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.

We are part of the Social Inclusion and Participation Branch of DISD. You can reach us by email at youth@un.org. Our contact address is available here.

Mission Statement

Our mandate is mainly based on the World Programme of Action for Youth. The fifteen fields of action identified by the international community are: education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, substance abuse, juvenile justice, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and the full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making, as well as globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, and inter-generational issues.

The Focal Point on Youth works to:

• Enhance awareness of the global situation of youth and increase recognition of the rights and aspirations of youth;
• Promote national youth policies, national youth coordinating mechanisms and national youth programmes of action as integral parts of social and economic development, in cooperation with both governmental and non-governmental organizations; and
• Strengthen the participation of youth in decision-making processes at all levels in order to increase their impact on national development and international cooperation.