Participation in decision-making is one of the key priority areas of the United Nations agenda on youth. One form of youth participation at the United Nations is through the inclusion of youth delegates in a country's official delegation to the United Nations General Assembly and various functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council.
The youth delegate programme is coordinated by the UN Programme on Youth at the global level, but it is the responsibility of the Member States to establish a youth delegate programme at the national level, and to decide who will represent the young people of their country. The roles of a youth representative varies from country to country, but normally includes providing input to their delegation on issues related to youth and participate in their delegation’s general work through attending meetings and informal negotiations.
Youth delegates can participate in several intergovernmental meetings at the United Nations. Most official youth delegates participate in the General Assembly, but some also attend functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council.
Youth Delegates to the General Assembly
The Third Committee is the arm of the General Assembly that deliberates on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Issues. Matters that pertain specifically to youth currently fall under the agenda item called “Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, persons with disabilities and the family”. Generally, this agenda item is considered in the Third Committee of the General Assembly during the month of October; however, this is subject to change based on the annual programmes of work adopted by Member States. The agenda of the General Assembly, including that of its Third Committee, is usually available in late summer at the web site of the General Assembly.
- Meet current and former youth delegates
Youth Delegates to the Commission for Social Development (CSocD)
The Commission for Social Development is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The body is in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development and meets annually in February for one and a half weeks. It covers key social development themes such as poverty, employment and social integration and the issue of youth falls within the latter.
A youth resolution is traditionally adopted every two years. Typically the youth delegates that have been selected for the General Assembly also participate in the Commission for Social Development, since the work of the two bodies is closely linked.
The agenda of the Commission for Social Development is available.
Youth delegates to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is responsible for reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development, as well as providing policy guidance to follow up on the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) at the local, national, regional and international level. The CSD meets annually in New York during the month of May for two weeks, and is open to both governmental and non-governmental actors. Young people can participate either by being a member of their country’s official delegation, or by representing an NGO through the major group for Children and Youth. Participating NGOs must be in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), including those accredited on the CSD Roster.
- The agenda of the Commission for Sustainable Development is available
- For more information about the youth delegate programme, please read the “
Guide to Youth Delegates to the United Nations”
Country profiles for the youth delegate programmes
In this section you will find detailed descriptions of the youth delegate programme of some Member States. Each Member State determines the selection process and the role the youth delegate should have at the intergovernmental meetings of the United Nations.
- See country profiles
- Meet current and former youth delegates
Related resources:
WFUNA: “Youth at the UN: A Handbook for Establishing a National Youth Delegate Programme to the United Nations”
This handbook is produced by the World Federation of United Nations Associations. The handbook is not produced by the UN system, and can assist you in developing a proposal and budget for a national Youth Delegate Programme, as well as taking you step-by-step through creating your own campaign for such a Programme.
- International Guide to Lobbying for Youth Representation at the UN1
- UNYSA-UK Proposal for an FCO Youth Delegate at the United Nations General Assembly*
- Letter from the UN Focal Point on Youth supporting youth efforts
1. Contributions from youth delegates and NGOs.