The European Youth
Forum
# YFJ - who we are
# YFJ - what we do
# youth and UN
# YFJ and UN
# YD and YFJ
Our Vision...
# to be the voice of young people in
Europe, where young people are equal
citizens and are encouraged and
supported to achieve their fullest
potential as global citizens
Our Mission...
# The YFJ is an independent, democratic, youth-led
platform, representing national youth councils and
international youth organizations from across Europe
# The YFJ works to empower young
people to participate actively in society
to improve their own lives, by
representing and advocating their needs
and interests and those of their
organizations
In short:
# independent, democratic, youth-led
# platform for (98)
- National Youth Councils
- International Youth Organizations
# advocacy
# empowerment
# support
Cooperation with Institutions...
# European Union
# Council of Europe
# United Nations
...and related entities / agencies
...and other partners from civil society
# european networks (e.g. EYV 2011 ALLIANCE,
YEA, education ...)
# regional youth platforms
# ICMYO
# ...
Strategic Priorities
# education
# youth work development
# participation and youth policy mainstreaming
# human rights
# employment and social affairs
our workplan (2011/2012)
# young volunteers: builders of european
societiy
# strong youth organizations for stronger civil
society
# a rights-based approach for an inclusive and participatory europe
Youth
and
United Nations
# The creativity, energy
and passion of young
people are indispensable
for
tackling
global
challenges.
(Ban Ki-Moon)
The World is YOUTHful...
# more than half of the
world‘s population is
under 25 years old
Vote with your feet...
do you agree that
# it’s easy for youth
organisations
to
influence the work of
the United Nations.
Vote with your feet...
do you agree that
# too much money is
spent on UN Youth
Summits with too little
impact.
Where is is the UN YOUTHful?
# resolutions on youth: Every two
years (Portugal, Senegal, Moldova) –
UNGA / CSocD
# World Youth Conferences (Mexico
2010)
# UN High-Level Meeting on Youth
(USA 2011)
# MDG Review 2010: Report from the
Secretary General, High-Level Segment
15
Where is is the UN YOUTHful?
# UN Program on Youth: World Youth
Reports, Goals and targets for the UN
World Program of Action for Youth
# Inter-Agency Network on Youth
Development: coordination among UN
entities working on Youth
# ...
The WPAY
# 10th anniversary for the International
Youth Year
# The UN adopts the World Programme
of Action for Youth (WPAY)
# A MUST READ
# YEAR 1995
10 priority areas
# Education
# Employment
# Hunger and Poverty
# Health
# Environment
# Drug Abuse
# Leisure
# Juvenile Delinquency
# Girls and Young Women
# Participation
# YEAR 2005
UNGA Plenary Session - the UNGA adopts 5 new
priority areas:
# Globalization
# ICT
# HIV/AIDS
# Armed Conflict
# Intergenerational Relations
The YFJ and the UN
# ECOSOC consultative status
# UN program on youth / UN focal point on
youth
# other youth programmes / sections
- UN-HABITAT
- UNFPA
- UNICEF
- ...
# advisors to the UN
# acting on behalf of
their countries
# part of official
delegations
cooperation with UN YD
# explicit wish from our member organizations
# part of our mission (support, empowement,
global citizens)
# partners in the UN field
# together with ICMYO partners
YOUTH Delegates..
@General Assembly
@CSoC
@CSD
@CSW
@UNFCCC
@AoC
@...
with diverse but similar concepts
Ingredients for a successful YD
program:
# background organization(s)
- sustainability
- support
- expertise
# hand over
# focus on participation
# open, transparent, inclusive
# legitimacy / representativity
(1/2)
Ingredients for a successful YD
program:
# consultations
# defined mandate and term
# preparation
# close and sustainable cooperation with
ministries / PM
(1/2)
What we do:
# support / advise for the development of new
YD programs
# communication with background organizations
# UN advocacy meeting
# presence (usually CSocD and UNGA)
# follow-up (support)
YOU are not alone...
Falko Mohrs
www.youthforum.org
falko.mohrs@youthforum.org