The First Lady of the Republic of Suriname, Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry, in her capacity as chair of the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), organized a high-level side event during the 79th UN General Assembly in Manhattan, New York. This event took place on Friday, September 27, 2024. The theme for this year’s event was “Investing in a Sustainable Future to Enable Children and Adolescents to Reach Their Full Potential: A Discussion About Physical and Mental Health.”

During the event, First Ladies, spouses of government leaders, UN directors, non-governmental organizations, and youth representatives came together to promote high-level advocacy and investment in the physical and mental health of children and adolescents in the Caribbean and globally.

The event provided a strong platform for committing to the well-being of every child and adolescent in the region, while emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation, partnerships, and financing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also highlighted the importance of the ‘Leave No One Behind’ movement in securing a better future for both present and future generations.

The side event was co-organized with the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF Suriname) as partners. The event is hosted annually by the current Chair of SCLAN and is fully funded by the UNF.