International Youth Day

The World Bank Group Global Young MP Initiative is a platform for empowering young parliamentarians (45 and under) from around the globe in pursuit of the common goal of a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Young MPs are more likely to relate to, and therefore advocate for, legislation to promote issues such as climate action, human capital investments and youth job creation. They are better positioned to leverage technology to create opportunities and change, bringing fresh perspectives and innovations to policy discussions. Context Young people are grossly underrepresented in national Parliaments. According to research by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, only 2.8% of MPs are under 30 and 18.7% are under 40. Meanwhile, 63% of the global population, or more than 5 billion people, were under age 40 in 2022, with another 1.2 billion projected to reach working age in the Global South alone by 2033. This growing youth population is facing a fast-evolving, challenging world. Whil...

  The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is taking place from 15 to 17 April 2025. The theme is: Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development. Session 8: Empowering and engaging young People: The evolving role of science and technology This session will seek to explore the role of science and technology in advancing the SDGs, highlighting opportunities for youth in the digital age and challenges like the digital divide, cybersecurity, and ethical use of AI. It will also aim to discuss outcomes from the 2024 Summit of the Future, including the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, which recognized crucial role of youth participation in the digital agenda. Session 9: Social development: Youth solutions for an inclusive future This session will aim to provide a platform for youth to share their views regarding social development, including key social challenges such as poverty, employment, educati...

Side event of the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum entitled " Empowering Africa's Workforce Through AI: Youth-Led Solutions for Gender Equality, Economic Growth, and Sustainable Development Partnerships ". This high-level side event, hosted by The Center for Community Impact and Sustainability and co-hosted by the Hayes Initiatives, ACAI, Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and the Permanent Observer Mission of IGAD, brings together youth leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore how artificial intelligence can drive inclusive growth across Africa. The dialogue will spotlight youth-led innovations that are closing gender gaps, expanding economic opportunity, and advancing sustainable development in alignment with the SDGs. Watch  Empowering Africa's Workforce Through AI: Youth-Led Solutions for Gender Equality, Economic Growth, and Sustainable Development Partner !

Side event of the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum entitled "Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development". Over the past years, the Russian Federation has prioritized a comprehensive approach to youth development, ensuring that young people have access to opportunities in various spheres, including civic participation, cultural engagement, science, sports, and entrepreneurship. Numerous initiatives have been launched to enhance youth infrastructure, provide targeted funding, and create enabling environments for young people across diverse fields. These efforts align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Beyond its domestic policies, Russia has been actively fostering international collaboration among youth, recognizing that a just and equitable world order can ...

GlobalMUNers is a private non-profit institution constituted as a civil association in Mexico. It established an important partnership with National Model United Nations (NMUN), the world's largest and oldest ongoing intercollegiate MUN. This alliance has allowed us to keep alive the sole Model United Nations Conference to be hosted at the UN Headquarters whose primary working language is Spanish. Over 400 participants, among them Staff, teachers and students from middle school, high school and college will be traveling from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Spain, the United States of America, and Venezuela to attend the academic encounter. GMNYC2025 will take place from Sunday, April 13th to Friday, April 18th, 2025, at the New York Hilton Midtown Convention Center and a conference room at the UN Headquarters in New York City. Related  Documents;  Concept Note  and  Programme Watch the  Closing ceremony of...

The National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN), a Model UN simulation for college and university students, will hold its closing ceremony in the General Assembly Hall (10 and 17 April). The largest and oldest ongoing intercollegiate Model UN in the world, NMUN participants represent more than 250 colleges and universities globally. Fifty-eight percent of participants come from outside the US, from more than 100 countries; Forty-two percent are from the US, representing all 50 states. Students participating in NMUN discuss current global issues in a real world context. NMUN•NY offers 16 simulated UN committees and uses procedural rules developed with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). NMUN annually holds two spring conferences in NYC, one conference in Washington, DC, and a rotating conference location with a partner university outside the US. Related Sites and Documents:  NMUN website Watch the 2025 National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN) ...

The National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN), a Model UN simulation for college and university students, will hold its closing ceremony in the General Assembly Hall (10 and 17 April). The largest and oldest ongoing intercollegiate Model UN in the world, NMUN participants represent more than 250 colleges and universities globally. Fifty-eight percent of participants come from outside the US, from more than 100 countries; Forty-two percent are from the US, representing all 50 states. Students participating in NMUN discuss current global issues in a real world context. NMUN•NY offers 16 simulated UN committees and uses procedural rules developed with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). NMUN annually holds two spring conferences in NYC, one conference in Washington, DC, and a rotating conference location with a partner university outside the US. Related Sites and Documents:  NMUN website Watch the 2025 National Model United Nations Conference (N...

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is taking place from 15 to 17 April 2025. The theme is: Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development. Session 6: SDG 8: Ensuring decent work and economic opportunities for youth This session will aim to spotlight more transformative actions by young advocates and youth-led organizations, governments, private sector actors, civil society and other stakeholders to scale up efforts to create more and better jobs for youth. With a special focus on vulnerable groups — such as young women, people with disabilities, migrants, refugees, and those in informal or rural economies — the session will invite participants to collaborate on building a more inclusive and equitable labor market Session 7: SDG 17: Financing our future - Advancing growth through partnerships This session will seek to explore how fostering cross-sector collaboration and innovative financing can bridge existing gaps in educat...

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is taking place from 15 to 17 April 2025. The theme is: Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development Session 4 and 5: Youth lead from local to global: Meaningful youth participation in policymaking & decision-making This session will be divided in two parts with the aim of exploring the core principles of meaningful youth participation in policy-making and decision-making processes, as well as sharing good practices of youth engagement in policy-making at various levels as part of the follow up to the Pact for the Future. The Youth Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stakeholders to share their views and concerns as well as  galvanize actions and recommendations to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place led by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The ECOSOC ...

Russian Federation, BRICS Youth Energy Agency – 80 Years of Impact: Youth Contribution to the UN Goals with Nuclear Science and Technology. This year, the UN marks 80 years of global impact and, from the very beginning of its mandate, has always relied on the peaceful use of modern science and technology, especially nuclear technology whose contribution spans across various sectors. BRICS countries have used it to ensure progress in healthcare, research, energy, and empowerment of women in STEM. Leveraging its impact is crucial for achieving SDGs with young people leading the action.  Guiding Questions for discussions:  1) What is the practical contribution of nuclear science and technology to SDG 3, 5, 8, and 14?  2) What experience can BRICS countries share in driving science and technology for SDGs?  3) How youth contribute to science and technology in their communities? 4) What are skills and resources youth need to leverage science for SDGs?  "Youth at the...

The session fosters youth engagement in sustainable development, emphasizing SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17. The side event, Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development organized jointly by UNEP and UN-Habitat and civil society partners will highlight youth-led efforts in localizing the SDGs through initiatives such as the Youth 2030 Cities program , and community level data collection opportunities in the context of the UN One Map initiative , highlighting initiatives in areas such as Zero Waste . Programme and names of speakers/panelists 1.15 - 1.30Welcome - Dr. Michal Mlynár - Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat (virtual) Alexandre Caldas, Chief of Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch (UNEP) 1.30 - 2:30 Youth Leveraging Science for Social Inclusion PanelYigang Li, Data Strategy Advisor, UNEP Programme Coordinator Joyati Das, Youth 2030 Cities Safrina Irungu (virtual), Mathare Roots (Kenya) Rehman Hassan, UN-Habitat Youth Advisory...

The regional breakout sessions will seek to  help identify the regional challenges and opportunities facing youth  and consider  how best to articulate and mainstream them in the context of achieving the SDGs at the global level . These sessions may build on the outcomes of youth consultations, fora, and other forms of youth engagement as part of the regional SDG review processes and sustainable development forums hosted by the various UN Regional Commissions. The Youth Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stakeholders to share their views and concerns as well as  galvanize actions and recommendations to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place led by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The ECOSOC Youth Forum will be guided by the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF): " Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-bas...

The regional breakout sessions will seek to help identify the regional challenges and opportunities facing youth and consider how best to articulate and mainstream them in the context of achieving the SDGs at the global level . These sessions may build on the outcomes of youth consultations, fora, and other forms of youth engagement as part of the regional SDG review processes and sustainable development forums hosted by the various UN Regional Commissions. The Youth Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stakeholders to share their views and concerns as well as  galvanize actions and recommendations to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place led by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The ECOSOC Youth Forum will be guided by the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF): " Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions fo...

The regional breakout sessions will seek to help identify the regional challenges and opportunities facing youth and consider how best to articulate and mainstream them in the context of achieving the SDGs at the global level . These sessions may build on the outcomes of youth consultations, fora, and other forms of youth engagement as part of the regional SDG review processes and sustainable development forums hosted by the various UN Regional Commissions. The Youth Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stakeholders to share their views and concerns as well as galvanize actions and recommendations to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place led by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The ECOSOC Youth Forum will be guided by the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF): " Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions fo...

 The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is taking place from 15 to 17 April 2025. The theme is:  Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development . Session 2: SDG 3: Youth and Health - Overcoming challenges and staying healthy. This session will aim to discuss how to accelerate progress toward SDG 3 by prioritizing the health and well-being of adolescents and youth. It will aim to address key challenges, with a focus on the impact of digital and social media on youth health and wellbeing. While digital platforms offer access to information, education, and social connectivity, they also pose risks to mental health, misinformation, privacy, and equitable access. To address these pressing concerns, it is crucial to develop youth-centered policies informed by inclusive 3 and evidence-based deliberations. The discussion will also seek to highlight the importance of youth-led solutions and equitable policies. Session 3: SDG 14...

The session fosters youth engagement in sustainable development, emphasizing SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17. The side event, Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development organized jointly by UNEP and UN-Habitat and civil society partners will highlight youth-led efforts in localizing the SDGs through initiatives such as the Youth 2030 Cities program , and community level data collection opportunities in the context of the UN One Map initiative, highlighting initiatives in areas such as Zero Waste. Programme and names of speakers/panelists 1.15 - 1.30Welcome - Dr. Michal Mlynár - Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat (virtual) Alexandre Caldas, Chief of Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch (UNEP) 1.30 - 2:30 Youth Leveraging Science for Social Inclusion PanelYigang Li, Data Strategy Advisor, UNEP Programme Coordinator Joyati Das, Youth 2030 Cities Safrina Irungu (virtual), Mathare Roots (Kenya) Rehman Hassan, UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board 2...

This ECOSOC Youth Forum side event will provide a platform for inter-generational learning, best practice sharing, and the development of youth recommendations aimed at recognizing and empowering young women in sustainable agrifood systems. Objectives of the side event, including relation with the SDGs identified in the Guidelines. Continue the year-long process of knowledge exchange, consultations and collaboration among youth, experts and policymakers to analyze SDG5 in relation to other SDGs and development challenges. Highlight interconnections between the SDGs, fostering a youth-led discussion focusing on the relevance of SDG4 and 8 for young women in agrifood systems. Bring together diverse organizations and technical experts to address the most pressing issues concerning youth, especially young women, education and employment. Provide opportunities for youth eager to actively participate in transforming agrifood systems to connect with technical experts to gain insights on issu...

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is taking place from 15 to 17 April 2025. The theme is: Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development . Opening Moderated conversation: Youth-Led Solutions for a Resilient Future (discussions with young leaders from around the world) Session 1: Working with and for young People: Shaping inclusive and sustainable solutions for the 2030 Agenda. This session will invite young people to share their ideas and expertise to help accelerate the implementation of the SDGs reflecting on challenges, solutions, and best practices. The discussion will aim to highlight youth voices in promoting their active role in shaping integrated policies on issues related to poverty, decent work, economic security, social inclusion, gender equality, climate action, resilience, conflicts and peacebuilding The Youth Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stake...

The National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN), a Model UN simulation for college and university students, will hold its closing ceremony in the General Assembly Hall (10 and 17 April). The largest and oldest ongoing intercollegiate Model UN in the world, NMUN participants represent more than 250 colleges and universities globally. Fifty-eight percent of participants come from outside the US, from more than 100 countries; Forty-two percent are from the US, representing all 50 states. Students participating in NMUN discuss current global issues in a real world context. NMUN•NY offers 16 simulated UN committees and uses procedural rules developed with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). NMUN annually holds two spring conferences in NYC, one conference in Washington, DC, and a rotating conference location with a partner university outside the US. Related Sites and Documents:  NMUN website Watch the 2025 National Model United Nations Conference (N...

The National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN), a Model UN simulation for college and university students, will hold its closing ceremony in the General Assembly Hall (10 and 17 April). The largest and oldest ongoing intercollegiate Model UN in the world, NMUN participants represent more than 250 colleges and universities globally. Fifty-eight percent of participants come from outside the US, from more than 100 countries; Forty-two percent are from the US, representing all 50 states. Students participating in NMUN discuss current global issues in a real world context. NMUN•NY offers 16 simulated UN committees and uses procedural rules developed with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). NMUN annually holds two spring conferences in NYC, one conference in Washington, DC, and a rotating conference location with a partner university outside the US. Related Sites and Documents:  NMUN website Watch the  2025 National Model United Nations Conference (...