Youth Participation and Empowerment

Around the world, young women and men are driving change and claiming respect for fundamental freedoms and rights; improved conditions for them and their communities; opportunities to learn, work and participate in decisions that affect them. At the same time they are faced with acute challenges affecting important aspects of their lives. More than ever, it is now time to improve investment in research, policies and programmes to create an enabling and rights-based environment where youth prosper, exercise rights, regain hope and a sense of community, and engage as responsible social actors and innovators.

In 2013 UNESCO endorsed its Operational Strategy on Youth 2014-2021 that sets out UNESCO’s priorities in its work with youth over the coming eight years. The Strategy focuses on three critical areas: capacity building; policy formulation and civic engagement.

In Asia Pacific, UNESCO will continue to support and build on initiatives already underway in the region:

• Inclusive, rights-based National Youth Policies
• Strengthening youth voices
• Building capacity of youth as agents of change

There is also an emphasis on building opportunities for youth from vulnerable groups, linking to UNESCO’s work on social inclusion, and supporting youth as actors in other areas such as sport and intercultural dialogue.

• Youth with disabilities (see Beijing, Apia and Jakarta)
• Youth Migrants (see New Delhi)
• Indigenous Youth
• Asia Pacific Youth & Sport Taskforce

UNESCO is an active member of the Asia Pacific Interagency Network on Youth and national level working groups across the region. Further information about the work of this network can be found on the APINY site.

Past programs supported by UNESCO such as the Youth Peace Ambassadors Program, Looking Beyond Disasters and SIDS Youth can be found in the Archives section. These activities are no longer active.