On August 16–17, 2025, at the Democracy Youth Summit “Open Day” held in Tokyo, Ms. Hikaru Sato, Associate at Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), served as moderator for the panel discussion titled “Global Health and Well-being.”

The Democracy Youth Summit “Open Day” was held as the culmination of the “Global Youth Advocacy Campaign” led by the Japan Youth Conference. This initiative aims to strengthen international collaboration among youth organizations and to promote political engagement among young people around the world. Through discussions on challenges faced by youth, the event sought to further advance international collaboration and cooperation and youth participation in policy-making.

On the day of the event, approximately 60 youth leaders from various countries gathered to engage in 12 panel discussions on different themes. These discussions provided an open platform for young leaders to share the challenges they face in their respective countries, the initiatives they have undertaken, and the lessons learned, while exploring opportunities to strengthen international cooperation among youth organizations.

The “Global Health and Well-being” panel featured diverse youth leaders from around the world, including the Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the United Nations, a representative from the National Youth Council under the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan, the Director of Patient Engagement at Diabetes Action Canada, and the Representative Director of Light Ring, a Japanese NPO focused on suicide prevention. The discussion centered on three key themes: Global Health, Mental Health, and International Youth Collaboration, exploring current issues, initiatives underway, and future outlooks.

During the discussion, participants emphasized that while digital technologies and healthcare innovations have the potential to improve the health and well-being of young people, they are also accompanied by new risks and challenges. For instance, digital technologies can enhance access to support and raise awareness of mental health and diseases, but concerns were raised about issues such as cyberbullying and the adverse effects of social media on mental health. Similarly, while innovative healthcare technologies have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for individuals living with various conditions, disparities in access to such technologies may widen health inequities.

The importance of ensuring an enabling environment where young people, who are directly affected by these issues, can recognize the challenges and participate actively in political discourse was also underlined. Moreover, it was highlighted that securing diversity and ensuring the participation of a wide range of stakeholders, including youth, is essential not only at the national level but also in global policy-making processes.

Finally, there was a shared expectation that providing opportunities for international exchange among young people will further promote global collaboration among youth organizations and lead to more concrete actions in the future.

HGPI remains committed to working with stakeholders from different generations and sectors to realize a society in which patients and individuals with diverse experiences can continuously and meaningfully engage in the policy-making process.

Panel Discussion
Session 5: Global Health & Well-being

Panelists:
Linxi Mytkolli (Director of Patient Engagement, Diabetes Action Canada)
Maria Qazi (National Youth Council, Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan)
Felipe Paullier (Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Youth Office)
Ayaka Ishii (Representative Director, Light Ring, Japan)

Moderator:
Hikaru Sato (Associate, Health and Global Policy Institute)