A Brief Guide to Youth Delegates at the United Nations General Assembly

The 61st General Assembly Session at the United Nations in autumn 2006 will have a focus on international migration and development, an issue highly relevant to young people. Children and young people who wish to be included in their government's delegation will have to start getting invloved now.

The UN Programme on Youth has prepared a brief guide for children and young people to present to their government, explaining the role and benefits of official youth delegates: A Brief Guide to Youth Delegates at the United Nations General Assembly.

The United Nations Programme on Youth is part of the Division for Social Policy and Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Programme acts as a focal point within the United Nations system on matters relating to young people, particularly in relation to the priority areas identified in the World Programme of Action for Youth. Specifically, the Programme aims to:

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

Further information

• UN General Assembly 60th session
• UN Study on Violence against Children: Children and Young People’s Consultation (New York, May 2006)
• UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: Youth participation at the next Day of general Discussion (Geneva, September 2006)