Research Guides: Youth and Sustainable Development: Quick Guide

Youth at the United Nations

The 2019 ECOSOC Youth Forum took place at the UN Headquarters in New York on on 8-9 April 2019.

The forum brings together youth leaders from around the world, giving them an opportunity to engage with government representatives, youth delegates, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders in civil society and the private sector on issues that affect them. The two-days high level event concludes with ideas on innovation, collective action and proposes solutions to global problems.

Previous Sessions and Themes

2018: The role of youth in building sustainable and resilient urban and rural communities- #YOUTH2030
2017: The role of youth in poverty eradication and promoting prosperity in a changing world - #YOUTH2030.
2016: Youth Taking Action to Implement the 2030 Agenda
2015: Transitioning from MDGs to SDGs: Engaging Youth
2014: Realizing the Future They Want
2013: Shaping tomorrow's innovators: Leveraging science, technology, innovation and culture for today's youth
2012: Creating a Sustainable Future: Empowering Youth with Better Job Opportunities

Reports of the UN Secretary-General on youth.

The progress study on youth and peace and security - A/72/761-S/2018/86
Latest report: Youth development links to sustainable development - A/72/190
Reports of the SG to the General Assembly on Youth - Pre-search results
Reports of the SG to the ECOSOC on Youth - Pre- search results

UN Youth Milestones

1960: Initial General Assembly resolution to engage youth in the ideals of peace (A/RES/1572(XV))
The UN General Assembly adopts this initial resolution on Measures designed to promote among youth the ideals of peace, mutual respect and understanding between peoples.
1965: Declaration on the Promotion Among youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples (A/RES/2037(XX))
This resolution transmits the Youth Declaration outlining six principles of rights to young people.
1985: International Youth Year: Participation and Development, Peace (A/RES/34/151)
In 1979, the UN General Assembly designates 1985 as International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace.
1995: World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond (A/RES/50/81)
This resolution adopts the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond,-- to full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making.
2010: The International Year of Youth (A/RES/64/134)
This resolution proclaims 2010 as The International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.
2012: Creation of UN System-wide Action plan on Youth
UN System-wide Action plan on Youth is a joint action by the UN system on the issues affecting youth. It is expected to deepen the youth focus of new and existing programmes of the UN system and to promote joint programmatic work.
2013: First Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth is appointed (SG/A/1388-BIO/4444 [2013])
The Office of the Secretary-General’s envoy on Youth provides a platform for youth to actively participate and be heard at the United Nations.
2015: Maintenance of international peace and security (S/RES/2250(2015))
This resolution affirms the important role youth can play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and as a key aspect of the sustainability… and peacebuilding efforts.
2015: Policies and programmes involving youth (A/RES/70/127)
Reaffirms the World Programme of Action for Youth, including linkages on youth issues and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
2016: Secretary-General Appoints a Special Envoy on Youth Employment (Press Release SG/A/1675)
The office of the Special Envoy on Youth Employment addresses key youth employment challenges, in particular that of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, launched in February 2016.
2017: Second Envoy on Youth appointed (SG Press Release G/A/1739-BIO/4974)
The Second envoy on Youth is Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake . She will continue advocating for youth involvement in the United Nations, while focusing on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Statistical Resources

DESA - Statistical Databases
Compiled by the UN DESA Statistics Division, this is a platform for data on all subject matters, bringing to the world statistical information compiled by the entire UN system.
Displaced Youth/Refugees
Little data exists on the global displaced population aged 15-24. This publication provides a global review of UNHCR engagement with displaced youth.
Drug and Substance Abuse (general statistics)
This website provides the current drug and substance abuse data as reflected in the World Drug report 2016
Labour Statistics: World Employment and Social Outlook for Youth 2016 (ILO)
According to this report, there is an estimated 71 million unemployed youth worldwide in 2016.
Quantitative indicators for the World Programme of Action for Youth
A good resource for quantitative indicators on youth.
Youth Health/HIV/AIDS
Data presented by UNICEF and UNAIDS indicates that in 2015 alone, 670,000 young people between the ages of 15 to 24 were newly infected with HIV,
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, both sexes (UNESCO)
Provides global statistical percentiles of literacy rates for youth aged between 15 and 24.
Youth Population
According to the UNDESA Population Facts, there were 1.2 billion youth aged 15-24 years globally in 2015.

Thematic SDGs

More information

Search for e-books, articles and more in DAG Discovery:

Disclaimer

This guide is intended to provide delegates and UN Secretariat Staff with selected content from both UN and non-UN sources. It references third-party web sites, books and articles. It does not imply the endorsement of the content by the United Nations.

Access to electronic Resources

Books and articles can be accessed online within the UN Headquarters. Articles can be delivered to permanent mission by e-mail upon request.

Library one-point service desk United Nations, New York
Room L-105

Library icon Library website

Phone icon Contact & Hours

Research guide icon Research Guides

Calendar icon Training & Tutorials

Conversation icon Ask DAG

Security Council Meeting: Youth, Peace and Security.

Books & Reports

The World Youth Report on “Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”,
Date: 2018
The report provides insight into the role of young people in sustainable development in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related frameworks.
Youth Solutions Report
Date: 2017
A report by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN),a UN body which educates young people about the challenges of sustainable development .
UN World Youth Report on Youth Civic Engagement / UN DESA
Date: 2016
Prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), this report provides thematic insights of youth engagement in economic, political and community activities, and provides robust and varied perspectives into youth civic involvement on various issues.
2016 Global Youth Development Index (YDI) / The Commonwealth
Date: 2016
The YDI is a composite index of 18 indicators that collectively measure multi-dimensional progress on youth development in 183 countries, including 49 of the 53 Commonwealth countries.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for Youth / UN Women
Date: 2016
This publication is the youth version of The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Published in a youth-friendly version, it outlines the convention’s importance in the advancement of gender equality and human rights for women and girls around the world.
UNDP Youth Strategy 2014-2017 : Empowered Youth, Sustainable Future / UNDP
Date: 2014
UNDP’s Youth Strategy identifies development challenges and issues facing youth today, and offers forward-looking recommendations for strategic entry points and engagement on various issues.
Their Future is Our Future: Youth as Actors of Change / European Commission
Date: 2015
Overview of the most relevant projects on youth and youth-related policies within the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development.

UN Resources

Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth
The UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth office is an initiative aimed at addressing the needs and rights of young people, while involving the youth with the work of the United Nations across the globe.
UN Focal Point on Youth - Division for Social Policy and Development, UN DESA
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) houses the UN Focal Point on Youth (Division for Social Policy and Development) and is the the main office in the UN system mandated to work on youth issues.
UN Inter-agency Network on Youth Development
A UN System-wide Action plan on Youth; expected to deepen the youth focus of new and existing programmes of the UN system and to promote joint programmatic work.
Sustainable Development Database: Poverty Eradication
Collection of databases compiled by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development. Includes case studies, consumption and production, partnerships, and water action network databases.
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Youth
This website provides information about youth in the Asia and Pacific regions.
DESA - Statistical Databases
Compiled by the UN DESA Statistics Division, this is a platform for data on all subject matters, bringing to the world statistical information compiled by the entire UN system.
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Youth
This web site provides information related to youth issues in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Voices of Youth
Voices of Youth (VOY) was founded in 1995 as UNICEF’s online place for young people to learn more about issues affecting their world.
U-Report
This UNICEF initiative is a free digital platform for community participation, designed to address global issues that youth care about. It aims to improve UNICEF Youth Programmes.

Related Guide

UN Information for Young People

FAQ

Have a question? Check if our FAQ database already has an answer to your question, or add a new one below.

Youth and Sustainable Development: Quick Guide