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 in-clusive and participatory europe

Youthand

United Nations

# The creativity, energy and passion of young people are indispensable for tackling global challenges.

(Ban Ki-Moon)

# more than half of the world‘s population is under 25 years old

The World is YOUTHful...

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.

Vote with your feet...

15

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

# 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

# ...

Where is is the UN YOUTHful?

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

UNGA Plenary Session - the UNGA adopts 5 new priority areas:

# Globalization# ICT# HIV/AIDS# Armed Conflict# Intergenerational Relations

# YEAR 2005

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 Mohrswww.youthforum.orgfalko.mohrs@youthforum.org