Bringing together the world’s youth at UNESCO, 29 – 31 October
Youth from more than 150 countries, including well-known personalities and young leaders, will come together in Paris on 29 October to participate in the 8th Youth Forum of UNESCO, which will run until 31 October at the Organization’s Headquarters under the general theme of “Youth and Social Inclusion: Civic Engagement, Dialogue and Skills Development.”
Over three days, participants at the 8th UNESCO Youth Forum will debate the challenges faced by young people on all continents, and review the main objectives of the Organization's youth programmes, to verify their relevance and enhance their effectiveness.
They will be invited to make policy recommendations that will be submitted directly to the 195 Member States of UNESCO at the 37th General Conference of the Organization, which will open the following week (5-20 November).
For the first time, participants will also be invited to identify 15 Action Projects (three per region), from amongst the 45 projects shortlisted by an international jury from replies to a call by UNESCO to youth organizations from around the world in July and August.
The Forum will feature another important innovation: a more interactive format than in previous editions. Following proposals by the young people themselves, through online consultations conducted in early 2013, the Forum will last three days instead of four, and will focus on working sessions by regional and thematic groups, as well as direct exchanges.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, will open the Forum in the morning of 29 October and will award, at 6 p.m. on the same day, the first UNESCO / Juan Bosch Prize for the Promotion of Social Science Research in Latin America and the Caribbean to Karen Nathalia Ceron Steevens, a 25-year-old Colombian sociologist, for her work on the prevention of youth violence in Central America.
Numerous side events will be held throughout the three days of the Forum, both at UNESCO and outside.
Furthermore, in cooperation with the International Music Council, one of UNESCO’s partner NGOs, the “John Lennon Tour Bus 2013”, is stopping in Paris since 22 October until the end of the Youth Forum, right outside the main entrance of UNESCO Headquarters, Place de Fontenoy.
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Journalists wishing to cover the Forum should request accreditation from
Isabelle Le-Fournis, UNESCO Press Service, +33 (0) 1 45 68 17 48 i.le-fournis(at)unesco.org
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