On the occasion of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Youth, we pledge to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations in advocating for and supporting national efforts to accelerate the implementation of international agreements and development goals as they relate to adolescents and youth.
We join Member States and youth-led organizations in building on synergies to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, gender equality, solidarity, progress and development as guided by the proclamation of the International Year of Youth by the General Assembly. The Year has provided an opportunity to work together to enhance dialogue and mutual understanding among young people worldwide, to promote the participation of young women and men at all levels and to increase commitments and investments to promote adolescent and youth development. With strengthened resolve, we stand ready to work as one within the United Nations to support young people in achieving their aspirations.
In the coming years, we will intensify efforts within our respective mandates at the global, regional and national levels, including through strengthening mechanisms such as the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, in order to promote and support:
1. COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES that include young people’s issues and voices, and enhance the use of data on young people to promote development and poverty reduction;
2. MULTISECTORAL PROGRAMMES that promote the human rights and fulfill the development needs of adolescents and youth, including marginalized adolescent girls;
3. STRENGTHENED CAPACITIES of national institutions and youth-led organizations to implement coordinated youth policies and programmes;
4. FULL AND EFFECTIVE YOUTH PARTICIPATION in society and decision-making, in both rural and urban settings, striving to include young people with disabilities, young people living with HIV, indigenous young people, young people from minorities, young migrants, young people who are stateless, internally displaced, young refugees or those affected by humanitarian situations or armed conflict.
We reaffirm our pledge to make young people a priority in our work and commit to incorporate their perspectives within our organizations and in the United Nations system.
We call on governments, civil society, the private sector, donors, media, communities, youth-led organizations, voluntary associations and other stakeholders to join us in making this a world fit for young people.
