United Nations – Global Issues – Youth
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/youth
https://www.un.org/en/UN-system/youth
https://www.unyouth2030.com/
Youth2030, the first-ever UN system-wide strategy on youth, guides joint UN action for and with young people globally.
The official launch of Youth Strategy took place on Monday, 24th September 2018 at a High-Level Event at the United Nations in New York. The Strategy was presented by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. and the Secretary-General tasked his Envoy on Youth, in conjunction with the UN system and youth themselves, to lead the development of a UN Youth Strategy. Today, the Youth Strategy implementation engages with 55 UN Entities and 132 UN Country Teams.
The United Nations Youth Office
https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/
As the first dedicated entity for youth affairs within the United Nations Secretariat, the UN Youth Office champions the rights, perspectives, contributions and potential of young people everywhere. We lead efforts to enhance collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, ensuring that the United Nations works effectively and inclusively with young people in all their diversity. By fostering meaningful, inclusive, and impactful participation of youth in decision-making processes, our work focuses on empowering young people as agents of transformative change in addressing global challenges in the areas of sustainable development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian action.
Young Leaders for the SDGs
https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/engage/young-leaders-sdgs
The Young Leaders for the SDGs initiative recognizes exceptional young people who are leading efforts to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Every two years, 17 young leaders are selected to work with the United Nations and its partners to accelerate SDG implementation and engage other young people in this crucial work.
The Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-group
The Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change provides him with practical and outcome-focused advice, diverse youth perspectives and concrete recommendations, with a clear focus on accelerating the implementation of his climate action agenda.
Convened under the auspices of the United Nations first-ever system-wide youth strategy, Youth2030, and the Our Common Agenda, the Youth Advisory Group serves as a mechanism for the Secretary-General to hear directly from young people, as the organization works to accelerate global climate action, and drive forward all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
https://bit.ly/3oClRCB
https://docs.un.org/A/77/CRP.1/ADD.2
This brief presents a series of bold proposals from the Secretary-General with a view towards ensuring more meaningful, diverse and effective youth participation across intergovernmental decision-making processes at all levels. The recommendations draw directly from inputs we have heard from Member States, UN partners, and most importantly from young people themselves — in recent years, more than 12 million young people across more than 194 countries have voiced their views on the future of multilateralism via a diverse range of consultative processes (including the My World Surveys, the UN75 Global Listening Exercise and Plenary, the Next Generation Fellows, and inputs to the Human Rights Council, the ECOSOC Youth Forum and the Security Council, among other channels), sharing their expectations for strengthened youth engagement in intergovernmental policymaking and decision-making processes.
United Nations – Get Involved
https://www.un.org/en/get-involved (scroll down to “Students”)
Young people are the future of the world. Since at the UN we work to make the world a better place now and in the future, we want to help students understand our work and offer many resources to do so.
International Youth Day – 12 August
https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/international-youth-day-main
On 17 December 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs – Youth
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth
The Focal Point on Youth, UN Programme on Youth, falls within the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). Within the United Nations system, the Focal Point on Youth aims to build an awareness of the global situation of young people, as well as promote their rights and aspirations. The Focal Point also works towards greater participation of young people in decision-making as a means of achieving peace and development.
World Programme of Action for Youth
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/wpay
The United Nations youth agenda is guided by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). The WPAY, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people around the world. The WPAY covers fifteen youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas.
UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/un-inter-agency-network-on-youth-development
The IANYD is the United Nations’ inter-agency mechanism for matters related to youth. It works to advance and increase the effectiveness of the UN’s work in youth development and policy by strengthening collaboration, creating coherence and enabling exchange among all relevant UN entities. while respecting and harnessing the benefits of their individual strengths and unique approaches and mandates.
In doing so, the Network works to achieve several priorities, including, high-level political advocacy, UN system staff capacity building, and serving a knowledge and think tank function for emerging and frontier issues, across the pillars and areas of work the UN.
UN Youth Delegate Programme
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/un-youth-delegate-programme
Participation in decision-making is one of the key priority areas of the United Nations agenda on youth. One form of youth participation at the United Nations is through the inclusion of youth delegates in a country’s official delegation to the United Nations General Assembly and various functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council. It is the responsibility of Member States to establish a youth delegate programme at the national level, and to decide who will represent the young people of their country at the United Nations.
The roles of a youth delegate varies from country to country, but normally includes providing input to their delegation on issues related to youth and participation in their delegation’s work, such as through attending meetings and informal negotiations.
Youth delegates can participate in several intergovernmental meetings at the United Nations. Most official youth delegates participate in the General Assembly, but some also attend functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council.
Model United Nations
https://www.un.org/mun/
Model UN simulations engage hundreds of thousands of students each year, helping them to learn more about the principles of the UN and how it functions. Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business and the arts – including at the UN itself – participated in Model UN as students.
The United Nations supports Model UN simulations by building and maintaining strong links between the UN and Model UN participants. It does this by sharing first-hand knowledge about the work of the UN at Model UN conferences; providing guidance with organizers to create accurate and authentic simulations; and encouraging Model UN clubs to take concrete action to support UN values and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Recognizing the value of Model UN simulations across the globe in engaging young people with the initiatives and goals of the UN and garnering support for international cooperation; the General Assembly adopted Resolution 77/336 on “Model United Nations”.
ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025
https://ecosoc.un.org/en/what-we-do/ecosoc-youth-forum/about-youth-forum/ecosoc-youth-forum-2025
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum will take place from 15 to 17 April 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stakeholders to share their views and concerns as well as galvanize actions and recommendations to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place led by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ECOSOC Youth Forum will be guided by the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF): “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”. It will also provide opportunities to discuss concrete actions and commitments to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for in-depth review at the 2025 HLPF, namely SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 14 (Life below water) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Further Information
UN Digital Engament Hub
https://unric.org/en/un-digital-engagement-hub/
Competitions, Video Games and Mobile Apps represent a fun and entertaining way for the United Nations family to communicate on its goals and objective, informing and engaging citizens on issues of critical importance to the organisation.
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) – Youth
https://www.cepal.org/en/subtopics/youth
Ensuring the involvement of young people in development processes is crucial for progress towards a more egalitarian society. The youth population currently numbers around 160 million in the region and will continue to represents a very substantial proportion of the population in some countries in the coming decades. The youth population needs a higher level of education, relevant training and better preparation for lifelong learning. In addition to persistent structural divides, ECLAC has noted inequalities in capacity-building and the sphere of work, which affect the young particularly and will need to be addressed if progress is to be made along the path of sustainability with equality.
Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – Youth Empowerment
https://www.unescap.org/our-work/social-development/youth-empowerment
ESCAP acts as the regional focal point for the World Programme of Action for Youth, a blueprint for national action and international collaboration to foster conditions and mechanisms to promote improved well-being and livelihoods among young people. In the context of the 2030 Agenda, ESCAP promotes the role of youth in actively contributing to the development process and making it both more inclusive and sustainable.
ESCAP works to enhance knowledge, capacity and regional cooperation to improve the situation young people face, through assisting Governments to develop comprehensive national youth policies and engaging young people in their programmes.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Rural Youth
https://www.fao.org/rural-youth/en
Globally there are 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24, 16 percent of the total population and nearly 90 percent of them live in developing countries.
Young people are key agents of change, with enormous innovation potential. Working for and with young people and investing in their empowerment is key for prosperous societies and overall inclusive rural transformation.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – Rural Youth
https://www.ifad.org/en/youth
Our world is home to 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24. The youth population growing fastest in the poorest nations. These governments face the challenge of providing them with jobs and opportunities that safeguard their futures.
Almost 800 million young people live in rural or semi-urban areas. Here they face limited access to land, natural resources, finance, technology, knowledge and education.
These challenges make it difficult for young people to contribute to or benefit from rural economies. Few aspire to remain in rural areas and make a living out of agriculture, with many migrating to urban areas or overseas.
International Labour Organization (ILO) – Youth Employment
https://www.ilo.org/topics-and-sectors/youth-employment
Even in the best of times, young people faced a tough situation in the labour market. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic they were around three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. The crisis now threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities within and between countries.
International Monetary Fund – The IMF and Youth
https://www.imf.org/en/About/Partners/Youth
International Maritime Organization – IMO Kids’ Zone
https://kids.imo.org/en/
Find out about who we are and what we are doing to protect the marine environment…
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) – Youth
https://www.iom.int/youth
Youth engagement is a priority for IOM. Current demographic trends indicate the largest youth population ever, with 1.2 billion people aged between 15 and 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population. Young people are the most mobile social group, and around 31 per cent of the international migrant stock is under 30 years old. The youth migrant population is a diverse group. Many migrate for different reasons and they are faced with age-specific and contextual needs.
International Trade Centre (ITC) – Youth and trade
https://intracen.org/our-work/topics/inclusive-trade/youth-and-trade
ITC’s Youth and Trade Programme promotes youth entrepreneurship in developing countries. We work with young people to develop their business and employability skills, which in turn improves their access to quality jobs with decent work conditions and increases their income.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Youth and Children
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Digital-Inclusion/Youth-and-Children/Pages/Youth-and-Children.aspx
Youth and children with access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) are coming of age as digital natives, the early adopters of ICTs and better positioned than their parents to harness the power of digital technologies in new and imaginative ways.
ICTs can enhance education, reduce youth unemployment and promote social and economic development. Youth can only leverage the transformative power of ICTs, however, when they have access to ICTs and are equipped with a range of digital skills to use them to their benefit.
ITU’s youth activities are focused on promoting digital skills development and ICT-enabled employment opportunities for youth, including encouraging more young women and girls to prepare for and enter ICT careers. ITU is also a member of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, leading the Digital Skills for Jobs Campaign.
Generation Connect
https://www.itu.int/generationconnect/
Generation Connect aims to engage global youth and encourage their participation as equal partners alongside the leaders of today’s digital change, empowering young people with the skills and opportunities to advance their vision of a connected future.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights –
OHCHR and youth
https://www.ohchr.org/en/youth
Youth is a period of transition from dependence to independence and autonomy. The transition occurs at different times in relation to different rights, and depends on the socioeconomic context, among other things.
Young people face discrimination and obstacles to the enjoyment of their rights by virtue of their age, limiting their potential. The human rights of youth therefore refer to the full enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms by young people. Promoting these rights means addressing the specific challenges and barriers faced.
UN WOMEN – Youth and gender equality
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/youth
There are 1.8 billion young people aged 10-24 in the world—the largest youth population ever. Of these, 600 million are adolescent girls and young women. Across the world, young women continue to face gender-based discrimination, marginalization, and violence, including unequal access to education and opportunities for leadership and participation. The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must deliver equal gains for youth. The force and inspiration of our youngest leaders are critical drivers for accelerating progress on sustainable development and gender equality.
UN Women’s new youth and gender equality strategy seeks to empower young women and young men as partners in achieving gender equality, and aims to ‘engender’ the youth movement and ‘enyouth’ the women’s movement. Building on UN Women’s Strategic Plan, the Youth and Gender Equality Strategy and its ‘LEAPs’ Framework includes three thematic pillars —Leadership of young women in all spheres; Economic empowerment and skills development of young women; and Action on ending violence against young women and girls—and three cross-cutting approaches—strengthening Participation, voice and partnerships with young women and young women-led organizations and networks, with young men as partners of gender equality, and with inter-generational partners.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) – Young People
https://www.unaids.org/en/topic/young-people
The UNAIDS Youth Programme works with youth as beneficiaries, partners and leaders of the HIV response. It is founded on three cornerstone principles, with a robust, cross-cutting focus on advocacy: policy, participation and partnership.
The Youth Programme was launched in 2012 and was based on the CrowdOutAIDS recommendations developed in collaboration with more than 5000 young people. It advocates for evidence-informed policy through increased strategic information and fosters a decentralized, organic youth-led movement in the AIDS response. The Youth Programme strengthens young people’s leadership skills and their ability to operate in a framework that advances evidence-informed HIV responses.
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) – Youth
https://www.unaoc.org/what-we-do/youth/
The High Level-Group Report, released in 2006, identified youth as one of the four priority areas for the activities of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
In the intervening years, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has developed programming which recognizes young people as essential partners in achieving the vision of the organization. The current youth generation is acknowledged as the largest in history, with the global agenda increasingly focused on young people as agents of change and key actors in powerful social movements. Youth play a critical role in shaping major political advancements, as well as being able to address the challenges related to international, regional, national and local instability. Moreover, young people are the most able to mobilize their peers, to be the principle stakeholders of societies that are increasingly free from stereotypes, discrimination and violent extremism. Their engagement in fostering mutual understanding between peoples of different cultures and religions is crucial in building sustainable peace.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD Youth Network
https://unctad.org/topic/youth/youth-network
Youth are the decision-makers of tomorrow and can play a powerful role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through the UNCTAD Youth Network, women and men between the ages of 18 and 30 can help to build the narrative about the future by sharing ideas and experiences, working with fellow youth in preparing inputs to UNCTAD meetings on trade and development-related issues, make their voice be heard in major youth events and more!
Youth Talks: https://unctad.org/topic/youth/youth-talks
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Youth Empowerment
https://www.undp.org/governance/youth-empowerment
Today’s 1.45 billion young people (aged 18 to 29), the largest youth generation ever, are actively shaping the world. They are digitally connected, passionate about bringing change, and increasingly driving social, political, and economic progress in their local communities and beyond.
However, significant challenges remain. Young people, in particular young women and girls, face disproportionate obstacles across the globe. In many countries, young people face exclusion based on their age, often intersecting with other forms of marginalization linked to gender, location and background, undermining development and social cohesion. Across the world, outdated norms continue to sideline and silence youth, denying them of their rights and crucial role in shaping and implementing policies and decisions that affect them and future generations.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) – Children and Youth
https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework-partners-and-stakeholders/children-and-youth
Young people are tremendously innovative, adaptable, and resourceful. Empowering young people is the world’s best chance of building resilient communities as they comprise the largest and most interconnected generation in history. Yet, young people are particularly vulnerable to disasters. Contributing as powerful change actors and resilience-builders, young people must be part of disaster risk reduction action. Acknowledging their capacity to influence decision making processes on behalf of their communities and their ability to communicate and bring meaningful change in behaviour and attitudes, UNDRR supports and harnesses the energy and motivation of youth to find solutions to risk and participate in disaster risk reduction for enhanced resilience, aligned with the UN Strategy “Youth2030: Working with and for Young People”.
Key focus areas include: – Capacity & Risk knowledge: Building capacity of youth and enhancing risk knowledge to build resilience and reduce disasters; – Innovation & Communication: Empowering youth to drive innovation and novel communication to enhance the implementation of the Sendai Framework; – Advocacy & Action: Supporting youth efforts on DRR advocacy and action.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Youth Programmes & Initiatives
https://www.unep.org/youth
Youth are central in achieving a more sustainable and healthier planet. Young people have a special role in instigating change and action on the pressing global challenges. Equally, they are pivotal to finding innovative solutions that speak to local and global realities. As such, UNEP has given special attention to the work of young people around the globe for the environment and we are committed to providing safe and open platforms to support interaction with decision-makers.
Platforms and initiatives across UNEP have given relevant roles to young people, developing meaningful engagement in the environmental space. UNEP recognizes the importance of working with and for young people. Our programmes make a stronger coordination effort for meaningful youth participation.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO with, by and for youth
https://www.unesco.org/en/youth
According to the World Youth Report (2020), there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population.
Youth is a priority group for UNESCO. Recognizing their creativity, innovation and capacity to make change happen in the world, we firmly believe that young people are crucial actors, leaders, and partners. UNESCO is committed to accompany them in fighting inequality, contributing to sustainable development and building peace.
For over 20 years, we have been working with thousands of young people worldwide by establishing and supporting youth-led initiatives and networks, strengthening youth capacities, fostering their knowledge production, and creating dialogue spaces between youth, policymakers and other partners. We have also been actively and meaningfully engaging youth in our programmes in all of UNESCO’s field of competence, from design to implementation and follow-up.
Young people embody hope for better, innovative, and more effective solutions to the world’s challenges! UNESCO is working actively to ensure that their voices are heard because they matter.
United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) – YOUNGO
https://unfccc.int/topics/education-youth/youth/youngo
YOUNGO is the official children and youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). YOUNGO is a vibrant, global network of children and youth activists (up to 35 years) as well as youth NGOs, who contribute to shaping the intergovernmental climate change policies and strive to empower youth to formally bring their voices to the UNFCCC processes.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Youth participation & leadership
https://www.unfpa.org/youth-participation-leadership
Today’s generation of young people is absolutely massive: Some 1.8 billion people are between ages 10 and 24. Most of them live in developing countries, often comprising a huge proportion of the population. How well they navigate adolescence will determine not only the course of their own lives, but that of the world. Yet too many youth are unable to participate fully in society. Around 175 million young people in low-income countries cannot read a full sentence. Among those aged 15-24, some 500 million live on less than $2 a day, and over 73 million are unemployed. For girls, the barriers to participation are even higher. But when empowered and given the right opportunities, youth are effective drivers of change. UNFPA partners with young people, helping them participate in decisions affecting them, and strengthening their ability to advance human rights and development issues such as health, education and employment.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) – Youth
https://unhabitat.org/topic/youth
We work to ensure that young women and men have a voice in local government, access to livelihoods and can enjoy their rights in cities. Youth empowerment is mainstreamed across all programmatic work of UN-Habitat. All programmes, country-level work and topics engage with youth. The primary aim of mainstreaming is to provide support and technical guidance to project managers.
Urban Youth Fund
https://unhabitat.org/urban-youth-fund
The UN-Habitat Urban Youth Fund empowers global youth by providing grants and capacity building to selected organizations in developing countries. Yearly, more than 8,000 youth-led organizations start the application process to be part of the program. Approximately 30 organizations are selected yearly to receive a grant up to 25,000 USD and capacity building support throughout the duration of the project. These organizations span various sectors, from technology and agriculture to education and poverty reduction. Every year, the Fund supports new and innovative ideas and solutions for job creation, good governance, adequate shelter and secure tenure planned and implemented by youth-led groups globally. By undertaking research on best practices in youth-led development the fund also creates greater awareness of youth-led development and the urgency to ensure that youth perspectives are integrated into local, national and international development policies and strategies. Applicants organizations must be led by young people aged 15-32 years and be based in cities or towns in developing countries to qualify for a grant. Support in terms of training, mentorship and the E- Learning programs is provided primarily for. Projects encouraging gender equality or involving partnerships with the government or the private sector are particularly encouraged.
UN Habitat-Youth
https://www.unhabitatyouth.org/
Youth and Cities, Partnering with Youth and Cities, One-stop model for urban youth development.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Youth
https://www.unhcr.org/youth
Growing up is tough, but imagine growing up a refugee. Having fled war or persecution, displaced youth aged 15-24 are often thrust into an uncertain world and may find themselves at increased risk of sexual and gender based violence, forced recruitment, exploitation and detention. They can also become targets of xenophobia, harassment and discrimination.
As well as their homes, many refugee youth may also lose access to skills, confidence, social circles, aspirations and dreams.
With your help, UNHCR works tirelessly to protect forcibly displaced youth from abuse and exploitation. We also aim to nurture their potential and support them as they restart their lives, providing skills development, education, psychosocial support, family reunification and recreational programmes. Together, by supporting the youth of today, we can build a better world for tomorrow.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF x Youth: Working for young people means working with them.
https://www.unicef.org/young-people
Young people have long stood at the forefront of calls for peace, justice and equity. They have an internationally recognized right to be heard on matters that affect them.
That’s why UNICEF engages more young people on global issues than any child rights organization on the planet.
With on-the-ground teams in over 190 countries, and online platforms that mobilize millions, we poll, survey and consult with young people on the decisions that matter most.
Voices of Youth
https://www.voicesofyouth.org/
Voices of Youth is a global community for young people to learn about development issues (such as Environment, Education, Human Rights, etc) and to express their opinions. Voices of Youth seeks to create a space that will help young people develop into active global citizens equipped to communicate and collaborate effectively to make a positive difference in their countries and communities. On VOY, young people will gain knowledge and awareness of the key thematic issues affecting young people around the world, enabling them to have an open and honest dialogue about the world in which they live.
United Nations – Office for Disarmament Afffairs (UNODA) – Youth4Disarmament (Y4D) initiative
https://www.youth4disarmament.org
What is the Youth4Disarmament Initiative? It is a youth outreach initiative established in 2019 by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs to connect geographically diverse young people with experts to learn about current international security challenges, the work of the United Nations and how to actively participate.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Youth & UNODC
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/youth/index.html
In February 2021, UNODC launched its Strategy for 2021-2025, which underscored youth empowerment as a cross-cutting commitment of the Office. Youth empowerment means involving young people in problem-solving and uplifting their voices in decision-making processes. To meaningfully engage youth, young people need to be involved in every step of the programme cycle. Initiatives should not only be implemented “for” youth, but also “with” youth, to allow for co-creation.
In order to support this cross-cutting commitment, UNODC launched the Youth Empowerment Accelerator Framework – or the YEA! Framework. The YEA! Framework maps out UNODC’s youth-focused initiatives and proposes key youth mainstreaming actions to accelerate the impact of young people across the Office. The YEA! Framework further demonstrates that UNODC is committed to working with youth to build more resilient societies and find solutions to problems related to drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism.
Youth Initiative
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/prevention/youth-initiative.html
UNODC Youth Initiative aims to connect young people from around the globe and empower them to become active in their schools, communities and youth groups for substance use prevention and health promotion. It provides a platform for youth to share their experiences, ideas and creativity, and to get support for creating their own substance use prevention and health promotion activities.
The United Nations is committed to empowering youth and ensuring youth engagement at all levels. In the context of substance use prevention, Youth Initiative provides youth with possibilities to participate and become active members of a community of young people committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of their peers.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) –
Information for Students
https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/informationfor/students.html
This page lists all information of relevance to students, including on the Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education, fellowships and internships within the Office.
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) – Become a UN Youth Volunteer
https://www.unv.org/become-un-youth-volunteer
UN Youth Volunteers are between 18 and 26 years old, and work with UN agencies on the frontlines of political, developmental and humanitarian operations.
Universal Postal Union (UPU) –
International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People
https://www.upu.int/en/universal-postal-union/outreach-campaigns/international-letterwriting-competition-for-young-people
Since 1971, the UPU has encouraged young writers aged 9-15 to write letters on a given theme to win exciting prizes. The competition is an excellent way of making young people aware of the important role postal services play in our societies. It develops their skills in composition and their ability to express thoughts clearly. It also fosters enjoyment of letter writing and helps strengthen the bonds of international friendship.
Every year, the UPU’s secretariat – the International Bureau – chooses and publicizes a theme. Participating countries then organize the competition at national level through the Post, often with the support of the educational authorities and media, presenting one winning letter to the international jury convened by the UPU. Entries must reach the UPU International Bureau no later than 5 May each year. The jury then evaluates the letters and selects the overall winners and candidates that merit a special mention.
World Food Programme (WFP) – Freerice: WFP’s new Youth Hub
https://freerice.com/
Freerice.com aims to empower and engage young people to learn more about issues such as hunger, sustainability and gender equality.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Health promoting schools
https://www.who.int/health-topics/health-promoting-schools
A health promoting school is one that constantly strengthens its capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working.
Violence against children – Youth violence
https://www.who.int/health-topics/violence-against-children
Youth violence is a global public health problem. It includes a range of acts from bullying and physical fighting, to more severe sexual and physical assault to homicide.
Youth violence dramatically increases health, welfare and criminal justice costs; reduces productivity; and generally undermines the fabric of society. Beyond deaths, injuries and psychological harm, youth violence can lead to increased health risk behaviours such as smoking, substance abuse, unsafe sex, and further violence. These in turn are associated with chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Effective prevention and response strategies include those that promote parenting and early childhood development; school-based bullying prevention, academic, and life and social skills development programmes; therapeutic approaches with high-risk individuals, and community- and society-level approaches like reducing access to and misuse of alcohol and firearms, hotspots and problem-oriented policing, urban upgrading, and poverty de-concentration.
WHO and partners decrease youth violence through initiatives that help to identify, quantify and respond to the problem, these include: developing a package for schools-based violence prevention programmes; drawing attention to the magnitude of youth violence and the need for prevention; building evidence on the scope and types of violence in different settings; developing guidance for Member States and all relevant sectors to prevent youth violence and strengthen responses to it; supporting national efforts to prevent youth violence; and collaborating with international agencies and organizations to prevent youth violence globally.
World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Youth Engagement
https://www.wipo.int/en/web/youth-engagement
Welcome to our virtual hub for young creators and innovators. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, inventor, or simply someone with a burning passion to make a difference, you’ve come to the right place.
We believe that the power of ideas knows no bounds. We understand the exhilaration that comes with birthing a new concept, refining it, and witnessing its impact on the world. We are here to create an environment where your ideas can thrive and flourish, supported by our intellectual property (IP) resources at every step.
Now is the time to unlock your potential and harness your creativity to shape a brighter future. Join us as we celebrate the energy, passion, and ingenuity of young creators and innovators like you. Together, let’s break barriers, challenge norms, and inspire the world with our boundless potential.
World Meteorological Organization – Youth Engagement
https://wmo.int/about-wmo/youth-engagement
WMO is committed to mainstreaming youth engagement across its governance, activities, and workforce. To institutionalize this, WMO is developing a Youth Action Plan to strengthen youth participation in decision-making, capacity development, and scientific innovation.
By fostering equal opportunities for young professionals, WMO ensures that weather, water, and climate services are inclusive, forward-looking, and responsive to all generations. We support better access to science education, technical training, and career pathways, empowering the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and changemakers.
World Trade Organization (WTO) – Students and young professionals
https://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/students_e/students_e.htm
Explore this page to find out more about the work of the WTO, opportunities for students and young professionals, and how trade is relevant to you and your country.
World Bank Group Youth Summit
https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2025/05/19/new-horizons-youth-led-innovation-for-a-livable-planet
Established in 2013, the Youth Summit is an annual event hosted by the World Bank Group to engage with youth globally on the most pressing issues facing their generation.
Past UN Events & Observances
International Year of Youth: August 2010 – August 2011
https://social.un.org/youthyear/
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/events/international-year-of-youth-aug2010-aug2011
On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth (IYY): Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year coincided with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development and Peace.
General Assembly High-level Meeting on Youth, 25-26 July 2011
https://social.un.org/youthyear/high-level-meeting.html
The General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/65/267 decided that the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on Youth shall be held on 25 and 26 July 2011 in New York and that the overarching theme of the high-level meeting shall be “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”. The high-level meeting comprised two consecutive informal interactive roundtables on 25 July 2011 and two plenary meetings on 26 July 2011.
Additional Resources
World Youth Report (WYR)
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/united-nations-world-youth-report-wyr
The World Youth Report (WYR) is a flagship publication of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD). The Report addresses youth development issues around the world.
ILO Library Research Guide – Youth Employment
https://libguides.ilo.org/youth-employment-en
Resources on Youth, Security and Peace
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/events/resources-on-youth-peace-and-security
UN Internship Programmes
https://careers.un.org/job-level
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/opportunities-within-the-un-for-youth
https://unric.org/en/unric-internship-programme/
Selected Publications
World Youth Report (WYR)
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/united-nations-world-youth-report-wyr
The World Youth Report (WYR) is a flagship publication of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD). The Report addresses youth development issues around the world.
Journey through the MILtiverse: media and information literacy toolkit for youth organizations (UNESCO, 2024): https://doi.org/10.58338/APOC5995
Bridging Generations: Pathways to a youth-inclusive climate, peace and security agenda (UNDP, October 2024): https://www.undp.org/publications/bridging-generations-pathways-youth-inclusive-climate-peace-and-security-agenda
Beyond Vulnerability: A Guidance Note on Youth, Climate, Peace and Security (UNDP, October 2024): https://www.undp.org/publications/beyond-vulnerability-guidance-note-youth-climate-peace-and-security
Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 for Youth: Beyond an age of waste – Turning rubbish into a resource (UNEP, August 2024): https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-waste-management-outlook-2024-youth-beyond-age-waste-turning-rubbish
Youth, Peace and Security: Fostering Youth-Inclusive Political Processes (UNDP, February 2024): https://www.undp.org/publications/youth-peace-and-security-fostering-youth-inclusive-political-processes
Youth2030: A Global Progress Report, 2023: https://www.unyouth2030.com/progressreport
Enhancing youth participation in urban governance through city youth councils (UNESCO, 2023): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000388010
Human Rights 75 Youth Declaration: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/youth/hr75/hr-75-youth-declaration.pdf
Youth Participation to Sustain Peace during Electoral Processes (UNDP, July 2023): https://www.undp.org/publications/youth-participation-sustain-peace-during-electoral-processes
B Flat, B Sharp, Be Inspired: Voices of Youth; Civil Society and Disarmament 2022: https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Civil-Society-and-Disarmament-2022-rev.pdf
Climate Concern to Climate Action: The Role of Young Social Entrepreneurs (UNDP, October 2022): https://bit.ly/3DEKD8T
“We Are Here: An integrated approach to youth-inclusive peace processes” (April 2019): https://unoy.org/downloads/we-are-here-an-integrated-approach-to-youth-inclusive-peace-processes/
April 2025
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-youth/