UN High-level meeting on Youth

Hundreds of young people have converged on the United Nations in New York to attend a high-level meeting on youth convened by the General Assembly to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to the younger generation, including jobs, poverty and sustainable development.

The high-level meeting which started yesterday and ends later today began on a somber note with participants observing a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the terror attacks that took place in Norway.

On Monday the meeting comprised of two consecutive informal interactive thematic panel discussions, and, is today followed by two plenary meetings, with the former chaired by Member States at the invitation of GA President Joseph Deiss.

More information is available in the links provided below or on twitter by following @unyouthyear, using the hashtag #youth11

The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document that calls for strategies to give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent work and urge countries to take effective measures to protect young people from terrorism, among other elements.

The two-day meeting is focusing on the theme of “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”. It is among events to mark the International Year of Youth, which comes to a close on International Youth Day on 12 August.

"Change Your World" is a campaign initiated by Global Changemakers and in collaboration with the UN Programme on Youth with the goal of supporting the International Year of Youth and celebrating International Youth Day.

How can you participate in the campaign?

The idea is to organize as many activities as possible from now until International Youth Day. This can range from helping out your neighbors to organizing an awareness concert, and from a flash mob to a beach clean up.

Anyone can participate. So, that means you too.

Pledge your commitment on the UN International Year of Youth Calendar of Events page: http://social.un.org/IYYevents/

International Youth Day also marks the culmination of the international year of youth, which has seen young people come together to organize and participate in events everywhere around the world. Throughout the Year, actress and UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman has travelled the world to meet with youth and offer inspiration and hope. Her World Tour Diary is available online: http://social.un.org/youthyear/colemantour.html .

International Year of Youth (IYY)
http://social.un.org/youthyear/index.html

High-level meeting website
http://social.un.org/youthyear/high-level-meeting.html

IYY Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/UNyouthyear?ref=ts

IYY Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/unyouthyear

IYY Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/user/unyouthyear2010

Change your World 2011
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Change-Your-World-2011/125839670832352?sk=info

United Nations Webcast services
http://www.facebook.com/UNwebcast