Pedro Sánchez highlights the talent and transforming power of young Ibero-Americans

Antigua (Guatemala)

During his speech at this first edition of the awards, Pedro Sánchez underlined the "tremendous talent of so many young people in Ibero-America committed to the progress of our societies", and highlighted the role they play in the social transformation of Ibero-America. "You are the drivers of the change that we need", he said to them. He also recalled the young Spaniards who, during the crisis, were forced to emigrate, many of whom were welcomed in Latin America; "a generation", he said, "that is not lost, but one that has some great opportunities ahead".

The President of the Government took the opportunity to reiterate Spain's commitment to the Ibero-American Youth Pact, which seeks to foster the participation of young people in politics, and give them a greater role in decision-making processes. He also expressed his interest in promoting talent mobility as a key tool for boosting social cohesion. "We want our young people to be at the forefront and to contribute to consolidating an Ibero-American identity on the new global stage", said Pedro Sánchez, to which end, "we have made a decisive commitment to investment in education and the training of human capital. This is a question of social justice and of equal opportunities, the best foundation for our future Ibero-American project", he stressed.

Following the award ceremony, Pedro Sánchez attended, together with H.M. the King and other Latin America leaders, the event to publicly present the Ibero-American Programme on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which included speeches by the Ibero-American Secretary General, Rebeca Grynspan, the Technical Secretary General of the Programme, the Spaniard Ana Peláez, on behalf of ONCE, and her Guatemalan counterpart from the same organisation.

Non official translation