The World Programme of Action for Youth encourages governments to be more responsive to the aspirations and needs of youth to usher in a better world. Young people in all countries are both a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. Recognizing and addressing the special needs of young people and their right to enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms will influence current social and economic conditions and the livelihoods and well-being of future generations.
For whom is this Guide written?
The General Assembly has called on governments to base initiatives regarding youth on the agreed international strategy of the World Programme of Action for Youth. The target audience of this action guide is: government ministries, parliamentarians, agencies that serve youth, and local and regional governments.
In addressing this audience, the Guide also refers to the role of the main stakeholders, such as civil society, the media, the private sector, parents, the international community and, of course, youth themselves.
How is this Guide organized?
This Guide seeks to improve the situation of young people and enhance their participation in various dimensions of society. It is based on the agreed upon actions in the WPAY and is divided into the three clusters that reflect the challenges youth encounter across borders and cultures. It is important to note that the sections of the WPAY are interrelated and are dependent on each other.
Proposals for action
The following actions are proposed:
- Improving access to information in order to enable young people to make better use of their opportunities to participate in decision-making.
- Developing and/or strengthening opportunities for young people to learn their rights and responsibilities, promoting their social, political, developmental and environmental participation, removing obstacles that affect their full contribution to society and respecting, inter alia, freedom of association;
- Encouraging and promoting youth associations through financial, educational and technical support and promotion of their activities.
- Taking into account the contribution of youth in designing, implementing and evaluating national policies and plans affecting their concerns.
- Encouraging increased national, regional and international cooperation and exchange between youth organizations.
- Inviting Governments to strengthen the involvement of young people in international forums, inter alia, by considering the inclusion of youth representatives in their national delegations to the General Assembly.
You can download this guide for free here.
