INTRODUCTION:
Health diplomacy is no longer the sole domain of diplomats. Young public health leaders increasingly engage in global policy spaces to advance equity, influence governance, and strengthen emergency response. However, limited capacity-building and uneven access to decision-making continue to constrain youth leadership in diplomatic processes.

METHODS:
This oral presentation proposes a practical framework for youth-led health diplomacy grounded in negotiation skills, policy framing, multisectoral collaboration, and evidence-to-policy translation. It draws from youth engagement models across WHO and UN platforms and incorporates simulations used in applied health diplomacy training.

RESULTS:
Emerging examples show youth leaders contributing to agenda setting, coalition-building, and rights-based advocacy in areas including humanitarian crises, SRHR, and climate justice. The presentation highlights enabling factors such as institutional mentorship, structured representation mechanisms, and access to data. Barriers include tokenism, political gatekeeping, limited funding for youth participation, and lack of training pathways tailored to diplomatic spaces.

CONCLUSIONS:
Health diplomacy must be democratized. Investing in youth diplomacy training and creating pathways for meaningful participation can strengthen global health governance and accelerate progress toward equity. Youth should be viewed as co-architects of solutions—not symbolic participants.