As the summer heat wave continues to hit New York, learn more about what UN DESA is doing to keep youth issues sizzling

Over the past few months Youth Flash has been providing regular updates on activities related to Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon’s, announcement that “Working with and for women and young people” would be a top priority for his second term. In this month’s edition of Youth Flash, we’d like to provide some more detailed information on what exactly this means and on what the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), has been doing to help make this priority a reality and to promote youth partnerships more broadly!

A bit of history…

2011 was an important year for youth. Not only was UN DESA busy overseeing activities related to the International Year of Youth, but worldwide youth issues were gaining more and more prominence, notably as a result of escalating youth unemployment levels and demonstrations from young people in many regions of the world. The message was loud and clear- young people need to be better involved at all levels of decision making and development.

‘Youth’ was high on the agenda and the United Nations was taking note with the Secretary-General stating: ‘increasingly, young people are saying to their elders and to their governments: “This is not the world we want.” [1] With this, the Secretary-General asked: ‘Are we doing enough [for young people]? Can we do more?...  I think we can do, and we must do more, for our young people.’[2]

With this momentum, and hot on the heels of the end of the International Year of Youth, the Secretary-General committed to ‘Address the needs of the largest generation of young people the world has ever known’ by making “Working with and for women and young people” a priority in his Five-year Action Agenda.

To help advance his agenda he declared three specific initiatives:

(1) the appointment of a Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on Youth;

(2) the development of an action plan to deepen the youth focus of existing UN programmes on: employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and reproductive health;

(3) the creation of a UN youth volunteers programme under the umbrella of UN Volunteers (UNV).

This news brought with it an important mandate for UN DESA. In its capacity of permanent co-chair of the Inter Agency Network on Youth Development, UN DESA was requested to play a key role in the development and implementation process of the above initiatives. This includes the drafting of the UN System-Wide Action Plan on Youth by the Spring of 2013, as well as assistance in the nomination and selection process of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Youth.

The process so far…

Together with forwarding its on-going work on youth issues, UN DESA has been busy working with its partners both within and outside the UN to ensure the timely and effective delivery of the Secretary-General’s requests.

System Wide Action Plan on Youth (SWAP)

In order to develop the UN System-Wide Action Plan (SWAP), UN DESA is overseeing the work of the Inter Agency Network on Youth Development, and its three newly established thematic sub-working groups which are clustered around the priority areas identified by the Secretary-General: (1) employment and entrepreneurship; (2) health and education, including education on sexual and reproductive health; and (3) participation, including political inclusion, active citizenship and protection of rights. The aim of the thematic sub-working groups is to lead the development of the SWAP in their respective areas and to coordinate input from stakeholders, such as youth.

Indeed, and as specified by the Secretary-General, youth input to the development of the SWAP is of utmost importance. To ensure young people’s input is reflected in the SWAPs elaboration, we have launched an online consultation with youth-led organizations and other stakeholders. The input received will feed directly into the work of the sub-working groups on the Plan.

You can participate in the survey by clicking on the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFKH85W

We welcome your valuable responses as well as your assistance in helping us to disseminate the questionnaire as widely as possible among youth networks world-wide. The consultation should take no longer than a few minutes to answer.

Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Youth

In March an open call for nominations for the role of Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Youth was circulated amongst UN entities and youth-led organizations. Numerous nominations have been received for both the role of the Special Advisor and her/his Advisory Group. The terms of reference for the role of Special Advisor indicate an exciting time ahead for youth issues within the UN system. However, for the role to be appointed funding contributions from Member States to support the office of the Special Advisor and his/her team for the medium term must first be secured. We hope to have more information on this process in the coming months.

UN Youth Volunteer Programme

The third proposal announced by the Secretary-General is that of a UN Youth Volunteer Programme, an important initiative that will no doubt highlight the importance and value of youth volunteerism. Taking the lead on this initiative is the United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV). In addition to expanding its staff resources, UNV is preparing a consultation as well as an expert group meeting with various stakeholders on the design and further planning of the Programme. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on developments on this front in our ‘News from UN offices’ section of Youth Flash.

But wait, there’s more… International Youth Day 2012

It is clear that central to the Secretary-General’s initiative, as well as core to UN DESA’s work on youth issues, is the practice of partnering with young people in the development of the work of the UN and of ensuring that youth and youth-led organizations are active at all levels of decision making.

It is with this in mind that UN DESA has decided to build upon the momentum of both the International Year of Youth and the Secretary-General’s Five-year Action Agenda by declaring the theme of this year’s International Youth Day (IYD)[3] as “Building a better world: partnering with youth”, 12 August 2012.

IYD 2012 will highlight the many ways in which the United Nations, Member States, the private sector and other stakeholders can partner with and for young people, particularly in the thematic areas highlighted in the Secretary-Generals Five-Year Action Agenda: employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights and education, including on sexual and reproductive health.

In the lead-up to IYD 2012, UN DESA will undertake a global online initiative, calling on young people around the world to commemorate IYD by organizing events in partnership with other stakeholders. We are also asking young people to share with us their recommendations on how the United Nations should partner with and for young people.

During the first week of August, UN DESA will conduct six Google+ Hangouts with various experts on the Secretary-General’s thematic areas, detailed above. We invite young people around the world to join the discussion and submit their questions using Twitter and Facebook.

Additionally, on 10 August, UN DESA will celebrate International Youth Day by showcasing the various ways in which the United Nations, Member States, civil society, the private sector and academia can effectively partner and work with young people.

Whether it’s through an IYD activity or contributing to the SWAP consultation, we hope that as things cool off in many people’s lives for the summer period, you continue to keep things sizzling on youth issues.

Get Involved!

For more information on how to get involved in IYD 2012 and the SWAP consultation process, please read below.

For more information about International Youth Day, please visit: http://social.un.org/index/Youth/InternationalYouthDay/IYD2012.aspx

To learn more about the commemorative events taking place around the world, please view the International Youth Day event world map at:  http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyd2012.html

To add your own event to the world map, send the details to: youth@un.org

Don’t forget to join our IYD online initiative by following us on Twitter at @UN4Youth and on Facebook at facebook.com/UNyouthyear  

To contribute to the SWAP online consultation please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFKH85W

UN DESA

Contribute your input to the survey on Secretary-General’s System Wide Action Plan on Youth!

"The future of our world lies in the hands of our young people. I am determined to ensure that the priorities of youth are heard and addressed in the halls of the United Nations. We have made progress in bringing the youth agenda to the table, but I want us to do better. This is why I have decided to appoint a Special Advisor on Youth, and why we are developing an Action Plan to guide the whole UN system in our work for and with young people around the world. 

The views of young people themselves will be crucial in developing a plan that responds to real needs and aspirations. With young people across the world demanding a voice as never before, the United Nations wants to hear from you. What are your concerns? What are your hopes? What should the United Nations be doing to help?  

Please take a moment to fill out the questionnaire below. Tell us what you think. Your voices matter. We are listening to you."

- United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

Click here to complete the survey and let your voice be heard.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFKH85W

Food and Agricultural Organization – FAO

The first ever International World Food Day poster contest

Introduction text:  Children and young people from all around the world are invited to enter the first-ever International World Food Day poster contest sponsored by FAO. The theme for this year is "Agricultural cooperatives – key to feeding the world". You'll find plenty of resources in the multilingual contest site (in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Italian) to learn more. Deadline is 30 September and the winners will be announced on World Food Day (16 October). The contest is open to all children between 5 to 17 years old by simply uploading a scanned or photographed image of the poster. Enter your design from: www.fao.org/WFD-poster-contest.

-        UNIC Baku, Azerbaijan

Youth Leaders: Gender Equality

Continuing its campaign to enlighten society on gender equality and women’s empowerment, the UN Office in Baku held its annual session on 6 July 2012. At the Ireli Public Union, youth from the Law and Human Rights Departments acquired knowledge on gender inequality, stereotypes in an indigenous context and how the UN helps.

Seminar issues included gender as a social construction, its effects on social expectations and the resulting influence on young people. It analyzed the stereotyping process and the importance of empowering youth leaders to challenge gender stereotypes and inequalities through youth work, understanding human rights and by addressing gender-based discrimination through human rights education.

Comprehensive information on “UN Women”, the unique entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment was spotlighted as was the Secretary-General’s campaign “UNiTE to End Violence against Women”.

“To make the changes we want to see, we must educate ourselves about facts and rights” said Murad Akhundov from Ireli.

Following a lively discussion, a short video entitled “No is No”, which instructed viewers how to help end violence against women at the personal, local, national and international levels was screened.

-        UNIC Tashkent, Uzbekistan

EcoWeek 2012- A Quest for Knowledge

On 3 June 2012 the sky was blue in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as teams of youth traversed the city, using their skills and knowledge to be the first to complete a variety of challenging tasks. Welcome to EcoQuest!

As part of EcoWeek 2012, an initiative developed by the UN Office and UNDP in Uzbekistan to raise awareness of the need for sustainable development and a ‘Green Economy’, EcoQuest challenged small teams to build simple, effective and environmentally-friendly technologies (that they used to cook their lunch!), to gain a greater awareness of the city’s public transport system and to discover how everyday activities can make a positive difference.

The excitement at the finish line and the cheering as each team reached their final objective confirmed that EcoWeek 2012 was an event worth repeating in years to come. http://www.un.uz/en/news/116.html

-        UNIC Islamabad, Pakistan

Engaging Youth in Gender Empowerment

The UN Information Centre in Islamabad interacted with university students during a workshop on the “United Nation role in the development and empowerment of women”. More than 150 graduate students of Gender and Women Studies from all parts of the country participated.

In a two-hour interactive session, presenters covered a wide array of topics as they explained the role and functions of different UN entities working on women’s issues. Topics ranged from human rights and the millennium development goals to violence against women, they included leadership, participation, reproductive health and much more.

The interactive discussion that followed illustrated the confidence and commitment level among youth to bring about positive change in the society. Male students from various areas of the country, also studying gender issues, were likewise engaged in changing conservative approaches and behaviors about women in their areas.

More than 60 per cent of the total population of the country is comprised of youth.  http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/category/Islamabad.aspx 

-        UNIC Pretoria, South Africa

South African Model UN students shine in NY

From an impromptu chorus of the South African national anthem in the UN Visitors Lobby to a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, from a photo opportunity in the Security Council with the South African Permanent Representative to placing second at the Cornell International Model UN Conference, 12 South African Model UN high school students spent an exciting and fulfilling trip to New York.

The Model UN conference was held at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, with more than 40 high schools from the United States and several other countries participating. The discussions included refugees’ rights, the Syrian situation, climate change funding mechanisms and peacekeeping budgets. Praised for their professionalism, passion and eloquence, the team won the “Outstanding Small Delegation Award”.

As a key partner in the Model UN programme, the UN Information Centre in South Africa has participated actively in the growth, development and empowerment of South Africa’s future leaders. The 2012 team did the Centre and South Africa proud.

For more information, please vitis http://pretoria.unic.org/

-        UNIC, Moscow, the Russian Federation

The 1^st of June is traditionally observed in Russia as the International Children’s Day. Over the last eight years it has become a tradition for the UNCT to mark the Day by supporting a special charity performance for vulnerable children (inmates of orphanages and persons with disabilities) at the popular Moscow Youth Theatre. On 1 June 2012, the UN Information Centre in Moscow and the UNICEF-Russia, jointly with the Russian Children's Fund, acted again as partners/donors of such an event at the Theatre.  The main element of the event was a performance “Alinour” by Vsevolod Mejerkhold based on Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale “The Star-Child” (http://www.moscowtyz.ru/spect.php?id=16).
 
The theatre hosted 600 children from Ryazan and Tver regions and the city of Chekhov, Moscow region. Most of them have never been to a theater before. As in the previous years, the Russian Children’s Fund also assisted the Theater’s administration in this philanthropic project by providing children with sweetmeats. The event was a true success. The young spectators enjoyed the fine performance with participation of well-known Russian artists. A colourful stage set for the performance was prepared by famous Russian artist and stage designer Sergei Barkhin.

Wealth for Europe

Good Afternoon,

Please see below our 150 word copy for Wealth of Europe, for consideration in your e-newsletter. The initiative launches on Friday, this is when the link below goes 'live'. Could you let us know when this e-newsletter might be released, and the number of people it reaches? 

Do get in touch if you'd like any more information on the initiative, and thank you for your encouraging words!

What's the relationship between price and value? What does wealth really mean to you? Be part in shaping a new view on the Wealth of Europe.

"Wealth of Europe" is a brand new Facebook initiative for young Europeans (18-30 year olds) to share and explore what they value the most. For the next 10 weeks, Europe's youth will speak about what value wealth and prosperity has for them, what the future of Europe looks like. The initiative was set up by the 29-year old Buddhist leader, His Holiness 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje with support from AEISEC, DIA, Lijot, The Prince's Trust and others. Go to facebook.com/wealthofeurope, take the poll and share it with your friends.