other countries address this issue from a youth perspective.

Third, “Work and Emancipation” — the challenge of ensuring youth access to decent, meaningful employment. Fourth, “Sustainability and Socio-Environmental Justice.” This is especially pressing in a year when the UN Climate Conference (COP) will be held in our region, and we plan to engage deeply on that front. Finally, “Intersectionality.” Youth today know that inequality has a color, a race, a class. That is why we are committed to embedding an intersectional lens across everything we do. These five areas are our core priorities as we begin this administration.

"I think OIJ can help foster the formation of similar organizations in other parts of the world — international youth bodies that, like ours, promote regional youth policies. OIJ is also an open organization; we welcome new members beyond Ibero-America"

Considering youth from a plural perspective — as multiple "youths" — and especially in the context of the Global South’s diversity, is there a common demand that unifies the young people from the countries represented at this Summit?

Alexandre Pupo — I think it is best summed up in a single idea: young people want a future. On one hand, there is the socioeconomic crisis and the lack of access to work. On the other, there is a deep uncertainty about the future in the face of the climate crisis, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. So despite the many differences among these young people, there’s a shared belief in defending the right to dream — and the right to a future.

Many policies today seem disconnected from the realities of young people. How essential is global governance reform to advancing youth agendas?

Alexandre Pupo — Youth are among those most affected by the crises we are living through. And I see two main reasons for that. First, young people are not in the rooms where decisions are made. They are excluded from debates that directly affect them. Second, the frameworks used to make those decisions are outdated — they no longer reflect the world we live in. So when youth talk about reforming the UN Security Council or global financial institutions, those issues might seem abstract. But they are not. They are about how urgent decisions are made today — and why those structures need to change to serve youth interests.

Let me give two examples. First: mental health. Most public health systems worldwide lack a dedicated protocol for addressing mental health in youth. So it is up to youth to push for those conversations. Second: social media. There is a growing call to regulate and protect digital spaces — but those conversations are not happening with users. They are happening with platform owners. Reforming how decisions are made means positioning youth not just as subjects of today’s problems — but as protagonists of tomorrow’s solutions.

"When youth talk about reforming the UN Security Council or global financial institutions, those issues might seem abstract. But they are not. They are about how urgent decisions are made today — and why those structures need to change to serve youth interests"

As you mentioned earlier, forums where youth play a leading role are crucial. But how can we go beyond token participation — beyond being consulted on sports, education, and diversity — to full involvement in shaping economic and structural policy agendas?

Alexandre Pupo — In the early days, our fight was for quotas — for youth representation in unions, in political parties. That got us to the table. And that is important. Being at the table means knowing what is being discussed. It is a matter of ensuring that decisions are sustainable and that younger generations are informed.

Having youth at the table ensures they are part of the conversation, but that alone is not enough. Youth participation must go beyond symbolic representation and protocol to actively shape decision-making processes. Our challenge is to promote meaningful participation, a concept emphasized by Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth at the United Nations. When addressing issues like mental health and social media, young people should not just be consulted — they should lead the discussions. They need to create their own forums where these political priorities and agendas can be debated and championed.

Is there anything we have not asked that you would like to highlight?

Alexandre Pupo — It was a tremendous honor for OIJ to participate in the BRICS Youth Summit for the first time. Especially under this Brazilian leadership, we believe OIJ must serve the interests of youth in the Global South. Part of our political mission today is to engage beyond our immediate region — to build partnerships with Africa and Asia in particular, and to develop youth-led solutions from the South. This South-South cooperation model is one we plan to invest in heavily, especially as we look to next year’s BRICS Youth Summit under India’s rotating presidency.

English version by: Judas Tadeu de Azevedo Neto (POET/UFC)
Proofreading by: Michel Emmanuel Félix François (UFC)