UNESCO listens to youth: Sixth Youth Forum in Paris, 1 to 3 October

Paris, 28 September

• © Pierre Metivier

On the eve of the opening of the 35th General Conference of UNESCO, 143 young people from 96 countries and some 50 observers representing 34 organizations are expected in Paris to take part in the 6th UNESCO Youth Forum, which will be held from 1-3 October at UNESCO. This year’s theme is “Investing out of the crisis: towards a partnership between UNESCO and youth organizations”.

Designated by their country for their involvement in youth-related activities, the 143 Delegates, aged between 18 and 24, will discuss the possibilities for States to invest in the development of youth in order to emerge from the crisis, a theme that will also be at the heart of the debates during UNESCO’s 35th General Conference.

Opened by Pierre Sané, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, the 6th UNESCO Youth Forum will be closed by Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaď, Chairman of the Organization’s Executive Board, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Koďchiro Matsuura.

Observers representing 34 youth organizations, NGOs as well as United Nations agencies, have already signed up to participate in this meeting, which will include plenary and parallel sessions. A first plenary session will be devoted to the Forum’s main theme and will be followed by a parallel session on UNESCO’s fields of action. A second plenary session will focus on ways to reinforce young people’s participation in UNESCO’s Forum.

The last day will concentrate on the adoption of a report that will be presented by two young Delegates to the 193 UNESCO Member States during the 35th General Conference of the Organization, which will be held from 3 to 23 October.

Among the new elements introduced in this 6th edition, two on-line dialogue processes were set up before the Forum, which allowed a large number of young people to contribute to preparing the debates. In addition, five young journalists, one from each region of the world, will cover the meeting.

Launched in 1999, the UNESCO Youth Forum will mark its 10th anniversary this year. Every two years it brings together young people from around the world to share their experiences and common concerns and make themselves heard by submitting recommendations directly to the 193 Member States of the Organization, during the General Conference, of which it is an integral part.

• Author(s):UNESCOPRESS
• Source:Media Advisory No. 2009 - 53
• 29-09-2009